Vibrating vests

@cwal I own an Afflovest, which I found effective for loosening phlegm. It worked best when I used it during nebulizing (ombra compressor with inline aerobika and sprint nebulizer). Before committing, I trialed Afflovest vest for 2 weeks and the Hill-Rom vest for 6 weeks. I much preferred the Afflovest because of its effectiveness and that it was not tethered like Hill-Rom's. That's the good part of my experience.

The bad is that after a month of using it I developed rib pain on one side. Perhaps I'm uneven and my rib cage sticks out more on that side where I got the pain. That's what I'm guessing. I experienced shooting pains on one side, not during its use but randomly as I was out and about. Once I stopped using Afflovest the pains went away. Recently I tried it again, sadly same outcome. Your results might vary! Definitely ask for a trial, longer the better.

Thank you for your input! What do you mean when you say the Hill-Rom is tethered? Also, I wonder if you put some type of light padding on the that side when you use the vest if it would help?

I love my Afflovest. I can really tell if I miss just one day.

I’m having trouble using mine. It’s fine if I sit up but how do you do the positioning ? Any tips on how to use it so the mucous comes up?

The Hill-Rom vest has a compressor that connects to the vest through a tube. Afflovest runs on lithium rechargeable battery so that you can move around and not have to sit in one place like Hill-Rom's. I believe Hill-Rom also has a "free standing" battery powered vest.

In the past I've tried putting some foam padding there and I think I'll try it again.

I have the Hillrom Monarch portable vest running on batteries. I use some soft towel inserts to prevent it from digging into my back. I use the Ombra and Aerobika at the same time.

I wonder if NJH prefers or recommends one vest over another?

NJH highly recommends the Hill-Rom tethered vest. Upon my first visit to NJH in May 2023, Dr. Kasperbauer and Dr. Eddy recommended the Hill-Rom vest and prescribed it for me. At that point in time I had the Afflo portable vest. Once I returned home I made the exchange. The Afflo worked okay but the Hill-Rom is much more robust and effective.

Hi cwal, I used the Philips InCourage (tethered to the base machine) for several months, with albuterol then 7% saline in a nebulizer and finishing with spirometry and a PEP. It worked bringing up sputum for a while, then stopped. From what I've read on this site, some folks have good success with postural drainage exercises. These would be tricky to do with a tethered vest. For me, whatever program I follow works only for a while, and then stops. I have noticed that regular exercise can bring up sputum, and so I wonder if mixing it up (i.e., varying air clearance practices and changing stretching/cardio/weight bearing exercise) is what works best most of the time. In a recent post, Sue shared some of her air clearance protocol which I found really interesting. Thus far, I haven't read that using a vest is all one needs to bring up sputum. Good luck!

Thanks for the report. I was never considered a vest candidate by my docs because I am able to bring up sputum without one. That, and I have enough hip/rib/back pain without adding it. And I can barely be tethered to my nebulizer - not sure I could tolerate a vest.

Each of us must find our own path with MAC & Bronchiectasis.
Sue