Trouble with New EasyChamber

[louisxiv]

Hi there.

I’ve just had my spacer prescription changed from the old type to the new, anti-static one called, I believe, EasyChamber. It has a valve on top that regulates the out breath and I’m finding it difficult to use. Inhaling is fine but exhaling is like blowing through a straw or blowing up a balloon. Can’t exhale fully due to resistance caused by the inhaler. Feels like the valve is too small.

Is anyone else experiencing this? If so, do you have any feedback/solutions? Or am I overthinking this? I don’t think so as I’m feeling breathless earlier after using than I used to. Any replies appreciated.

[Satenya]

They tend to say breathe low and slow with the new spacers. So do very slow breaths and it does become easier to exhale. It took me a while to get used to it on the spacer as it felt like I was blowing too hard, and it's weird! But once you slow your breathing down and don't blow as hard it does become easier. Just keep on trying and practice makes perfect. I've had it for 2.5 years and changed inhalers to a fostair nexthaler today, but with the spacer it does just take practice especially if you're not used to it.

[Idreamedadream]

Hi thereI think there is a video on asthma uk website showing how to use it..sorry I don’t mean to sound patronizing but I do remember when I was in hospital a few years back the consultant showed me how to use an inhaler properly as I was doing it all wrong…but the video online is useful for using the aero chamber and I have found it useful and reassuring.

[louisxiv in reply to Idreamedadream]

Yeah, thanks. My problem is that I’ve been happily using an an inhaler, both with and with and without an aerochamber for years, going back to their introduction and the old spinnaker. It’s the newer EasyChamber I’m struggling with. It takes so long to exhale that I’m gasping for air before I’ve completed my exhalation. I think the valve on top is very small and isn’t allowing me to circulate the spray properly.

[Wimple]

Not sure whether this will help and I don’t mean to be patronising….If it’s the type of spacer with a whistling valve on top to help you hear when you’re inhaling too fast, you take your mouth from the spacer to breath out. I can imagine it would be really hard to exhale into that kind of device.

[louisxiv in reply to Wimple]

I may be being a bit dumb here but I thought the point of exhaling through the device allowed some of the drug to be ‘recycled’ and re inhaled. Have I got this wrong?!

[Wimple in reply to louisxiv]

For the spacer I have, with the valve on top, you breathe out away from the spacer. Perhaps check online for any videos?

[louisxiv]

Thanks Wimple. I’ve been getting mixed messages from different sites. I shall persevere, breathing out away from the spacer.