Hey all, starting SmartVest... Anyone w positive experience?

Lvni. I started using Philips vest in February this year. At the beginning I did not like the idea of me sitting, shaking and wearing this other thing that takes away 20 minutes of my life. Now I am at peace with it and use it because I think it helps move the little mucus I have. At least I can cough up some clear stuff after using it. Before there was nothing. So yes at least try it. Some people don’t find it helpful though so you got it you try it. I also read on this forum to not return it because your insurance won’t approve it again. I don’t know if it’s true

Thank you ... I'm doing it. Hope it helps!

The Hill Rom tech who delivered my vest said it shakes the mucous up in the lung. Apparently it helps to keep you out of the hospital.
I use it every evening with nebulizer then my husband does chest PT.
I had the vest 5 years ago and felt it did nothing but give me acid reflux so cancelled it.
Now my lungs are worse so decided to try it again.
Good luck!

Thank you! All best wishes!

I have been using the Smart vest for 5 months. It was hard to get use to and I wasn't totally sure it helped. After a couple of months I call Hill Rom because the vest was hurting me, I'm on the thinner side. They said to go down to number 4 instead of 5 and that seemed to help. I was using it twice a day for 20 minutes. Three weeks ago has small exacerbation from poor air quality and was coughing up small amounts of blood. Pulmonalagist said take a break from 3%saline and the vest. Talked to respiratory therapy nurse and she suggested nebulizer, wait 15 minutes and use the vest for 5 minutes. Thats what I'm doing recently and so far it's much better.

Hi all,
I did pulmonary rehab 4 years ago and will ask my pulmonologist to order again. The therapists give you exercises to do at home once you complete the 6 weeks.
I want to do everything I can to clear my lungs.
I had to stop Ethambutol + Azithromycin after 7 weeks because of side effects.
My pulmonoligist and ID will be discussing MAC treatment for me today.

I find saline nebulizing 7% hypertonic saline + aerobika together are much better at bringing up mucus compared to the vest. I use the vest every day, after nebbing in the hope that it might be helping. But, I find that I do not cough up much, if any, mucus with the vest.

@lvnl Hello. It has been my experience that the Smart Vest has little effect on my sputum output. I would never encourage you to give up the saline nebulizing and aerobika as your tech suggested. I am amazed that a tech suggested that to you. I've had the smart vest for over a year and question if it does anything positive for me. If it does, I cannot discern what that is. I continue to use it maybe 3 times a week thinking perhaps it shakes the sputum off of my lung walls....but I am just taking a stab at that. I see absolutely no difference or benefit. On the other hand, the saline nebulization is invaluable. I've recently added the aerobika and I find that it also helps in bringing up mucus. The saline makes an inhospitable environment in your lung for MAC. Please never give that up. It is basic lung hygiene. Another technique that I have recently discovered that is very helpful for me and does not take a lot of time is autogenic drainage. Someone on this site posted an excellent video done by Dr Pamela McShane for airway clearance. If you go to segment 32:04-45:31 it gives an in depth description of how to do it. I have found it helps bring up a lot of gunk from my lung after I nebulize that I would never have been able to clear. Here is the video. The entire video is worthwhile if you have some time to view it. The more you know, the better you can fight this disease. Good luck....Kate Video at this link:

Video is excellent and I too am practicing the breathing technique. Do feel it's worthwhile.

Thanks to all for the input. I was prescribed the vest for 15 minutes, twice a day. I'm only on my 3rd day so too soon to say anything about results, but I share the feeling that I should not give up the 7% saline nebulizing. So we'll see!