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

<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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Hi - when I do them together I cannot get a productive cough from the 7%. Only without vest or Aerobika can I get one good productive cough after nebulizing

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@cmi

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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“Now I have some “meat on the bone” for discussion this week with my ID doctor.”

Regina, be prepared to discover that you know more about nebuizing, and percussion vests than your doc. Particularly since s/he isn’t (I presume) a Pulmonologist. Hope you can report otherwise. Don

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@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 think that there was a discussion here about nebulizing with the Aerobika attached. I’ve tried both ways but wonder if there was ever a concensus about whether it is more effective to use them at the same time or better to use the Aerobika after the nebulizer. It’s definitely faster but not sure if it is better to clear lungs.
Thanks in advance for any comments.

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@kathyhg

I think that there was a discussion here about nebulizing with the Aerobika attached. I’ve tried both ways but wonder if there was ever a concensus about whether it is more effective to use them at the same time or better to use the Aerobika after the nebulizer. It’s definitely faster but not sure if it is better to clear lungs.
Thanks in advance for any comments.

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@oram

Hi - when I do them together I cannot get a productive cough from the 7%. Only without vest or Aerobika can I get one good productive cough after nebulizing

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Seems counterintuitive, though Oran my experience is similar to yours.

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@pssurfer

To answer thumperguy's question, I am only managing bronchiectasis--no MAC. I asked the pulmonologist about the 7%. Even the 3% exacerbates my coughing. His view is that as long as the 3% brings up mucus, he'd prefer to stay at that level. BTW, he saw the low setting on my Aerobika and switched it to the max--no mid-range for me! I didn't mention in my earlier post that I also nebulize Perforomist twice daily--no albuterol. I have a rescue inhaler (Atrovent) and maybe use it once daily. Perforomist is a long-acting bronchodilator. It's expensive, but Medicare Part B covers it.

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The program seems reasonable since you’re not trying to kill MAC. Don

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My Pulmologist is ordering me a vest, I’ve been diagnosed with IPF with extensive Bronchiostasis, but in the upper airway, I currently nebulize with albuterol twice a day, then use acupella device after nebulizer. It does get some mucus up but I feel some left that I wish would be thin enough to cough up. I also drink water and that helps also. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.

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@spider109

My Pulmologist is ordering me a vest, I’ve been diagnosed with IPF with extensive Bronchiostasis, but in the upper airway, I currently nebulize with albuterol twice a day, then use acupella device after nebulizer. It does get some mucus up but I feel some left that I wish would be thin enough to cough up. I also drink water and that helps also. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.

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If you can feel more mucus after you use the acapella, maybe a saline neb after the albuterol would be beneficial to help thin it further. Unless you have an infection, normal saline (.9%) solution should be ok. It comes in little vials like the albuterol, you would just put it in the cup when the albuterol is gone & use it the same way (no need to wash the neb cup first.)
I am not too familiar with IPF, so you should ask your lung doc whether it could help.
Have you tried saline before?
Sue

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@sueinmn

If you can feel more mucus after you use the acapella, maybe a saline neb after the albuterol would be beneficial to help thin it further. Unless you have an infection, normal saline (.9%) solution should be ok. It comes in little vials like the albuterol, you would just put it in the cup when the albuterol is gone & use it the same way (no need to wash the neb cup first.)
I am not too familiar with IPF, so you should ask your lung doc whether it could help.
Have you tried saline before?
Sue

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Yes I have, and sometimes I use that instead of the albuterol and yes it does thin it out pretty good, I worry about using the albuterol, being a bronchodilator it seems that would add to the problem the bronchodilating effect would further wear the elasticity of my upper airway.

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@spider109

Yes I have, and sometimes I use that instead of the albuterol and yes it does thin it out pretty good, I worry about using the albuterol, being a bronchodilator it seems that would add to the problem the bronchodilating effect would further wear the elasticity of my upper airway.

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I wouldn't worry damage from a bronchodilator, as long as you do it as directed. You are actually giving your lungs a break by relaxing the airways and making it less of a struggle to breathe.
If you have an inhaler, you could use it before the saline, instead of 2 nebs. Opening the airway will bring up even more mucus.
Keep up the clearance - it will help keep you from getting the next lung infection.
Sue

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