I also used/tried Afflovest. The concept was great -- free standing, no tether to a compressor, rechargeable, had its own carrying case for travel (I used to carry it on the plane). I developed lower rib pain on one side, however, and had to discontinue. Pulmonary suggested the lowest settings only to see if that would eliminate the rib pain but it did not.
I hope others will weigh in. It's a topic that has been discussed a lot. It's easy to search this forum to read others' experiences. From what I've gleaned people seem to like the SmartVest but you should definitely do your own research and trial the product for as long as necessary before purchasing.
I also tried the Afflo vest at least two different occasions in the past two years. First year tried for about 3 months, not every day mind you but at least 2-3 weeks straight one time and it didn’t seem to do much. I then talked to a representative of the company and he told me, “oh you have to use it 3-4 weeks every day before you’ll see any effectiveness”. Does that make any sense!!! If it does, please tell me how and why!! I still have it and use the medium setting as prescribed by my Pulmonologist. I use it occasionally, and do postural drainage while using it and it seems to help a little bit. For me it definitely does not help at all if I’m walking around with it on, I think gravity plays a major role in that aspect of it. Anyway I don’t think it’s worth the price my distributor says they charge Insurance, which I was told is around $10,000.
I also tried the Afflo vest at least two different occasions in the past two years. First year tried for about 3 months, not every day mind you but at least 2-3 weeks straight one time and it didn’t seem to do much. I then talked to a representative of the company and he told me, “oh you have to use it 3-4 weeks every day before you’ll see any effectiveness”. Does that make any sense!!! If it does, please tell me how and why!! I still have it and use the medium setting as prescribed by my Pulmonologist. I use it occasionally, and do postural drainage while using it and it seems to help a little bit. For me it definitely does not help at all if I’m walking around with it on, I think gravity plays a major role in that aspect of it. Anyway I don’t think it’s worth the price my distributor says they charge Insurance, which I was told is around $10,000.
Do you mean it didn't help when you used it when you were upright (even just sitting, not walking around)? I've avoided postural drainage because I'm concerned about reflux and my schedule makes it hard to do airway clearance on an empty stomach.
Do you mean it didn't help when you used it when you were upright (even just sitting, not walking around)? I've avoided postural drainage because I'm concerned about reflux and my schedule makes it hard to do airway clearance on an empty stomach.
Yes I tried it walking around, sitting & it just didn’t help to loosen up the mucus. Now as I said it did seem to help slightly though while doing postural drainage. But I like others get way more mucus up and out doing the Areobika and Autogenic Drainage I don’t know why gravity doesn’t affect that because I do that sitting down.
I have an Afflovest. It's what my insurance "chose" and paid for. There was a period of time when I grew tired of using it and thought it didn't really help and stopped. Long story short, I found out I was wrong and when I started using it again I found that it did indeed make a difference and use it every day now.
Also, if you're lucky enough to have insurance that pays for the vest, I would keep it even if you don' t use it every day. The vests are very expensive. You never know, things change with this disease and you may find what once did not work for you does later.
We need any "tool" we can get to help us deal with this stuff whether it's a vest, medication, dietary guidance or just someone to listen.
I have the Smart Vest, my insurance decided with one was " good" for me. I have been using it since February 2024, twice daily for 15 minutes. I can say it was helping me , but lately is causing back pain. I Have several compresion fractures that were fused with acrylic cement. It seems like the vibrations from the vest are causing pain. I am taking a break for now to allow my back to heal. I only wheight 104 lbs and have osteoporosis secondary to Crohn`s disease. I think the vest is another tool to help manage bronchiectasis, but it doesn't work for everybody. I am keeping mine, my insurance paid 100%.
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I also tried the Afflo vest at least two different occasions in the past two years. First year tried for about 3 months, not every day mind you but at least 2-3 weeks straight one time and it didn’t seem to do much. I then talked to a representative of the company and he told me, “oh you have to use it 3-4 weeks every day before you’ll see any effectiveness”. Does that make any sense!!! If it does, please tell me how and why!! I still have it and use the medium setting as prescribed by my Pulmonologist. I use it occasionally, and do postural drainage while using it and it seems to help a little bit. For me it definitely does not help at all if I’m walking around with it on, I think gravity plays a major role in that aspect of it. Anyway I don’t think it’s worth the price my distributor says they charge Insurance, which I was told is around $10,000.
Do you mean it didn't help when you used it when you were upright (even just sitting, not walking around)? I've avoided postural drainage because I'm concerned about reflux and my schedule makes it hard to do airway clearance on an empty stomach.
Yes I tried it walking around, sitting & it just didn’t help to loosen up the mucus. Now as I said it did seem to help slightly though while doing postural drainage. But I like others get way more mucus up and out doing the Areobika and Autogenic Drainage I don’t know why gravity doesn’t affect that because I do that sitting down.
I have an Afflovest. It's what my insurance "chose" and paid for. There was a period of time when I grew tired of using it and thought it didn't really help and stopped. Long story short, I found out I was wrong and when I started using it again I found that it did indeed make a difference and use it every day now.
Also, if you're lucky enough to have insurance that pays for the vest, I would keep it even if you don' t use it every day. The vests are very expensive. You never know, things change with this disease and you may find what once did not work for you does later.
We need any "tool" we can get to help us deal with this stuff whether it's a vest, medication, dietary guidance or just someone to listen.
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2 ReactionsI have the Smart Vest, my insurance decided with one was " good" for me. I have been using it since February 2024, twice daily for 15 minutes. I can say it was helping me , but lately is causing back pain. I Have several compresion fractures that were fused with acrylic cement. It seems like the vibrations from the vest are causing pain. I am taking a break for now to allow my back to heal. I only wheight 104 lbs and have osteoporosis secondary to Crohn`s disease. I think the vest is another tool to help manage bronchiectasis, but it doesn't work for everybody. I am keeping mine, my insurance paid 100%.