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Using the Smartvest

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Sep 25, 2023 | Replies (81)

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@lvalenti

Thank you @pled. I find that the way you do it, nebulizing then using the Acapella also works best for me. Although it’s not saying much because I still bring up very little mucus. I was instructed to do the nebulizing first, Arikayce, vest and Acapella last. By that time I am dry as bone, not to mention exhausted. I think I’ll go back to what seems to work best for me. Also, please let me know where you found the postural drainage techniques.

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Replies to "Thank you @pled. I find that the way you do it, nebulizing then using the Acapella..."

lvalenti, I'm not sure if I got this information from a post in this group, or if I found it during an independent google search. It is put out by Cambridge University in conjunction with the National Health system in Britain. The address is https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/postural -drainage.
I had noticed a long time ago that whenever I laid flat on my back with my knees up, my chest would open up and I would cough in a way that I didn't cough otherwise. I didn't understand that I was coughing up gunk, because I was laying on my back and I just swallowed it. After spending time on this site, I kind of put two and two together and realized that this was probably something I could do on purpose and that it was called postural drainage, and it would be good for me.
This Cambridge/NHS paper gives many different positions that correlate to the different parts of your lungs. I am just doing one position at this time, based on the information in the report from my most recent CT. I am looking forward to talking with my pulmonologist about this, and honestly, I wonder why I had to "discover" this by myself.
I am feeling so much better since adding this to my routine. It makes me feel like all the efforts are worth it. Good luck to you.