Hi, it's my first post here, tho I've been reading all the helpful posts about bronchiectasis for a while. I've had that for 2.5 years, and have just started using an Aerobika flutter device to help with lung clearance. What resistance setting should I have it on? Are you meant to hear the fluttering sound when you breathe out (and it makes my cheeks move in and out too) or should it be set lower so that there's no movement in the device or in my cheeks?
I find I can clear my lungs if I can lie down, preferably with my head lower than my bum. But if I'm not at home around lunchtime, which is when the sputum seems to build up, I can't do that and end up coughing away unproductively all afternoon until I can get home and lie down. I had hoped the flutter device would help with that, but it doesn't seem to. Am I expecting too much of it? Any other advice?
Thank you!
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Twinklenose
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Hello, Were you shown how to use the Aerobika when you acquired it? When I was given mine the specialist physiotherapist went through everything with me to ensure I was using it properly. Perhaps your consultant or doctor could arrange for you to see a physio. Dont forget to write down any questions you may have before the visit. Best wishes.
Thanks for your reply! No, I haven't been shown how to use it, I asked to be prescribed it as I'd read on this forum about people finding it helpful. I haven't seen the consultant since I was diagnosed nearly 3 years ago. My GP did say last June that they'd refer me as I was coughing up blood, but no appointment has come through since. I put that down to them being super busy with Covid. So I've been doing my own research and finding this forum really helpful, lots of snippets of useful information.
I think you really should follow up on that consultant referral....try to make sure it is with a specialist in bronchiectasis, not just a general respiratory physician. I have been having 6 month follow ups right through the pandemic, albeit over the phone or zoom, but once I was seen in the clinic as an emergency. So I can't see any reason why you should not have received an appointment by now., unless the GP has forgotten or the referral got lost.
If you know the name you can google him and find his details and it will usually tell you what his special interests are. Alternatively you can look him up on the hospital website and find the same. Not always easy to search this out but you can usually get there in the end.
I'm not familiar with this device but in my area I can self refer to physio including the respiratory physio team. I wonder if you can do the same where you live to get their help with using the Aerokiba. If you search your NHS trust it should tell you if you can do the same.
Hello, I was prescribed my AeroBika in the middle of the lockdown, so the nurse suggested I should look at the on line demonstration, which I found very helpful. (Put on by the manufacturers, I believe. It shows the mucus as a nasty green caterpillar thing, crawling up dark pink airways and a young woman demonstrating how to use the device.) One of the respiratory team suggested holding my fingers over my cheeks to stop them puffing out. Can't manage both sides, but just holding the right cheek down seems ok. I can hear the flutter when I use mine. As for the setting, I can only suggest you use the highest one you are comfortable with. I started on one when very ill and gradually worked up to 5.
Thanks, that's helpful to know you can hear the device fluttering, and that you hold down your cheeks, that's what I needed to know. I shall try again!
Hi, I have bronciactsis and have been using an AerobiKA for 4 years now, I was shown how to use it by a physio they told me to first take 2 puffs of ventolin then saline through my nebulise, my AerobiKA is always set on full as this works best for me, then lie down on the 🛌 left side then flat and lastlyright side, breathe in through your nose then blow out as hard as you can through your AerobiKA. Repeat, I usually breath in and out about 4/6 time each side as I am doing this the muck comes up, if it does not come up it will walking around. Then I take fostair and a glass of water. I go to the hospital every 6 months or so to physio and consultant to check I am ok .if you don't go to a consultant at the hospital perhaps you need to ask your doctor. Good luck.
I 4got to say in my reply, I Don't know if you do the same but I have given up all caffeine, tea, coffee, chocolate, fizzy, it took a few weeks to work but I find now if I have a cup of normal tea 🍵 it brings up the muck when I cant shift it.
Yes, I've given up all the fun foods too! Glad to hear that having a cup of tea helps you shift the muck. I'm wary of drinking any caffeine now as I don't want to go through the 3 days of headache again that happened when I stopped - but I was drinking a lot of coffee then.
Give it a go!! It's only maybe once a month I drink normal tea. I had bad headache for weeks at start of giving it up, but don't seem to get them with having a cup now and again. Good luck.
Thank you for forwarding that link. I had watched this before using the device for the first time, but I don't think it mentions whether you're supposed to hear the device rattling or not when you breathe out. Someone else has said they think it should be heard. Thanks again.
Hi Trinklenose. I use this devise too. My specialist physio sent me a video enabling me to watch him use it and how to clean it. There is info online and u tube though. It can be used in any position, and you can experiment with the setting. No hard and fast rule, but higher settings apparently creates greater resistance working the lungs a little harder, so should be more effective.
Only exhale into the mouthpiece, then inhale away. It should rattle.
Try not to let your cheeks puff out.
I clean every morning so that it dries in time to use pm., when I have the greater need for it.
Do contact the person who supplied it as instructions are usually given I believe.
Thank you for your reply, especially the part saying the device should rattle when we're breathing out, as that's what I wanted to know. I shall carry on with it!
Hello! Just thought I'd mention that a position that works for me, if I can't lie down, is to bend over, legs apart, with my arms loose so that my fingers almost touch the floor. I discovered this quite by accident while cleaning the bathroom floor when I didn't have a mop!
It's been useful at times when I've had to go into a public loo or a friend's bathroom for a good old cough as it seems to shift the mucous which I can then get rid of. I might have to bend a few times with some good deep breaths in between. I don't know how agile you are, but if you can manage this, it may help.
Obviously, public loos aren't great places but just keep your fingers off the floor and you should be ok. If you're worried about people seeing your hands dangling, pretend you are fiddling with your shoes. Lol!
I don't know anything about the Aerobika but you've already been given plenty of advice about that, so hope things improve for you now.
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