Vibrating vests

Vests are not for everyone. I have an Afflovest and found it helped with clearance but wasn't magic. Alas, it gave me rib pain after a while. Now it's mostly sits idle but every now and then I'll put it on if I feel like I need a bit extra help. I've read that posture is very important with vest usage. Some RTs suggest sitting in a straight-back chair as upright as possible during vest treatment, which you might try.

I've concluded the best way for me, until they come up with something different for airway clearance, is levalbuterol or albuterol first followed by 7% saline. So far this routine helps to keep my airways clear as possible.

It's worth a try! Thank you!

I am using a Hill-Rom "The Vest" airway clearance system twice a day successfully while nebulizing the combined Ipratropium Bromide .5 mg and Albuterol Sulfate 3mg (called Duoneb) followed by Acetylcysteine 20% (all while using the Vest.)

I did not like the vest. I tried both types. The battery vest was very heavy and gave me a headache and my ears would vibrate and it was cumbersome. I tried the lighter tethered one and still was not happy. I felt like i had no control over my body and I could not inhale the saline deeply because of the pressure of the vest. I do a lot of Physio and am able to expel a lot on my own with a 10% saline. It did not seem to add any value for me but others I know like it. My Pulm was also "eh" on it. Saw it as an option, but not necessarily a recommendation, at least in my case.

10% saline? My doctor wrote a prescription for it but I was unable to source it even from the big drugstore chains. What differences do you notice between 10% and 7%? Is it noticeable?

Regarding access, I get mine sent directly to me from the hospital pharmacy. I don't think my regular pharmacy would carry it.
As far as helping, I did notice a difference, however, it is harsh on the throat. Mucus comes up much easier. I wouldn't go back unless I had to.
Good luck finding it!

I agree with scoop. I have Philips InCourage- from RespirTech. I use it twice a day for 20 minutes. I really don’t know if it’s very helpful. I still produce very little. Besides when I sit straight to feel front and back vibrating , my back hurts. If I lean against the chair I don’t feel shaking at the back at all. I don’t know if it’s me or the vest. On the other hand it looks I tolerate it so it’s just additional thing I do while nebulizing.

Directly from hospital pharmacy. I used it for the first year alternating with 7%. It takes a lot of getting used to. I did find it very helpful in -finally- being able to get mucous up. Now I just use 7%. I also use an Afflovest. I used it on medium for the first 3 months. I recently had a bad infection and changed the settings to high on percussion, vibration and drainage. Within a few weeks I noticed a big difference in the amount of sputum production. I also periodically use it while lying down and that seems to be helpful as well.

I’m with you on the vest. I have only had it for a couple weeks and don’t feel any better. The vest like you said is very heavy and with in two days I can hardly move or cough because my ribs and chest hurt really bad. I wonder how many other people who use the vest are having the same effects.

I started using a tincture of wild mullein in December and have been having great success the last few months. It thinned my mucus out so much that the mucus seemed watery. There is an article on the Cleveland Clinic regarding its uses. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/mullein-benefits