Enlightenment - avoiding chest infections.

[pergola1]

There has been a lot said in the past about shifting mucus by different methods. I should remember but would like to be reminded. I go from one chest infection to another. It is possible that I dont shift the mucus properly. I tried the method taught in the PR class but no effect. I have thought about inhalations. What else, power breathing. Glad of any tips.

[SophiaG]

Airway clearance vests used in Cystic Fibrosis my nephew uses one cysticfibrosis.about.com/od...

[canalchris]

Hello ,

Regarding your enquiry about moving mucus, I think it is probably the most important thing you can do to avoid repeated infections, to enable me to do this I use Olbus oil and a thing called a flutter device which I purchased from Amazon. I use this and the oil sprinkled onto a tissue throughout the day and have not had an exacerbation for over a year. Try it , it works. Best wishes, Chris.

[pergola1 in reply to canalchris]

Thanks, Chris for your good advice. Will seriously consider a flutter device from Amazon.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to pergola1]

You can get the flutter on prescription from your GP sweetheart. Have you tried the acapella choice - you should ask for a VAT medical exemption form, although like Chris I found the acapella choice cheaper on Amazon even without the vat off (must be all that tax they don't pay). I am surprised as you have bronchiectasis your consultant hasn't referred you to a respiratory physio to teach you all the techniques - postural draining - active cycle of breathing - autogenic draining. Ask consultant for a referral to a respiratory physio hun - they may even give you an acepella.

The vest is widely used in the US (insurance permitting) and I do believe they sometimes use it on cf wards, but it costs about a grand.

Doyou nebulise saline at all? This would help to loosen the gunk.

Good luck hun

cx

sorry forgot - henleysmed.com/product/rtp2...

[pergola1 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Cofdrop, I have had PR and it worked to a point for me. As for the flutter, although I have ordered one, I will ring the Resp.nurse, to see if I can get one on prescripton instead. WHY dont the meds tell us about these devices?

Iam afraid I dont have a nebulise. Thanks for your advice, xx

[cofdrop-UK in reply to pergola1]

Do you have a consultant hun - if you don't please ask for a referral.

[pergola1 in reply to canalchris]

Chris, I have just purchased this device and really hope that it will work considering the price. If it does, I will take you and wife out for a drink but it will have to be in Herts. Thanks x

[zube-UK]

Hi pergola1, I still use the Lung Flute mucus clearing device which works extremely well for me. Lovely cofdrop first told me about them and I wrote a post about it when I first bought it from Germany, helps me more than all the other devices, I also have a flutter, an acapella choice and a pep - positive expiratory pressure mask like CF patients use, pep is helpful to open up closed off areas of the lung and also strengthens both inward and outward breathing.

It's a pity we can't try these devices before buying as they are an expensive mistake if they don't help us, think I paid about £48 for my flute, worth every penny as it keeps my lungs clear easily, used twice a day. I have lifelong bronchiectasis, half left lung removed some 40yrs ago.

[Tamara70 in reply to zube-UK]

Hi Zube

Just read your post about using the "pep". I have never heard of it and would be interested in getting one.

Like you, I have Bronchiectasis for the last 60 years and both half lungs removal approx 60 years ago. It seems like yesterday!

Anyway, could you please tell me the full name of "pep" sand from where you purchased it.?

Stay well

Tamara

[zube-UK in reply to Tamara70]

Hello Tamara, lovely name,

Well done, you were younger than I was when you had the lobectomys, and yes it does seem like yesterday !... 1971 for me, I was 23 but was born with this condition.

It was the Lung Flute that I bought from lungentrainer.de/index.php?...

The pep, full name is - Positive Expiratory Pressure was given to me by my lung clinic, it is made by Astra Zenica and I have never been able to find one for sale to the public, they are usually given to cystic fibrosis patients and are ideal for us with bronchiectasis.

For me the Flute works best, it works by silent sound frequency which gently "cuts" the mucus away deep inside our lungs and is very easy to spit out. The main problem with it is that it gets wet inside and must be dried every 6 or 8 breaths, I use a stick with tissue - then it works well...for me, not everyone has success though, some do not have strong enough puff unfortunately but you don't need much.

I use the Flute every day in a sitting position after using steam inhalation or saline neb and inhalers. I used to cough and rattle all day but not now, breathing is a lot clearer now.

Hope this helps Tamara, we need all the help we can get with our problem don't we!

Su x

[alanjudy]

I use a smart vest which is brilliant but I use other methods in between. Can still get problems as proved by my 10 days in hospital! The company gave me my smartvest - real cost about $10,000.

Judith

[cofdrop-UK in reply to alanjudy]

Really good news you are fortunate enough to have a vest. Are you in UK Judith and what was the company's reasoning for giving you a vest?

cx

[alanjudy in reply to cofdrop-UK]

I am in Hertfordshire. My consultant used to do research on it until they got a new CEO. I was part of the research.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to alanjudy]

Ah that's the benefit of taking part in trials and research. Do you find it really helpful and do you know of the implications of using it if you have oesteoporosis (I cracked a rib 'cos I was too lazy to get up to pick up an emery board and so leaned over a high sofa end and c r a c k). What are the other methods you use alongside the vest hun?

love cx

[alanjudy in reply to cofdrop-UK]

I find it helpful as I was really bad at doing the breathing exercises. It was particularly bad in the evening when I would fall asleep! It is no good with pleurisy or sore/cracked ribs. I use various breathing exercises that I have been taught over the years.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to alanjudy]

probably wouldn't be any good for me then, although I am pretty aggressive with my pd and percussion! cx

[becraftygirl]

i use huffing method

i also use flutter that helps perhaps u get prescrition