1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Smartvest...Is it helpful in eliminating sputum?

Posted by alleycatkate @alleycatkate, Jan 4 12:34pm

Does anyone using a Smart Vest find that it has not been a positive experience resulting in the elimination of sputum? I've been using it now for about 6 months with what seems like pretty dismal results. I do saline nebulizing 2x a day. I used to be able to eject quite a lot of junk from my lungs after just nebulizing. (for many years) A little after I got the vest I did a round of antibiotics to control a pseudomona infection. Maybe I should just be jumping up and down for joy because I am not swamped with junk coming up from my lungs but I am wondering if the vest is just not effective for me. Do others experience this lack of results? I've ordered an aerobika and am considering sending the vest back as it almost seems a waste of time. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!! Kate

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reneemc | @reneemc | Jan 7 9:52am
In reply to @karissy "I was diagnosed with Mac and bronchiectasis. This is approximately three years ago. I have been..." + (show)
@karissy

I was diagnosed with Mac and bronchiectasis. This is approximately three years ago. I have been using the vest for approximately three years twice a day at 30 minutes. I have never been able to bring up any sputum at all within the three years. The infectious doctor told me I probably have dry bronchitis and I may not be able to bring any. They have tried to nebulize me so that they could get sample but it was impossible. None would come up. So I have not been able to spit any out in three years. However, I do the vest and I walk every day for 5 miles. CT scans remain stable with no progression . The only health equipment I use is my hill rom vest.
Don’t know what the future holds and what I may have to do a year or two from now, but that’s all I have been doing and have been successful so far

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I’m curious in how did they nebulize you? I can’t produce sputum and wondered if they had a way to force it?

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2 replies
karissy | @karissy | Jan 7 11:27am

When they do my breathing test every six months they put me in a booth with a nebulizer and keep having me inhale it. My doctor said that way they could force it out of me. Well it doesn’t work with me. My infectious disease doctor told me not to worry about it that some people can’t. It seems to me that it should come out and that I would have to to try and get better. The doctor said by trying to force it that it would cuz more damage and we don’t want that. So I don’t try to force it and only try it when I am being tested I have mild
Bronchiectasis .

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alleycatkate | @alleycatkate | Jan 7 12:05pm
In reply to @reneemc "I’m curious in how did they nebulize you? I can’t produce sputum and wondered if they..." + (show)
@reneemc

I’m curious in how did they nebulize you? I can’t produce sputum and wondered if they had a way to force it?

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@reneemc Hi there. Just saw your response to Karissy. I'm wondering if they used a higher percentage (7%) saline solution and not a 3% solution. ?? The 7% is stronger.

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1 reply
drwholigan | @drwholigan | Jan 8 8:59am
In reply to @alleycatkate "@reneemc Hi there. Just saw your response to Karissy. I'm wondering if they used a higher..." + (show)
@alleycatkate

@reneemc Hi there. Just saw your response to Karissy. I'm wondering if they used a higher percentage (7%) saline solution and not a 3% solution. ?? The 7% is stronger.

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I used 10% hypertonic saline (alternating with 7% am/pm) after I was
diagnosed. The first 6 months I could get nothing up and felt like it was not helping so my doc put me on alternating 7% / 10%. The 10% is harsh and takes a lot of getting used to. Over time I could feel my lungs loosening up and started to produce sputum. I now just use 7% twice daily (add 10% if I am sick). I do feel that it took a long time for my lungs to "get wet enough" to actually be able to get sputum up. Now I am a daily morning producer.
I think it really helped me but it is not for sissies 😉

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1 reply
pacathy | @pacathy | Jan 8 9:20am
In reply to @reneemc "I’m curious in how did they nebulize you? I can’t produce sputum and wondered if they..." + (show)
@reneemc

I’m curious in how did they nebulize you? I can’t produce sputum and wondered if they had a way to force it?

Jump to this post

I went to Mayo last March to get a diagnosis and plan after having CT’s suggesting MAC lung. I very seldom get out mucus and couldn't there. They sent me to Respiratory Therapy to try to get one using bronchodilator, 3% saline and 7%. I got a little blood out, but it was an inadequate speciman so they did a bronchoscopy and got a speciman from the R middle lobe. It did not grow out MAC. Btw, RT told me it was pretty common for patients to fail to get a sputum with induction if they produce little.

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2 replies
alleycatkate | @alleycatkate | Jan 8 9:32am
In reply to @drwholigan "I used 10% hypertonic saline (alternating with 7% am/pm) after I was diagnosed. The first 6..." + (show)
@drwholigan

I used 10% hypertonic saline (alternating with 7% am/pm) after I was
diagnosed. The first 6 months I could get nothing up and felt like it was not helping so my doc put me on alternating 7% / 10%. The 10% is harsh and takes a lot of getting used to. Over time I could feel my lungs loosening up and started to produce sputum. I now just use 7% twice daily (add 10% if I am sick). I do feel that it took a long time for my lungs to "get wet enough" to actually be able to get sputum up. Now I am a daily morning producer.
I think it really helped me but it is not for sissies 😉

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@drwholigan I can imagine that a 10% saline would be difficult and not for the timid! It is an interesting approach....thanks. Kate

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reneemc | @reneemc | Jan 8 10:47am
In reply to @pacathy "I went to Mayo last March to get a diagnosis and plan after having CT’s suggesting..." + (show)
@pacathy

I went to Mayo last March to get a diagnosis and plan after having CT’s suggesting MAC lung. I very seldom get out mucus and couldn't there. They sent me to Respiratory Therapy to try to get one using bronchodilator, 3% saline and 7%. I got a little blood out, but it was an inadequate speciman so they did a bronchoscopy and got a speciman from the R middle lobe. It did not grow out MAC. Btw, RT told me it was pretty common for patients to fail to get a sputum with induction if they produce little.

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Good to know. I hope I don’t have to have another bronchoscopy because the first one caused my lung to collapse

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alleycatkate | @alleycatkate | Jan 8 11:50am
In reply to @pacathy "I went to Mayo last March to get a diagnosis and plan after having CT’s suggesting..." + (show)
@pacathy

I went to Mayo last March to get a diagnosis and plan after having CT’s suggesting MAC lung. I very seldom get out mucus and couldn't there. They sent me to Respiratory Therapy to try to get one using bronchodilator, 3% saline and 7%. I got a little blood out, but it was an inadequate speciman so they did a bronchoscopy and got a speciman from the R middle lobe. It did not grow out MAC. Btw, RT told me it was pretty common for patients to fail to get a sputum with induction if they produce little.

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@reneemc. Thanks for the info!

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janskallerud | @janskallerud | Jan 8 1:07pm

I use a Hill-Rom Vest, and while using it, I nebulize Duo-Neb (albuterol and Ipratropium combination) and then I nebulize Acetylcysteine 20% with automated pauses for coughing. It has been an answer to my prayer, and I don't know how I could live without it! I highly recommend it!
Jan

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1 reply
alleycatkate | @alleycatkate | Jan 8 8:46pm
In reply to @janskallerud "I use a Hill-Rom Vest, and while using it, I nebulize Duo-Neb (albuterol and Ipratropium combination)..." + (show)
@janskallerud

I use a Hill-Rom Vest, and while using it, I nebulize Duo-Neb (albuterol and Ipratropium combination) and then I nebulize Acetylcysteine 20% with automated pauses for coughing. It has been an answer to my prayer, and I don't know how I could live without it! I highly recommend it!
Jan

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Hi Jan, Thanks for your input. So glad that you are finding the vest so helpful!! Good to know.
Kate

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