Info on the Vest?

[carlam]

Hi all,

I just saw an old post that mentioned something called "the Vest" which help clears mucus from the lungs. Has anyone tried this product? My dad is having worse mucus and choking. I asked the neurologist about Atropine drops but he says they will cause more disorientation and wouldn't prescribe them.

Thanks for any advice.

Take care,

Carla

[abirke]

/the vest is more for folks with Cystic Fibrosis. I do not think that our PSP patients have the same lung problems. In fact, until there pneumonia, the choking comes from the lack of the glottis and epiglottis not working properly and thus food goes down the wrong pipe as it were. But one thing this may do is give them a massage that stimulates blood flow which may be good in and of itself. And others here have used Atropine so maybe look up that word to see what the goings on of that drug are with our loved ones.

No reason not to try it,

AVB

[carlam in reply to abirke]

Thanks for the input. The nurse mentioned chest massage therapy with cupped hands to move the mucus so I thought maybe the vest would do that. The doctor refused to prescribe atropine. Some side effects from atropine reported on this side sound awful, so I probably shouldn't risk it.

[barbaralee]

My mom tried atropine drops and they made her feel like she was crawling out of her skin so we stopped. I believe others have had different responses here though.