I have the dark blue AFFLO vest. I do my best to wear it once a day. Since I am tall, and have always been active I can walk around with it and do something else while it’s going through its cycles. I find it works for me and loosens mucus in my lungs. I was able to get this vest that my doctors ordered from UT East Texas-Tyler thru Medicare and Tricare for Life.
I have AffloVest, which caused one sided rib pain after about 2 weeks use. Before the onset of pain, I thought it was somewhat useful. It's in mothballs now. Recently, I've thought about trying it again now that I am on Brinsupri and I experience less congestion/inflammation. I have much less mucus now so not sure how useful the vest would be. Between huff coughing and aerobika I seem to be able to expel what I need to feel clear.
@lsm1936, Would it be possible to say more about how the SmartVest is not working as expected. What were your expectations?
I have AffloVest, which caused one sided rib pain after about 2 weeks use. Before the onset of pain, I thought it was somewhat useful. It's in mothballs now. Recently, I've thought about trying it again now that I am on Brinsupri and I experience less congestion/inflammation. I have much less mucus now so not sure how useful the vest would be. Between huff coughing and aerobika I seem to be able to expel what I need to feel clear.
@lsm1936, Would it be possible to say more about how the SmartVest is not working as expected. What were your expectations?
@scoop
I don't have any vest right now. The SmartVest was mentioned to me by someone who just happens to be an RN. I sent the request to my pulomologist's nurse who came back with 3 recommendations and SV was not mentioned but 3 others were (Monarch Vest, The Vest Apex and AffLoVest). Am going to give Monarch Vest a try. Will report back. The weight of the unit may be a problem - says up to 13 lbs!! It will be fitted, thank God,
as I weigh 104 lbs, 5/1" tall and am nearing 90 yrs old.
I have the Hill-Rom 105 “The Vest”. I wear it for 20 minutes two times a day. As of today, I have 395 Hrs. Prior to using it my CT scan always noted mucus plugging. The airway is like an up escalator, if it gets clogged up it doesn’t work. If I exhale threw my mouth with my lips lightly closed, they flutter.
@scoop
I don't have any vest right now. The SmartVest was mentioned to me by someone who just happens to be an RN. I sent the request to my pulomologist's nurse who came back with 3 recommendations and SV was not mentioned but 3 others were (Monarch Vest, The Vest Apex and AffLoVest). Am going to give Monarch Vest a try. Will report back. The weight of the unit may be a problem - says up to 13 lbs!! It will be fitted, thank God,
as I weigh 104 lbs, 5/1" tall and am nearing 90 yrs old.
@lsm1936 Do you have osteoporosis or arthritis in your spine? When I was undergoing antibiotic treatment and weighed just under 100 pounds, my primary provider and pulmonologist said no to the vest due to my size and fear of spinal damage as I was considered "frail." If you decide to try one, be sure it can be returned within 90 days (30 days may not be a long enough test.)
I am 5’4” tall and weigh 110 pounds. I had the Hill-Rom Monarch for about nine months. I am told it comes in only one size. I tried everything to make it work, but it was simply too big. The pods are supposed to fit on your lungs or they do not work. The back lower pods hit me in the kidneys (although they were too wide to fit on my back fully). That caused back pain. The front lower pods hit my stomach. When they added shoulder pads, the top pads were too high. They wound up turning off more than half of the pods. The third representative who called finally came out and took a look; he said the vest did not fit AT ALL. They switched me to the Vest APX in December. It comes in different sizes. I am wearing a 30-34”. It fits comfortably and is adjustable. Although you can’t walk around with it, the hoses detach easily if you need them to. I highly recommend. My next scan will tell whether it has improved the mucus plugging, but I do believe it has improved my breathing. Pay careful attention if they try to fit you with the Monarch. If you are my size, it will not really fit.
I am currently using the smart vest as recommended by my pulmonologist. I use it once a day for 15 minutes. I don’t cough anything up during these sessions so not sure if it is working. But I am coughing a lot less overall and feeling much better. He also put me on the 3 day/week antibiotic maintenance plan.
I am using the Afflovest. It has been very effective! Lightweight and portable. Have not had any discomfort wearing it. It does have 3 intensity settings! I can walk around with it so it doesn’t tie you down. No hoses! It came with a carry on bag as well. I use it for 30 minutes as prescribed by my Pulmonologist and respiratory therapist. I use it while nebulizing with the aerobika. Gets the job done!
Very happy with it and haven’t looked back!
I tried the smart vest. I found no improvement or benefit from the vest. I stopped after months and months of trial. For me, a waste of time and money.
I've been using Phillips InCourage vest for a few months now. It seems to help some with lung clearing especially at night. I am 84, 83 pounds and also have osteoporosis. The vest has incremental settings so I can use it safely at 25%.
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
I have the dark blue AFFLO vest. I do my best to wear it once a day. Since I am tall, and have always been active I can walk around with it and do something else while it’s going through its cycles. I find it works for me and loosens mucus in my lungs. I was able to get this vest that my doctors ordered from UT East Texas-Tyler thru Medicare and Tricare for Life.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI have AffloVest, which caused one sided rib pain after about 2 weeks use. Before the onset of pain, I thought it was somewhat useful. It's in mothballs now. Recently, I've thought about trying it again now that I am on Brinsupri and I experience less congestion/inflammation. I have much less mucus now so not sure how useful the vest would be. Between huff coughing and aerobika I seem to be able to expel what I need to feel clear.
@lsm1936, Would it be possible to say more about how the SmartVest is not working as expected. What were your expectations?
@scoop
I don't have any vest right now. The SmartVest was mentioned to me by someone who just happens to be an RN. I sent the request to my pulomologist's nurse who came back with 3 recommendations and SV was not mentioned but 3 others were (Monarch Vest, The Vest Apex and AffLoVest). Am going to give Monarch Vest a try. Will report back. The weight of the unit may be a problem - says up to 13 lbs!! It will be fitted, thank God,
as I weigh 104 lbs, 5/1" tall and am nearing 90 yrs old.
I have the Hill-Rom 105 “The Vest”. I wear it for 20 minutes two times a day. As of today, I have 395 Hrs. Prior to using it my CT scan always noted mucus plugging. The airway is like an up escalator, if it gets clogged up it doesn’t work. If I exhale threw my mouth with my lips lightly closed, they flutter.
@lsm1936 Do you have osteoporosis or arthritis in your spine? When I was undergoing antibiotic treatment and weighed just under 100 pounds, my primary provider and pulmonologist said no to the vest due to my size and fear of spinal damage as I was considered "frail." If you decide to try one, be sure it can be returned within 90 days (30 days may not be a long enough test.)
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI am 5’4” tall and weigh 110 pounds. I had the Hill-Rom Monarch for about nine months. I am told it comes in only one size. I tried everything to make it work, but it was simply too big. The pods are supposed to fit on your lungs or they do not work. The back lower pods hit me in the kidneys (although they were too wide to fit on my back fully). That caused back pain. The front lower pods hit my stomach. When they added shoulder pads, the top pads were too high. They wound up turning off more than half of the pods. The third representative who called finally came out and took a look; he said the vest did not fit AT ALL. They switched me to the Vest APX in December. It comes in different sizes. I am wearing a 30-34”. It fits comfortably and is adjustable. Although you can’t walk around with it, the hoses detach easily if you need them to. I highly recommend. My next scan will tell whether it has improved the mucus plugging, but I do believe it has improved my breathing. Pay careful attention if they try to fit you with the Monarch. If you are my size, it will not really fit.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI am currently using the smart vest as recommended by my pulmonologist. I use it once a day for 15 minutes. I don’t cough anything up during these sessions so not sure if it is working. But I am coughing a lot less overall and feeling much better. He also put me on the 3 day/week antibiotic maintenance plan.
I am using the Afflovest. It has been very effective! Lightweight and portable. Have not had any discomfort wearing it. It does have 3 intensity settings! I can walk around with it so it doesn’t tie you down. No hoses! It came with a carry on bag as well. I use it for 30 minutes as prescribed by my Pulmonologist and respiratory therapist. I use it while nebulizing with the aerobika. Gets the job done!
Very happy with it and haven’t looked back!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI tried the smart vest. I found no improvement or benefit from the vest. I stopped after months and months of trial. For me, a waste of time and money.
I've been using Phillips InCourage vest for a few months now. It seems to help some with lung clearing especially at night. I am 84, 83 pounds and also have osteoporosis. The vest has incremental settings so I can use it safely at 25%.