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Using the Smartvest

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

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@equanimous

Thanks, Scoop. You are always so helpful. I have two different routines for my wet cough. I neb with 7% saline + Aerobika. Or, I do nebbing with the HillRom vest. The neb/Aerobika combo seems to bring up a lot more mucus as I am coughing throughout the session. And, I have to work at getting the mucus to come up. When doing the vest/neb, I stop it periodically during my session and do some brief huff coughing which helps brings some mucus up. I am now debating whether to d/c the vest and just go with neb/Aerobika combo. I am a bit paranoid about letting the vest go. I wish I could find a respiratory therapist to help me decide. Kaiser does not employ any and I've searched in the L.A. area for a RT with BE experience with no success. If anyone has suggestions in finding one, please let me know.

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Replies to "Thanks, Scoop. You are always so helpful. I have two different routines for my wet cough...."

@equanimous RTs seem in short supply, like so many other positions today. I could be wrong but I thought there was a highly regarded pulmonary practice at one of the big medical centers in LA. RTs not only treat lung but also heart patients and others, so I'm surprised you can't find one. My experience is that they are difficult to get an appointment with unless you need pulmonary rehab. etc.

In the meantime could you check out Buteyko breathing, used for all sorts of things. There's a best selling book called Breathe: the New Science of a Lost Art and others, and various websites. Very interesting and possibly helpful. There are Buteyko teachers scattered about but not covered by insurance.
https://www.buteykobreathing.org
https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-do-i-perform-buteyko-breathing-200874

You might ask to talk to a RT with Hillrom. I have a Smartvest but not using it much because of my history with spinal leaks. I'm deciding whether to send it back. I'm working with the RT with Smartvest and she is very good. She isn't just telling me to keep using it but helping me to work through the decision considering my history.