Bronchiectasis Life Vest

[Helenamay]

My husband told me about an article in the Daily Fail about an American invention, a life vest for COPD and bronchiectasis patients. It pulsates when worn and is the equivalent to 18,000 coughs over a twenty minute period?! Apparently there is a trial in the UK. Has anyone heard anything about it?

[stone-UK]

Hi

youtu.be/JmRt9rFmVu4(Not working as expected?)

Very expensive.

Further reading.

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/j...

[pergola]

I saw that yesterday, Helen, and was interested. No doubt it will come at a price but if it does all it says - could be good. Daily Fail - this paper does have its good points, besides gossip. Good photography is one.

[Hidden]

These have been around for a long time. Mostly used on cf patients. Given that they are quite severe, cumbersome, very expensive and have their major uses for those who do not have the strength to cough, For my bronchiectasis I have stuck to my various flutter devices and breathing tecniques. I worry that letting a machine take over would let the muscles get lazy and therefore hinder self expectoration over time.

[O2Trees in reply to Hidden]

That seems logical to me Stillstanding - I've always felt that the more i can do for myself, the more I will still be an active person participating in the world. But Im lucky - I don't have CF and have no idea what that would be like.

[Hidden in reply to O2Trees]

no nor me. Anything which improves patient care and standard of life is worth a go.

[stillmovin in reply to O2Trees]

Hi O2, nice to hear from you again. I keep seeing Cystic Fibrosis and bronchiectasis being referred to together now and I feel that they are close cousins, with more and more suggestions that bronchiectatics (??) should be getting similar treatment as is given to CF patients. I am inclined to agree, it seems they belong to a close family but that bronchiectasis is not dealt with as efficiently or with the same level of knowledge as CF. Maybe someone with more awareness of CF could advise on this.

[O2Trees in reply to stillmovin]

Hi stillmovin - my respiratory nurse says that if people with bronch need ABs these should automatically be given for two weeks, not one. Also I think most of healthcare team know the importance of giving a sputum sample to identify what the bug is and labelled CF protocol (I think they culture samples for longer), but that's about as far as it goes. My respiratory consultant is very hot on physiotherapy to get the gunk up, and when i was diagnosed he showed me the CT scan so i could understand what the bronchiectasis changes looked like - you could even see the mucus But Im lucky, mine is not nearly as bad as people I read about here. Hope you're keeping as well as possible SM, xx

[stillmovin in reply to O2Trees]

I don't remember seeing 'CF Protocol' labelled on any sputum sample I have given to hospital via a consultant or a GP. Sometimes 'Bronchiectasis' is written on the accompanying form but at what stage in the process do they put CF Protocol on the label?

[Hidden in reply to stillmovin]

It shouldn't have cf protocol on it. There are some very different ways in which cf and non cf bronchiectasis behave.

[O2Trees in reply to Hidden]

Oh!! That's what I was told SS. Good to know thanks.

[stillmovin in reply to Hidden]

I agree stillstanding about keeping the chest physio exercises going and using whatever devices that work. At the moment I am not finding success with either of these, and I have used various devices for the past few years, as well as sticking to chest exercises. It gets to a stage, after various infections, where you start to look for whatever machine or device that will help you clear all that mucus however. If that isn't cleared, you face infection after infection and the prospect of being on longterm antibiotics, which I am trying to avoid. So keeping up chest exercises and using whatever device or machine works is vital.

[Hidden in reply to stillmovin]

well done you.

[Beth1949]

I live in the states and have had a percussion vest for close to 15 yrs. I use it when I use my nebulizer. It really helps loosen the mucus. Mine is from Hill-Rom. I'm sure that company is world wide.

What I liked about Hill-Rom, is that about 8 yrs ago, my machine was losing power, I called Hill-Rom, they sent a new one and told me to put the old one in the packaging and set it out by my front door two days later, it was picked up by FedEx. I had no cost what so ever. So if you get one from them, save all the information about replacements.

Beth

[Helenamay]

Thank you Beth.