1. Community
  2. Chest and lungs
  3. Bronchiectasis

Different clearance methods

Posted , 12 users are following.

ida44484
ida44484

Hi all,

I was wondering if maybe we could share some of our different clearance/physio methods and maybe learn something from each other.

I personally have tried everything from the flutter and acapella devices to ACBT and clapping. However, my own invented methods seem to be much more efficient for me. I used to lay on the bed and lean over the side while doing my active cycle breathing methods and this works very well for me. However, since this is rather straining on my body and often brings on nose bleeds😄, I now do a doggie pose on the floor - hands and elbows on floor - and then breathe in deeply and out long and deep and if there is anything there, this method seems to bring it up for me.

Anyways, I'm always looking to learn more about this disease and how to deal with it, so if anyone wants to share their methods - obscure or not - that would be great.

Enjoy your day,

Ida

0 likes, 21 replies

21 Replies

Next
  • steve62514
    steve62514 ida44484

    Posted

    I think we did this exact subject as a thread somewhere a few months ago IDA.
  • gary87083
    gary87083 ida44484

    Posted

    Hi Ida,

    I had tried many things...  I use the acapella, and that helps.  I hang over the edge of the bed, and that helps.  My wife beats on my back while I am hanging over the bed (which she seems to enjoy way too much!), and that helps.  I bend forwards over an excersize ball, and that helps.  However, the thing that helps the most is an inversion table.  You need to take the inversion in stages, and not everyone can invert completely, but you can lay in relative comfort there for awhile, and let the drainage happen.  I can easily change angles, and invert both forward and backward.  This REALLY heps me.  For what it's worth...

    Best,

    Gary

    • ida44484
      ida44484 gary87083

      Posted

      Hi Gary,

      Thanks for sharing. An Inversion table sounds great and I might have to try that. The only concern would be the inconvenience, especially when travelling or away from home. Unfortuntately I can rarely bring anything up in the morning, but it seems to work better for me during the middle of the day, which of course can be rather inconvenient.

      So glad, you have a reliable method that works for you.

      Thanks,

      ida

  • Operalyn
    Operalyn ida44484

    Posted

    Wow! Total inversion? That would work...Definitely.

    I use the method I was taught at The Brompton. I lean over a pile of pillows first, controlled breathing and then huffing before coughing to bring up the rubbish! Then lie on each side in turn with pillows at an angle just to lean against as you breathe and huff again. I never have trouble clearing it all out unless I have a virus or something. Never used an additional aid in all my life.

    • ida44484
      ida44484 Operalyn

      Posted

      Hi Operalyn,

      Thanks for sharing. I live in the states and unfortunately we don't have the great system that you have other places, where you are referred to a therapist who can show you the best clearance methods. So, I always scour the internet for new and better ideas/methods.

      Thanks again,

      Ida

    • steve62514
      steve62514 ida44484

      Posted

      Ditto. Physiotherapists at another UK lung defence unit (Papworth) taught me to do similar, except no pillows needed as yet. I just lie on my back and breathe out to the max until I get the hoary rattle! That plus an occasional turn onto each side. I think my junk must be easily dislodged as I have tried lying over the end of the bed and there's no real difference in production.

      Our six year old daughter shocked us by being checked into hospital on the back of a cough and fevers that went on far too long for my liking even though she remained cheerful and playful (my lung problems started to be analysed properly for me 3 years ago when I saw a poster in my UK general practitioners that said "been coughing for more than 4 weeks? Come get a free X-Ray"). She was X-rayed and diagnosed with pneumonia, sinusitis and adenoidal inflammation. So I've been seeing some of these other clearance techniques practised on her in this Thai hospital this week - acapella flutters, some kind of vibrating iron-like machine that reminds me of my DIY sander and rapid back-slapping massage. Perhaps I'll try out the latter if I need enhancement anytime, as Thailand has a masseur shop on every street corner it seems.

      Luckily she has a far better immune system than mine and the threatened 1-2 weeks stay is turning into 4-5 days. I took 3 months to recover from childhood (14 yo) pneumonia in both lungs - doctors point to this as my likely bronchex source.

    • steve62514
      steve62514

      Posted

      The curiously placed emoticon is a typo!
    • Operalyn
      Operalyn steve62514

      Posted

      Sorry about your daughter Steve.  Glad she is making good progress anyway.

      I use a variant on your technique for clearance myself when I haven't got time to do the full thing.  A deep rattly breath will shift most things I find!  When I was a child my mother or father used to help me with my drainage and they used to use a percussive technique they had been taught - bashing me sharply on my sides and back.  It could hurt a bit but was very effective.

      My source was measles which is why I am so glad that people can get immunised these days.  Those who choose not to do so worry me to death.  Bronchiectasis is no fun when you are little....or ever really come to think of it.

    • steve62514
      steve62514 Operalyn

      Posted

      Thanks - you would not believe how well she looks for all that! Just hates canullas and I don't blame her on that one - I didn't think well of them when my bronchex took me into hospital last year for 2 weeks of antibio try-outs. We can send men to space but have not developed less barbarous drug delivery systems!
    • ida44484
      ida44484 steve62514

      Posted

      Hi Steve,

      Hope your daughter is all better by now and so glad you saw that poster about free xrays and coughing.

      It's so hard to see our kids suffer, but it is great to hear how good spirited your daughter is. 

      I hope to hear from you that she is all better now.

      Ida

  • elizabeth49611
    elizabeth49611 ida44484

    Posted

    Ida,

    I do the same pose, on my knees and elbows.

    I sometimes wonder, if I raise the foot of my bed, so it's reclining with the head being lower than the feet, would that help, during the night, to keep the mucus moving out of the lungs.  Has anyone else tried that?

    Elizabeth

    • Operalyn
      Operalyn elizabeth49611

      Posted

      When I was a child the end of my bed used to be raised. It's a bit tricky if you share the bed with a partner!
  • stellaclark
    stellaclark ida44484

    Posted

    Hi Ida, I've tried many ways to do drainage over 35+ years, but the thing that works best for me is to tip from the sofa which is not too high like a bed yet slops enough to feel comfortable and do the job. I do a side at a time resting my head on a cushion on the floor, I also do the breathing technique. I alway take a magazine to read and the time passes quickly. I always do this on an empty stomach and just before lunch as I find that when I have been out and about it helps loosen the mucus and it comes out easily most of the time. I have tried mornings, but after lying in bed all night I cannot get the stuff from the bottom on my lungs. 

    I am retired now so go out in the mornings and come back to do the drainage. When I worked full time I did it whilst the dinner was on in the evening.

    I have never used any devices, but find the saline solution I take in the morning with my antibiotic helps loosen and thins the mucus.

    I like this site so people can share ideas and also for the support it gives.

     

    • ida44484
      ida44484 stellaclark

      Posted

      Hi Stella,

      Thanks for sharing your methods. Like you, I can't get anything out in the mornings either, so I do it just before lunch. I was glad to read how you are more flexible with your times and how you used to do it before dinner. I seem to get a bit anxious if I can't get my clearance done in the middle of the day. I have some ungrounded fear that if I don't try then, it might settle and grow. However, thanks to your response, I will now calm down a bit about my self enforced schedule and wait till later in the day to perform my physio.

      Thanks again. I'm so glad you shared, because I know it will help me and maybe others, who are new to this illness and trying to understand how it works.

      ida

  • Stixlabushka
    Stixlabushka ida44484

    Posted

    I'm a bubble pep person. Flutter did not work, kept getting sick.

    I bubble pep daily.

    Plus I keep super active. (also to keep the osteoporosis at ease) cardio tennis, I work lifting a lot. Walk and ride my little one to school.

    • ida44484
      ida44484 Stixlabushka

      Posted

      I have never heard of bubble pep, so I googled it and it sounds interesting.

      I'm wondering if anyone else has positive experiences with the bubble pep and also where to get one?

      Like you I also keep very active. I work out daily and walk and bike a lot.

      Thanks for sharing. I learn so much from this forum and I'm hoping to get some more feedback on the bubble pep - love the name wink

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.