1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Percussion Vest and Nebulizer: Do you use both, one or the other?

Posted by thumperguy @thumperguy, Dec 11, 2020

I'm under the impression that some participants on the forum inhale nebulized saline solution and some use a percussion vest, and some do both simultaneously. I've become curious as to whether the "Vest" actually adds significantly to the overall benefit of the treatment. My concern is that the vest may be exacerbating back woes. Maddeningly, some days I'm convinced it is; some days I think it's all in my head (i.e., "back in head" disease).

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ckscoville | @ckscoville | Jan 1, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "Good question, @ckscoville. As you know, we have several discussions about percussion vests and nebulizing. Here's..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Good question, @ckscoville.

As you know, we have several discussions about percussion vests and nebulizing. Here's just a few recent ones:
- Percussion Vest and Nebulizer: Do you use both, one or the other? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/percussion-vestnebulizer/
- Percussion Vest, aka Thumper https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/percussion-vest-aka-thumper/
- Bedtime Blues https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bedtime-blues/
- Vest before or after saline? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/vest-before-or-after-saline/
- Percussion Vests https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/percussion-vests/
- Percussion vest https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/percussion-vest/

It helps to have specific questions in the subject line/title. Would you mind if I changed the title of this discussion to "Do you use vibrating vest and nebulizer at same time?"

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Sure, change the title to whatever works. Thanks so much...and thanks for the links!

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thumperguy | @thumperguy | Jan 1, 2021
In reply to @ckscoville "I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time..." + (show)
@ckscoville

<p>I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time -- while doing my nebulizer treatment with (first) albuterol and then either 3% or 7% saline. I've wondered however, about whether wearing the vibrating vest while using the nebulizer actually hinders me from breathing deeply with the nebulizer as I should be doing. Has anyone else dealt with this? Thanks....</p>

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CKS, I applaud your curiosity about , what amounts to "how to get maximum benefit from the percussion vest". After taking delivery of my percussion vest unit over three years ago I behaved like I was hypnotized, unable to dare deviate from the 30 minute twice daily session, nebbing concurrently until the saline cup was empty. It was only recently that I began to experiment a bit, e.g., nebbing first without the vest, cranking up the vest only after the nebbing and then only for a few minutes. So far I'm pleased with the result. Though perhaps counterintuitive, it seems to lead to greater overall mucous production. btw, from the very beginning I've run the percussion unit, aka "Thumper" at 100% full throttle. I suppose because of the boisterous characteristics of the percussion unit it's probably easy to overestimate its merit in the overall treatment program. At this point if I had to chose one or the other but couldn't have both, I would chose the nebulizer with 7% saline without hesitation over the "jiggle" machine. Stay in touch. Don

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rits | @rits | Jan 2, 2021
In reply to @ckscoville "I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time..." + (show)
@ckscoville

<p>I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time -- while doing my nebulizer treatment with (first) albuterol and then either 3% or 7% saline. I've wondered however, about whether wearing the vibrating vest while using the nebulizer actually hinders me from breathing deeply with the nebulizer as I should be doing. Has anyone else dealt with this? Thanks....</p>

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My ntm doctor told me that I could do all three, saline, aerobika and vest at the same time but I physically can not. I was doing the saline at the end because I thought the vest and aerobika would shake it loose and the saline would wash it out. However. my copd pulmonogist recently told me to do the saline first. Apparently, the saline liquifies the stuck sputum so that the aerobika and vest can shake it loose. My treatment takes about 45 minutes plus 5-10 minutes after to catch my breath. Then there is the clean up so it's over an hour twice a day. Sigh.

The saline is the most effective treatment to get the stuff out for me and if I were to have to shorten the time, I would leave out the aerobika and vest.

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2 replies
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 2, 2021
In reply to @rits "My ntm doctor told me that I could do all three, saline, aerobika and vest at..." + (show)
@rits

My ntm doctor told me that I could do all three, saline, aerobika and vest at the same time but I physically can not. I was doing the saline at the end because I thought the vest and aerobika would shake it loose and the saline would wash it out. However. my copd pulmonogist recently told me to do the saline first. Apparently, the saline liquifies the stuck sputum so that the aerobika and vest can shake it loose. My treatment takes about 45 minutes plus 5-10 minutes after to catch my breath. Then there is the clean up so it's over an hour twice a day. Sigh.

The saline is the most effective treatment to get the stuff out for me and if I were to have to shorten the time, I would leave out the aerobika and vest.

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That's very interesting, because I also found that I cannot do the Aerobika and nebs at the same time or I get so short of breath I get dizzy. Often I cough up so much from the saline alone I cut back on the Aerobika. I have arthritis in my spine, and vibration often gives me vertigo, so my pulmo is holding off an any kind of vest unless I absolutely need it. So far the saline has been the key.
Sue

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thumperguy | @thumperguy | Jan 2, 2021
In reply to @ckscoville "I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time..." + (show)
@ckscoville

<p>I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time -- while doing my nebulizer treatment with (first) albuterol and then either 3% or 7% saline. I've wondered however, about whether wearing the vibrating vest while using the nebulizer actually hinders me from breathing deeply with the nebulizer as I should be doing. Has anyone else dealt with this? Thanks....</p>

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Rits, your final paragraph nails it; don’t know why it’s taken so long for me to discover it.

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cmi | @cmi | Jan 3, 2021
In reply to @ckscoville "I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time..." + (show)
@ckscoville

<p>I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time -- while doing my nebulizer treatment with (first) albuterol and then either 3% or 7% saline. I've wondered however, about whether wearing the vibrating vest while using the nebulizer actually hinders me from breathing deeply with the nebulizer as I should be doing. Has anyone else dealt with this? Thanks....</p>

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All the conversation of nebulizing and vests has been very helpful...Now I have some “meat on the bone” for discussion this week with my ID doctor. The cocktail of “3” is doing nothing for the discomfort in my lungs/chest that just refuses to go away. Again this variant of Lady Windermere Syndrome...no sputum...leaves me worried that the gunk is turning to cement down there. Thank you all for sharing.
Regina

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1 reply
pop55 | @pop55 | Jan 3, 2021
In reply to @ckscoville "I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time..." + (show)
@ckscoville

<p>I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time -- while doing my nebulizer treatment with (first) albuterol and then either 3% or 7% saline. I've wondered however, about whether wearing the vibrating vest while using the nebulizer actually hinders me from breathing deeply with the nebulizer as I should be doing. Has anyone else dealt with this? Thanks....</p>

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I do all 3 at the same time and it works great. When I skip using the Vest I don't get as much up. I was told by my Dr at National Jewish the Vest works best for those who have Bronchiectasis in the lower lobes.

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1 reply
woot | @woot | Jan 4, 2021
In reply to @rits "My ntm doctor told me that I could do all three, saline, aerobika and vest at..." + (show)
@rits

My ntm doctor told me that I could do all three, saline, aerobika and vest at the same time but I physically can not. I was doing the saline at the end because I thought the vest and aerobika would shake it loose and the saline would wash it out. However. my copd pulmonogist recently told me to do the saline first. Apparently, the saline liquifies the stuck sputum so that the aerobika and vest can shake it loose. My treatment takes about 45 minutes plus 5-10 minutes after to catch my breath. Then there is the clean up so it's over an hour twice a day. Sigh.

The saline is the most effective treatment to get the stuff out for me and if I were to have to shorten the time, I would leave out the aerobika and vest.

Jump to this post

Thanks for explaining the reason for saline first. Even though I use the VibraLung, which only takes 10 minutes, instead of the vest (and I attach my Aerobika to my neb as my pulmonologist showed me), I’ve been doing the VL first. I’ll change the order. But I’m still resigned to an hour twice a day. Sigh.

REPLY
rits | @rits | Jan 4, 2021
In reply to @pop55 "I do all 3 at the same time and it works great. When I skip using..." + (show)
@pop55

I do all 3 at the same time and it works great. When I skip using the Vest I don't get as much up. I was told by my Dr at National Jewish the Vest works best for those who have Bronchiectasis in the lower lobes.

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That is interesting and helpful. I've never felt the vest does much for me and, if I remember right, my bronchiectasis is mainly in the upper right lobe.

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degree | @degree | Feb 21, 2021
In reply to @ckscoville "I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time..." + (show)
@ckscoville

<p>I wear a (vibrating) SmartVest -- usually 3 times a day for 25 minutes each time -- while doing my nebulizer treatment with (first) albuterol and then either 3% or 7% saline. I've wondered however, about whether wearing the vibrating vest while using the nebulizer actually hinders me from breathing deeply with the nebulizer as I should be doing. Has anyone else dealt with this? Thanks....</p>

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No, my pulmonologist said to use them separately

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