anyone tried a flutter valve? for copd condition.

[delphinium]

[dorall]

I take it you mean the flutter device used to move and bring up phlegm.I have used this in the past but found it hard work so now i take carbocisteine to clear congestion.

[libbygood]

I have used one, wouldn't shout about it or maybe I'm not using it correctly

[elian]

A low cost alternative to the flutterer, is a technique taught to me by the Respiratory Physiotherapist at Zurich hospital when I was taken ill whilst visiting my daughter in Switzerland a couple of years ago.

Take a small, empty and clean bottle (Lucozade, or water) half fill with water and get a straw. Place the straw in the bottle, take as deep a breath as you can and blow through the straw making bubbles in the water. Keep blowing for as long as you can ........ do this for 10/15 minutes each day. It really works at shifting the grunge

[sesh123 in reply to elian]

thanks for that elian, i will try that one

[Hidden]

Another suggestion is to try blowing up a balloon - don't over do it though. The resistance you feel when trying to blow the balloon up is similar to that in a flutter device. But as always speak to your gp, respiratory nurse etc.

Mark

[sesh123 in reply to Hidden]

i tried this one, i fainted......lol

[dollysgirl in reply to Hidden]

Be careful though. Balloon blowing is great, but beware of the pearlised ones, there seems to be something in/on them that caused a really nasty aggravation with my breathing, which lasted for tow or three days. I know not everybody would not be affected, but nevertheless...........

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

is that ok when I had a pneumothorax 30 years ago. ?

[Hidden]

My husband found it quite useful but the coughing is so violent afterwards. He was advised to use saline solution in his nebulisier and that works really well. It seems to clear very quickly without all the coughing. We had to ask the practise nurse for the saline but it was prescribed without a problem. TAD x

[chrimar]

Just a word of warning - I considered using a flutter device for loosening phlegm etc, but was told not to as I have right-sided heart failure. It would pay to check with your GP or Respiratory Nurse first before considering using such a device. At the moment I rely on Carbocisteine capsules but the water bottle/straw method sounds good - think I'll give it a try.

[Hecter]

Water and a straw it is