Vesting with stomach bug?

[Aboveallislove]

I'm virtually positive our son has a stomach bug. I have a call into our GI office though to make sure they don't want to run any tests or have another concern, given he had a DIOS hospitalization about two years ago. He actually perked up this am and is happily playing now, after yesterday having next to nothing to eat, waking up lethagic and very lethagic all morning and then a small vomit and a big diarhea. He then ate a tad and kept down 4 ounces of grape juice and 4 ounces of water and has already requested a special lunch.

My question is this: What do you do with the vest when a stomach bug? He has refused to do the last 2 days and I've gone back to manual percussions. Is that a "normal" thing to not be able to tolerate with a stomach bug? I'd think so, but want to see if the not tolerating might signal another issue. Other thoughts?

 

[Jana]

I would say that's normal. I've had to skip mine occasionally with stomach pain or severe nausea. It just doesn't work out well

 

[Aboveallislove]

Thanks, that was my "gut" reaction too, but wanted to see if there was something I was missing.

 

[TreasureGoddess]

My son either does the vest VERY LOW (30% even) when he's usually at 90%, and we add in manual percussions. Check with your docs to make sure, but shaking the tar out of you when your stomach is barely holding things down isn't a good idea unless you have the barf bucket handy. Plus I think sometimes the manual percussion or clapping can be comforting to your kiddo when he/she doesn't feel well. Go with your gut, you're doing good making the right decisions and asking questions.

 

[rmotion]

He needs probiotics regardless

I would say that's normal. I've had to skip mine occasionally with stomach pain or severe nausea. It just doesn't work out well

The vest can make you feel yuck when you dont feel good. Maybe if he feels better you can go slower speed.

He needs probiotics regardless. And Vit D
Make sure you get the kids version and enterically coated.
Also look at fermented foods like sour kraut

 

[Aboveallislove]

Thanks all! Yes, he find the taps of comfort too, and it is more snuggly. I just feel like I'm not doing it "good enough," but after this am know this is what we need short term. He actually had a decent lunch and has really perked up. But will give it a couple more days with the manual to get him back on track. And he does probiotics regularly, but thanks, I'll remember to up it (which is what I do when his GI issues start rearing head).

 

[Ratatosk]

DS has done the vest during a stomach bug with no issues. We have kept the puke bucket close by just in case, but rarely have had to use it. We also have reduced the pressure and speed if he complains. When he had his bowel obstruction a few years ago and surgery, he still did his vest treatments and a lower pressure. We also started off using a folded up towel under his vest on his stomach to start with.

 

[Aboveallislove]

Thanks Ratatosk! Apparently, DS just couldn't handle it but he said his tummy felt better this am and he made it 20 minutes at lower levels. Hoping tomorrow back to "normal." Wanted to tell you though that the vest companies will send you "foam" that's kinda a memory foam. We just to use a towel under the part where the hose comes in and pokes and then someone here noted that re foam. I finally called and got it and just started this week and the first time I did, DS said: "now I don't need to say 'I need a break! I need a break!" It really works a ton better!

 

[Ratatosk]

Good to know, but hopefully we'll never have need for a towel or foam ever again. We also did CPT on him when it was too much.