pneumonovest costs

@loreofox80 Yikes! I knew the vests were costly, but I had no idea.
Did your pulmonologist explain why they feel you will benefit from a vest? Are you able to bring up mucus using nebulized saline and huff coughing or using a device like Aerobika?
I see that you are actively doing "watch and wait" - are you have many symptoms?

Thank you,Sue for responding. Yikes is right! And as luck would have it, I just got turned down by my insurance about 15 minutes ago! My doc just called me. I am not sick enough, it seems! Gotta fail at all of the ACTs before they will grant me the privilege! I am pretty new to all this. My nebulizer and supplies are arriving this afternoon from nebology so will start tomorrow morning and see how it goes. I have been using the aerobika, huff coughing, and 15 minutes of vigorous chest patting. My spouse will start tomorrow doing my back at the same time, if possible. We walk a lot, ride a stationary bike, and work out with resistance bands with handles and use our condo's fitness center. And stuff is starting to come up. Hopefully the Albuteral followed by 3% sodium chloride in the nebulizer will make my work more productive. I was diagnosed in April because on a walk, to my surprise, I spit up a lot of blood from my lungs in a grocery story parking lot. It was kinda funny and not. No one came to help. I think they thought I was homeless! I had no symptoms then and very few now. But I was told that within a year, I will notice them. I am terrified of the antibiotics and have been advised by 2 hearing professionals that I will most likely lose my already poor hearing and compromise my eyesight. Not ready for that. I am almost 81. I want to live my life to the fullest for as long as I can. And there you have it. I hope you are doing well with the program. I see you are a Mentor. What does that entail? Thank you for doing it! Are you doing "watchful waiting" too? Let me hear! (while I still can LOL!). Nancy

Sorry! I didn't respond to your query about the pulmonologist's reasons for the vest. He didn't directly, but it making up the lesson plan for my daily ACTs he listed what I was to do and in what order: Albuterol nebulizer then 3% sodium chloride nebulizer (doing after helps avoid bronchospasm, he noted) then aerobika and huff cough, then pneumovest. I have been doing in that order. Now I just need to add the nebulizing.

Regarding the vest- my local pulmonologist said two years ago I did not qualify because you need 3 exacerbations to apply for it. After the appeal I was approved so if you think you need it ask the doctor to appeal. Don’t give up because it really depends on how a doctor applies for the vest. Ask again

Thanks, Lilianna! I certainly will. Starting the nebulizing tomorrow morning with albuterol then sodium chloride. I do like the pitapat on the chest. Seems to help stuff move up and out. If I don't qualify on appeal, I will stick with the pitapat on my chest and have my spouse do pitapat on my back at the same time. We shall see. Take care and good luck with your program. Thank you again for your excellent advice. Nancy

Nancy, you have mentioned your age, and if you are like many of us "bronchies" you may also be slight and/or have osteoporosis or spinal arthritis. If so, the vest might not be for you, especially if you are clearing mucus without one. If I were you, I would ask for a consult with a respiratory therapist where I can try one.

Do others here have a different opinion?

Sue that’s a good point. I read here many of us with osteoporosis can’t even use a vest

Regarding chest and back hand percussion, it's sometimes recommended to do it first with a cupped hand and then with a flat hand. Good luck.

Medicare paid for my husband’s vest and it cost 100$ a month for coverage for machine use.
Rita B