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Aerobika green valve blows out; common?
I nebulize with albuterol every morning and used to follow that with Aerobika and huff coughing. Earlier this year, I bought a newAerobika and the green valve in the back blew out with each exhale. I called Mognahan and she asked lot number. It ended in 65, she wasn’t surprised and sent me a new one. It did the same thing-lot was still in 60’s. I used part of old and part of new one to get a functioning one. That base cracked in summer, but I was walking a lot and counted that as airway clearance.
I ordered a new one to take on an international vacation in case I got sick. The trip was great, but I tested positive for Covid 3 days after my return. No shortness of breath. I’m at day 5 and on Paxlovid. I’m not up to walking hard, want to keep my lungs clear and this Aerobika is blowing out, too! I’m exhaling slowly and it’s on 5. Lot ends in 80’s. My old ones never did this. Anyone else have this happen?
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Sorry to hear about covid diagnosis. Not an answer to your question but I am curious where you purchased the aerobika? Some people purchase from eBay and I wonder if those are defective.
Within the past 6 weeks or so I've stopped using the aerobika since I no longer use it while nebulizing. I have not missed it. I find that active cycle of breathing and autogenic breathing enough for clearance. That said, I will take it on an extended trip with me just in case.
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2 ReactionsCould you please explain what you mean by “blows out”? I have noticed that the Aerobika I bought recently from Save Rite online does not have as much resistance as my old one. I have it at the highest level. Just wondering if this is normal. Thank you so much for any advice.
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1 ReactionI bought the first problem one from Save Rite Medical and they told me to contact Monaghan. I did and sent it for a replacement. The one they sent did the same and I thought it might be temporary manufacturing issue and put old flutter valve in the new case. This one I got at Medicaleshop.
I have appt with pulmonologist and for spirometry Wed and will take it. I would think it is me since I still have above normal PFT’s, but the first didn’t blow out.
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1 ReactionI start exhaling thru it and it’s normal at first then it makes a different sound and there’s no resistance. If I quickly look at the other end, the green valve(s)shown in picture aboveis partly open then closes. My very old one doesn’t do that.
When I first called, the rep knew there was an issue with lot number I had. After the replacement wasn’t better, I waited to get another.
I had returned the first bad one to Mognahan and sent a message yesterday asking what they’d found.
Thank you scoop for your experience because I have done the same thing. I try to do postural drainage, active cycle breathing. autogenic breathing, walking, some exercise, and chest/lung percussion every day and I believe it has been a success for me. I also think my boiling some water in the kitchen, where I am so much of the day, is helping. I will know in a couple of weeks when I have my CScan and so hope what I am doing shows positve results.
As of now, I feel fine and energy level is good, as long as I am able to get in 7 hours of sleep and thank goodness I have been doing just that.
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2 Reactions@pacathy Well, I just looked at my "old" Aerobika and compared it to your picture. It seems they made a change in materials - the flap on mine from Lot 23001 made of 2 materials - a thick opaque green edge sealed to a translucent pale green membrane. Yours looks like a single piece that is too flexible - like someone was trying to save a few cents in production costs. I guess that backfired.
I see the respiratory therapist next week and was going to ask for a new one - it will be interesting to see if it has the same issue.
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1 ReactionThanks for looking, Sue. My old one that didn’t blow out is darker than new one, but I can’t tell if it was two pieces. I’m taking mine to my appointment today. I have spirometry scheduled with a routine F/u with doc, too.
The company offered another replacement, but with 3 in a row that blow out, I think I need to look at something else (and don’t want to go to post office to return it.)
I took my Aerobika with me and RTsaid I can hold my cheeks while blowing out to decrease/control exhaled volume or try the Akapella. We tried gentle exhales and that didn’t seem effective, but valve didn’t blow out. Doc and RT said Accapella is fine..
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1 ReactionI haven't used this Pep device but have eyed it. More common in Europe than US.
https://www.saveritemedical.com/products/pari-o-pep-oscillating-therapy
Not sure about how you clean or sterilize it. Since I breathe out only through these devices (rather than in and out) I don't worry too much about sterilizing it.
I have used the green acapella choice (it used to be called) and I think I prefer Aerobika marginally, likely because it seems quieter.
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1 ReactionWith your ability to analyze things and express yourself clearly, and you 3 negative experiences, are you willing to call the company and ask to talk to one of their product engineers? They may appreciate learning what you have experienced. Otherwise, I fear customer service probably just throws them in a box, and nobody has gone back to the source and explained the exact issue.
I would hate to have the company to just decide to take the product off the market due to "excessive failure rate" - it happens way too often in manufacturing.