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Wedge pillow during Aerobika use
I have found that when doing my breathing exercises with the Aerobika, that I can use my wedge pillow to elevate my hips (wedge sloping towards my head), so that the positional breathing is more effective.
I always nebulize first with 7% saline and follow it with the Aerobika and wedge. I do a round of relaxed breaths followed by 3 short breaths and holding between each before breathing out fully. I then do the same with medium breaths and then with deep breaths. I exhale completely after each breath hold.
I start with sitting upright and then go to the wedge pillow that I place on my bed, first on my right side, then my back, then left side, and finally on my stomach with my head hanging slightly over the bed. When I finish this, I am able to expectorate more than I used to by just sitting upright. It is a marked difference.
This has really helped me. I don’t use the Albuterol much because it causes bronchospasm for me, and if I inhale twice several days in a row, I get hemoptysis because of the airway dilation.
I hope this helps some of you. By the way, I don’t have aspiration issues when I sleep, and to prevent any, I also use the wedge pillow at night. I can’t use it alone because I slide down, so I place a good pillow vertically on it to where it supports my back all the way down. I don’t slide. I tried placing the pillow horizontally but found that vertically works much better. I bought the wedge pillow online/ I think it may have been from Amazon. It has turned out to serve multiple purposes.
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How long do you stay in each position? Do you use the Aerobika with this?Thanks,
Sally
I do something sort of similar. But i have rigged up a method with my L shaped sofa and an ottoman and a pillow so that my head is slightly inclined and my hips are elevated. This is while using the Aerobika. I also use it on each side but do not see a way to elevate hips when on my side. I also start sitting up with Aerobika. Very recently I am actually using an incline device that is 13 degrees incline and I lay on it at the very end of my session for about 8 minutes. I have found that it brings up a couple of globs even after significant clearance.
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1 ReactionSo far, I have purchased 2 wedge sleeping pillows from Relax the Back Store. They are a little spendy but superior to what I found elsewhere. They come in standard and wide widths. There is some sliding but not much. Very comfortable. I can vouch for @formergardener that placing a regular bed pillow perpendicular to the wedge keeps your body from sliding too much. I use this setup for my inflatable travel wedge pillow. Planning to try wedge during clearing, so far I use wedge for sleep.
https://relaxtheback.com/products/contoursleep-side-sleeper-bed-wedge?_pos=5&_sid=2c37d53ad&_ss=r
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3 ReactionsHi. I am curious how far up you are/where are your hips/head with the wedge pillow when you are doing breathing? Is your head hanging down over the end of the wedge/thick part of wedge in the direction of your head or feet? Thanks!
Hi there. You know, when you sleep with the wedge, the thick part is at the headboard of your bed, and the rest slopes down. When you use it while doing the Aerobika, it is the other way around. So, my head is at the thinnest part of the wedge end, and I rest my hips as high up on the thick part as I can. If I feel I need them higher, I might add a pillow. Nothing too crazy.
Remember to never do this after eating. Wait about 3 hours after eating or before you eat.
This may not work for everyone, but it has made a difference for me. I hope I explained it clearly.
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2 Reactions@scoop, that wedge pillow is awesome! Yes, it definitely costs more, but for a good night sleep, it is worth it. It is also much longer than mine and extends further down. That more gradual and extended incline helps to prevent sliding, too. Did you also purchase the cervical pillow, or do you just use your regular bed pillow instead?
Where were you able to find an inflatable travel wedge pillow? I learn so much from other people on this site. It is a Godsend.
Yes, it's large and holds the body well. I have the standard size but the employees at Relax the Back all purchased the wide, which gives a bit more turning over room. For head pillow, @formergardener I alternate between the cervical pillow they sell and a travel pillow from My Pillow. Their standard size pillow I disliked but somehow their travel pillow works for me. For the travel pillow I bought a cotton pillow protector and cotton pillowcase (percale or sateen) to replace the one that came with it. So far so good! For travel I have an inflatable wedge from Amazon, which is not nearly as nice a setup up as I have at home. Your tip of placing a standard pillow perpendicular to the wedge works well.
Thank you so much for all of the very helpful information, @scoop. I think that the standard will be fine for me. I have not been able to sleep on my side with my current wedge pillow because the slope is not as gradual, and it irritates the neck. The slope on yours is more suitable for comfort, and it will be so nice to not have to remain on my back all night!
I will check with the store tomorrow to see if they have pillow and cervical pillow.
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1 ReactionThank you! This had been very helpful!
@formergardener
How long do you stay in each position, when using the wedge pillow and the Aerobika.
I am still relatively new to this airway clearance and have graduated from bringing up nothing to little white stringy stuff and little white globs. I know there is more to come out.
I just bought a bed where I can raise my head and feet. I tried using postural drainage by raising the foot of the bed and putting my hips on the raised foot part and my lungs and head slanting down. I have laid on my sides and back with no results. How long do you remain in each position? Is using the aerobika while the lungs and head are below the hips, the key? I have done the autogenic breathing you describe sitting up but never laying down.
I am still trying to figure this all out. Thanks in advance for any advice.
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