Posted , 6 users are following.
Am wondering whether to buy an Electromed 'Smart Vest'. It's something you wear and is supposed to help the clear the lungs by means of 'high frequency chest wall oscillation'. Does anyone else have one and have they found it useful and worth buying?
Thanks
Sally
0 likes, 13 replies
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pinksnugsy sallyGB
Posted
Do you use an acapella to clear your lungs? I find it helps me when doing my physio as the acapella shakes your lungs as you breath through it?
Rachel
sallyGB pinksnugsy
Posted
I don't have an acapella (in fact the word is new to me) - will google & investigate.
Thanks so much for this. I find I get so many useful tips from this site, and your comment is an additional one.
With thanks
Sally
pinksnugsy sallyGB
Posted
Hi Sally
I got mine from Papworth hospital where I get my treatment and it was free but I do no you can buy them on the internet for around £50/60 may be mention it to your chest consultant and see if they can source one for you.
Good luck
Rach
lisa5932 sallyGB
Posted
I have the vest and don’t think it’s worth the money. I think the acapella or the arobeca do a much better job of clearing the mucus from the lungs.
Good luck.
sallyGB lisa5932
Posted
Thanks for this Lisa - really useful to get feedback from someone who's bought the vest. I'll google the two things you mentioned.
Best wishes
Sally
aitarg35939 sallyGB
Posted
Sally, did a pulmonologist prescribe the SmartVest? I have one but only because my pulmo prescribed it, and he only did that after repeated sworn statements from me that i live alone and have no one who can pound my chest for 30-60 minutes daily.
These things are stupid expensive in the States. Over here, if no Rx you will pay 5 figures even for a maker-refurbished machine. Doc has to prescribe strength/ length of treatments. Acapellas also require a little tutoring to get the right setting for you & to make sure you're doing it correctly. There are some other flutter devices out there, and exercise helps get stuff out, too.
sallyGB aitarg35939
Posted
Hi
Thanks so much for your response. From your and other replies I think I need to look in to Acapellas & other 'flutter devices' first and foremost. I was curious about the SmartVest as it regularly appears on the 'Bronchiectasis News Today' email alerts I receive, though mostly as heavily promoted ads, and I'd a feeling that it was probably pricey. No I haven't been prescribed the SmartVest.
Thanks again for your reply which is really helpful.
Best wishes
Sally
louise17255 sallyGB
Posted
Hi Sally,
I have three devices to help loosen and cough up mucus. I started with the Acapella device. This is a type of flutter valve. What I like about it is that it doesn't take all that much time - 10 minutes at most. I do it now when I do not have time for the other devices. My second one was a nebulizer. You can put different medications in the cup which is propelled into your lungs as you breathe into it. My pulmo prescribes a 7% saline solution which I use twice a day and is more effective than the Acapella in bringing up mucus. But it is more cumbersome to set up and clean. Lately, I have also been using the Smart Vest. I was disappointed when I found it merely loosens the mucus and I still need to use the nebulizer to clear it out. The compressor for the vest is very noisy. I now use it at the same time as the nebulizer but just once a day. I was hoping it would help me breathe easier too but so far (in 2 months) I have not noticed that.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Louise
sallyGB louise17255
Posted
Thanks for this Louise. Really helpful to hear others' experience with these devices.
Sally
amkoffee sallyGB
Posted
I bought a flutter device on Amazon and I did it because I was encouraged to buy one by another bronchiectasis group but of course I cleared it with my doctor first. I have been told how to use it buy a nurse but quite honestly it does nothing for me. I don't know if maybe I'm just not doing it long enough or what the problem is. But it doesn't seem that I can do anything to get the mucus up. I hope you have better luck than I have had.
pinksnugsy amkoffee
Posted
Hi there
Have no one shown you how to use the device properly? There are different settings on the the bottom from 1 to 5 depending on how hard you can blow it also helps if someone is able to tap your lungs when your doing it. You have to be on your side and you blow about 5 times as hard as you can for as long as you can. Repeat this until you feel your lungs are clear. Also do you take mucodyne? Or hypertonic saline? These are both great for thinning the mucus. Hope this helps but it's a shame no one has helped you.
Good luck
Rach
sallyGB amkoffee
Posted
Thanks for this. I suppose we won't all react the same to these devices, but so useful to hear others' experience.
Sally
sallyGB pinksnugsy
Posted
I'm intending to get to see a bronchx specialist to ask about all these devices that have been mentioned, and the best way to use them; I haven't seen anyone since I was diagnosed with bronchx 6 years ago, and I clearly need to find out about new treatments/devices that are now available.
Really appreciate all these responses.
Sally