QQ about Acapella

Anyone else use an Acapella device and find it works better upside down? I know you can use it either way up but I find it vibrates harder upside down. Am I doing something wrong? Do I maybe just need to let it dry out a bit?

[mrblue12]

I use a lung flute myself. The very reason I use a lung flute is because it doesn't rely on vibrations. I would recommend it to anyone with mucus problems.

[jennycherrie]

I use an acapella device but have never tried it upside down...guess what I'll be doing this morning? 😄 I do find that it works better if it's completely dry though. Did you know that it has a dial at the bottom, that you can turn up or down to vary the strength of the vibrations? Just wondered because it's not easy to spot.

[Foxy79]

Yeah regarding accphela the best way to use it is have your sulbutmol nebz then ipotatrpium then muococlear does the job only if you have lots of mucus

[B0xermad]

Hi yes I use one and never tried it upside down, I do dry it out every day open it up and air then put it in sterilised water twice a week rotate with a 2nd one.been using it for 3yrs

[cofdrop-UK]

Hi, Iv’e used acapellas for quite a long time now, not my only means of aiding lung clearance.

I haven’t noticed it working better on a gradient. On the contrary I find it works less well on each side. I overcame this by, say, if I am laying at a gradient with my right side down and left uppermost then I will turn the mouthpiece to left of centre and it works well. When on the other side I will turn it to the right.

As jennycherrie says there is a dial from 1-5 at the bottom. The first one I had was set by my phsio but I change it now depending on how much resistance my lungs can cope with and sometimes I will change the resistance during one set of physio i.e. easier resistance to start off with and later on more resistance. Trial and error I think, as with most PEPs.

Have a flutter and flute and just received another PEP device from my physio as she is trying to get me to do less ‘heads down’ because of reflux and hiatus hernia, and I am struggling a bit with it. I have bought a mannometer for it - so I wil see how I get on. It’s a bit difficult to change when you have been doing ‘heads down’ postural physio with percussion for 70 years but I try to be open minded.

Hope you find the acapella useful.

Cx

[Katebeach]

I've only used mine the right way up, but will give it a try upside down!

[Hidden]

I’ve become well acquainted with my new best friend over the past few days haha! Thank you all for making sure though ☺️ I don’t find it works well on its side, despite it saying it can be used in any position, but just like with my nebuliser I also twist the mouthpiece if I want to use it while I’m on my side. I find upside down works a bit better but actually after I washed it and let it dry out, it worked just fine the right way up. I think I’ll have to get into a routine with regards to washing it, unlike my spacers and peak flow mouthpieces 😆

[cofdrop-UK]

I think each acapella’s efficiency can vary too. My present one is quite hardwork and I am hoping the new one I have just received will be better. They have varied I have found and the metal bit is quite fragile - certainly not as robust as the flutter, but of course that’s no use unless you only want to use it in an upright position.

Cx