Using the Smartvest

I have a vest and I use various nebulizer treatments, plus a flutter valve. None of them have brought up any substantial mucus clearance. I cough up more with Mucinex. I have bronchiectasis and IPF.

Yes, airway clearance can be time consuming! This is the routine I have adapted to save some time. I use the Combivent inhaler (or Duoneb neb) usually sometime later in the afternoon and nebulize the saline early evening. Typically I put on the Smartvest and then nebulize 7% for a few minutes befort turning on the vest. While vest is still running I do some deep breathing with breath holding (autogenic drainage) to help "unstick" mucus, and then do some Aerobika when vest stops. I can produce a fair amout of mucus with this routine which takes about 20-25 min. Ideally, postural drainage would follow. Hope this helps!

My step grand daughter has cystic fibrosis and her mom told me that their provider suggested, when vesting, to stop it every 5 or so minutes and do a couple rounds of huff coughing, then resume vesting- alternate this through the session. I've tried it and it is quite effective in helping bring up mucus. Today, for the first time, I tried vesting while nebbing 7% saline (because my Aerobika stopped working) and I did the start/stop as well. That was effective. A note about Aerobika: their staff said you must make sure the device is completely dry before using it. Apparently, if there is any moisture in the flutter part, it may malfunction. That however was not my problem. It simply pooped out after only 2 or 3 months. It is a great little device though and I ordered another hoping this problem won't reoccur.

Hi Arlo - one of mine wore out quickly too. They usually last about a year, and my Pulmonologist is in a Lung Health Clinic with respiratory therapy on site. So I get a new one each year, and my insurance covers it as a supply (one year or less life.) No one else I know is this fortunate, my daughter has a $35 copay for hers.
Sue

I have the aerobika but wonder if there is a specific cup and nebulizer (machine) that I need to do this. My doctor did not have information about this but said that I would benefit from nebbing with the aerobika. Thanks for any help with this
HD

Thanks for reminding us that not everyone gets really good patient education from their providers. Sometime we are left wondering "What did [s]he mean???"

Your Aerobika will connect to most traditional nebulizers - the type with a separate compressor, tubing and nebulizer cup. Here is one video that shows you how:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=312475197601471

The brand of machine is not important - only that you can separate the mouthpiece from the nebulizer cup and replace it with the Aerobika as shown.

Just remember, each of us is different. Some people find this saves time, but for me, it placed a strain on my breathing when I was really ill and made me feel worse. I have tried it with my "big green machine (Pari Vios) my DeVilbiss Traveler and and Omron portable I used to have. Now I neb first (just 7% saline) then use the Aerrobika.

If you have more questions, feel free to ask...
Sue

If you are using the Aerobika you will need the Aeroeclipse XL REUSEABLE Breath Actuated Nebulizer cups. I order mine from Just Nebulizers.

Thank you..will any nebulizer machine work with this. I’ve be using the travel Pari Trek S a lot. I have another Phillps brand that I use less often
HD

I have OMBRA nebulizing machine. I am really not sure about the other machines.

The doctor was covering so much, my head was spinning. She said she thought the Aerobika would absolutely be worth trying, then moved on. I’m thinking positive, that she is good but dealing with time
constraints
Thanks Sue
HD