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Do You Feel Your Vest Helps Or Not?

Posted by linda1334 @linda1334, Oct 9 6:04pm

I was recently prescribed a vest about a month or so ago. It's a Hillrom Baxter vest and the respiratory therapist came out to show me how to use it. I've been using it every day now for two 20 minute sessions morning and night, however I haven't really felt any benefit. I nebulize with 7% saline first and am able to cough up some mucus during those sessions but then when I put the vest on afterward, it just oscillates away and nothing happens. No coughing, nothing. I continue to use it because I think maybe it's doing something but I just don't know.

Anyone else use a Hillrom Baxter vest and feel that it works and if so, any suggestions on maximizing effectiveness? My vest is set at 10. Maybe I need to up the setting?

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linda1334 | @linda1334 | Oct 11 12:49pm
In reply to @egayle187 "linda1334...I am surprised that the comments were negative. I have been using my vest twice a..." + (show)
Profile picture for egayle187 @egayle187

linda1334...I am surprised that the comments were negative. I have been using my vest twice a day for a year. The very first time it loosened up bloody thick mucus from the dead lower right lobe with bronchiectasis and has helped me through a lung infection in the lower left lobe that took 8 months of antibiotics to get to a manageable state. My cilia don't move the mucus without it. I also have used postural drainage with the flutter valve for 12 years. I use it even on days that no mucus comes up since I am only an infection away from a major problem.
I'm 77 with osteoporosis, but no rib pain. I do not resent the time spent, as I work at my computer while using the vest. My pulmonary function test has improved. I'm very happy my PA recommended it when my asthma was out of control, even before we knew there was an incurable infection.

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@egayle187 Thanks for sharing your experience. Can I ask the type of vest you use?

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egayle187 | @egayle187 | Oct 11 3:26pm
In reply to @linda1334 "@egayle187 Thanks for sharing your experience. Can I ask the type of vest you use?" + (show)
Profile picture for linda1334 @linda1334

@egayle187 Thanks for sharing your experience. Can I ask the type of vest you use?

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@linda1334
My vest is from RespirTech and covered by Medicare.

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six5532one | @six5532one | Oct 11 7:58pm
In reply to @egayle187 "linda1334...I am surprised that the comments were negative. I have been using my vest twice a..." + (show)
Profile picture for egayle187 @egayle187

linda1334...I am surprised that the comments were negative. I have been using my vest twice a day for a year. The very first time it loosened up bloody thick mucus from the dead lower right lobe with bronchiectasis and has helped me through a lung infection in the lower left lobe that took 8 months of antibiotics to get to a manageable state. My cilia don't move the mucus without it. I also have used postural drainage with the flutter valve for 12 years. I use it even on days that no mucus comes up since I am only an infection away from a major problem.
I'm 77 with osteoporosis, but no rib pain. I do not resent the time spent, as I work at my computer while using the vest. My pulmonary function test has improved. I'm very happy my PA recommended it when my asthma was out of control, even before we knew there was an incurable infection.

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@egayle187 when it loosened bloody mucus the first time, was the blood fresh or old? I'm trying to understand if using the vest caused lung bleeding that time.

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spider109 | @spider109 | Oct 12 5:25am
In reply to @egayle187 "linda1334...I am surprised that the comments were negative. I have been using my vest twice a..." + (show)
Profile picture for egayle187 @egayle187

linda1334...I am surprised that the comments were negative. I have been using my vest twice a day for a year. The very first time it loosened up bloody thick mucus from the dead lower right lobe with bronchiectasis and has helped me through a lung infection in the lower left lobe that took 8 months of antibiotics to get to a manageable state. My cilia don't move the mucus without it. I also have used postural drainage with the flutter valve for 12 years. I use it even on days that no mucus comes up since I am only an infection away from a major problem.
I'm 77 with osteoporosis, but no rib pain. I do not resent the time spent, as I work at my computer while using the vest. My pulmonary function test has improved. I'm very happy my PA recommended it when my asthma was out of control, even before we knew there was an incurable infection.

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@egayle187 which brand of vest do you use? Hillrom, smart vest, Afflo?

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egayle187 | @egayle187 | Oct 12 7:45am
In reply to @spider109 "@egayle187 which brand of vest do you use? Hillrom, smart vest, Afflo?" + (show)
Profile picture for spider109 @spider109

@egayle187 which brand of vest do you use? Hillrom, smart vest, Afflo?

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@spider109
I use RespirTech by Phillips.

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egayle187 | @egayle187 | Oct 12 7:47am
In reply to @six5532one "@egayle187 when it loosened bloody mucus the first time, was the blood fresh or old? I'm..." + (show)
Profile picture for six5532one @six5532one

@egayle187 when it loosened bloody mucus the first time, was the blood fresh or old? I'm trying to understand if using the vest caused lung bleeding that time.

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@six5532one
It was old brown blood. I've never had any fresh bright blood.

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lindabreathless | @lindabreathless | Oct 12 2:07pm

Hi, I have BE and take two puffs of albuterol, use the vest and nebulizer 3% sodium cl. twice a day. My vest is from Hill-Rom. I’ve been doing the vest since 2005. Yes, that’s 20 years, ugh.
I find I don’t really cough up mucus while using it. But as I go about my day and walk on my treadmill for 30 minutes I do get very loose sputum that I can cough out easily. And a lot of it. I do think the vest does help loosen sputum even if you don’t cough while using it. That’s been my experience. When I first got the vest I was told I could sit back against the chair comfortably. This doesn’t seem to hinder the treatment. Here’s a photo of my settings. I hope this is helpful…
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linda1334 | @linda1334 | Oct 12 10:59pm
In reply to @lindabreathless "Hi, I have BE and take two puffs of albuterol, use the vest and nebulizer 3%..." + (show)
Profile picture for lindabreathless @lindabreathless

Hi, I have BE and take two puffs of albuterol, use the vest and nebulizer 3% sodium cl. twice a day. My vest is from Hill-Rom. I’ve been doing the vest since 2005. Yes, that’s 20 years, ugh.
I find I don’t really cough up mucus while using it. But as I go about my day and walk on my treadmill for 30 minutes I do get very loose sputum that I can cough out easily. And a lot of it. I do think the vest does help loosen sputum even if you don’t cough while using it. That’s been my experience. When I first got the vest I was told I could sit back against the chair comfortably. This doesn’t seem to hinder the treatment. Here’s a photo of my settings. I hope this is helpful…

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@lindabreathless Thanks for replying and posting the picture of your settings. Mine is set at 10 hz for four 5 minute sessions with a short 30 second pause between each for coughing. I'll continue using it in the hope that it is loosening things up as you mentioned. I also nebulize with 7% before doing the vest. I do both twice a day and I exercise in between on my treadmill for about 45 mintues. So we have a fairly similar routine.

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bubbie2 | @bubbie2 | Oct 19 10:48am
In reply to @spider109 "@egayle187 which brand of vest do you use? Hillrom, smart vest, Afflo?" + (show)
Profile picture for spider109 @spider109

@egayle187 which brand of vest do you use? Hillrom, smart vest, Afflo?

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@spider109
I have a Smartvest and find it does make a difference, especially during a flare. Their customer service is outstanding.

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1 reply
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spider109 | @spider109 | Oct 19 1:21pm
In reply to @bubbie2 "@spider109 I have a Smartvest and find it does make a difference, especially during a flare...." + (show)
Profile picture for bubbie2 @bubbie2

@spider109
I have a Smartvest and find it does make a difference, especially during a flare. Their customer service is outstanding.

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@bubbie2 I looked at the smart vest at first, and thought that would be the best for me. But when it came time for insurance to pay for it they would not, they only covered the AffloVest. I’m sure for some people it works well just for me it doesn’t seem to work so well. Now I’m totally convinced that it makes a huge difference as to where most of the mucus in our lungs is located, so I assume that would be where the worst of my Bronchiectasis is. Which I’ve been told that mine is both lower lobes towards the rear, and middle right lobe. For the lower lobes, theoretically it would take longer to travel up to the upper airways to cough out. And furthermore it puzzles me when one of their representatives told me that I have to use it for about 3-4 weeks straight to see a benefit from it. That makes no sense to me.. can anyone explain this to me. I’d be happy to hear because I would LOVE to use it if I thought it helped

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