Hi Dana. It must be tiring when you do many things and still feeling the mucus inside. I have an online friend who use Afflovest. Does your insurance cover this device?

You can try chest percussion and also take enough water. Hope you can release more mucus. Have a good day.

Hello! I had used a different vest in the past; I did not feel any immediate results. However, my pulmonologist explained that the vibrations move about the secretions which is better than the secretions just sitting still. It may take some time to see results. Do you use mucinex to assist in loosening secretions? Exercise, deep breathing , yoga are also great ways to assist you as well

I have Hil Rom didn't see any help either so packed it away. Well come Sept had a bronchoscopy and two pulmos told me to get it and use it. The copd coordinator gave me a med schedule to do and it sure does work. I have to first do levelalbuterol (xopenex) then my hypertonic 7% saline then do the vest then after I do my spiriva followed by brovana and then my Flovent. Works for me so the vest does work if right meds before.

Every person is different. I do this every day: (what works in order of effectiveness}

1. Doing some kind of light aerobics (walkling fast, treadmill, biking, etc.),

2. Nebulizations with 7% hipertonic,

3. Afflovest (I use it at the same time I do 2) above, to save time,

4. If I don't do 1), then I do 2) and 3) twice a day, if not once a day,

5. Mucinex if needed.

6, When I travel I use a portable nebulizer (Pari trek S), the aerobika, and Mucinex.

7. Huff cough as much as needed.

The vest helps, I had a loaner for a couple of weeks before committing. Call Matt Stamm, International Biophysics, (941-661-5301) to see if he can arrange a loaner for you.

I almost forgot, Believe it or not Ricola helps a lot too (before the gym).

I used a Respirtek InCourage System for about 4 months and stopped. It did not help my mucous issue, but I also do not have coverage for saline 3 or 7%. I am going to try using a 9% saline (otc) with the vest and see if that helps. Honestly, I don't know what the difference is between different vest therapies. I do use Mucinex and that seems to help a bit.

I have been where you are!! The daily routine of airway clearance consumes your life. I bought an Afflovest September 2018 and very glad I did. When I am wearing it, I can breathe deeply and I actually feel clear. I use it 30 minutes twice daily. I will admit that I also use Pulmozyme which makes a huge difference as well. Unfortunately, I find the recipe for managing my bronchiectasis has a VERY long list of ingredients!!

I have p. Aerignosa, I use 7 % saline neb BID, after Advair and albuterol. Then the Aerobika and huff coughs. I bike, I do weights, I do Pilates and travel. When at home I use the HilRom Vest BID and it does help get up more mucous and it is easier and quicker as I do it with the nebulizer. Every two weeks for two weeks I also nebulize with TOBI and it helps keep the bacteria tamped down. I still have exacerbation two or three times a year, but I have been doing this routine for 12 years now and actually my lungs look a bit better with CT scan. The exacerbations don’t usually require any additional treatments or meds. Just miserable fevers.

At the conference at Georgetown this summer the doctors seemed to agree that airway clearance is what is important not which type, find the type that works the best for you and do it regularly and that seems to be the key. Since I have pseudomonas in both sinuses and lungs, I use a mask for nebulizing to treat both. I also wear swim goggles to protect my eyes from the saline and TOBI.

I tried the portable HilRom vest and it was too heavy and went back to compressor, vest and hoses. I tried on the Aff Flo portable vest and it was too heavy to be portable too.

Hil Rom is heavy for sure. Have a bad left shoulder that really irritates it.

The Pulmozyme is covered by my insurance (Kaiser). I have a $500 copay for a 3 month supply. It is a miracle drug. The mucus flies out after a treatment. Hope you can get some too!

Flutter, H! I am so glad to read that pulmozyme is a miracle drug for you!

I have never used it; been using mucinex for years. Will ask my pulmonologist about it while at my next appointment.

Thank you all for posting your questions and responses. Although I'm on oxygen 24/7 and have recently been diagnosed with bronchiectasis, I still feel so uninformed. Feel as if I don't know the right questions to get the right answers, so this forum has been extremely informative. So glad you're all here!!