Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 There seems to be mixed feelings about the Flutter Valve . . it works for some and not for others. I have recently purchased one but was disappointed to find it was not possible for someone to give me a demonstration on how to work the damn thing at the point of sale. Yes, it does come with a set of written instructions but it would have been very helpful to have someone show me how to do it effectively. Does anybody have any tips or wisdom to share on how to work it properly and how do you know your doing it right? So far I'm not getting much response from the Flutter for my efforts. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. Elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 Elaine, I was in pulmonary rehabilitation (maintenance only), and the respiratory therapists told me about it. My pulmonary doctor wrote a prescription for it. I also got a video and instructions to show how to use it. I also received the same information about the flutter valve. My pulmonary doctor said that it may not help me since my bronchiectasis is in the lower lobes. The Vest www.thevest has been very helpful to me. Since it is getting late here in Texas (US), I will respond more tomorrow. Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 Norma, What was the cost of the vest? Nona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 Elaine.......when I got out of the hospital the first time after being diagnosed they sent me home with a flutter valve......the way I used mine was.......start off slowly at first, blow into the end of it and it should feel like theres a ball in there fluttering around....I started doing about 6 or 7 blows at first and did it off and on during the day....not too many times at first......maybe 3 or 4 times a day in the beginning......then in a week or more I would move myself up to something like 10 to 15 blows and eventually continue to build up the amounts untill I was doing maybe 20 each time........I don't know about all flutter valves but mine had a round bottom which moved with numbers on it......the higher the number the harder you have to excert yourself to blow.......which builds your lung compacity up......and it also helped to loosen up the gunk in my chest.........I am like some others....It was a help to me, but it didn't really seem to do what I wanted it too.........but my uncle who has only one lung and is in pretty bad shape uses his and he loves it.....he says he can tell a world of difference.....so maybe its just one of those things that works for some but not so much for others......I use a percussor at home (and yes gang I am doing my breathing treatments like I'm supposed to...so I won't get yelled at.....hehehehe) but the percussor that I use really helps me so much........I hope this helped you a little bit....and that it starts working for you...give it some time though and maybe you will start to notice a difference............ sondra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 Nona, I hope you are sitting down. It is a Northaround $16,000. Since I am on Medicare primary, I do not have to pay anything. The company has a new name when they answer the telephone now. I believe it something like Hillron (formerly Advanced Respiratory). If you cannot afford The Vest or your insurance will not pay for it, they said when I got mine last November on a two-month trial basis at first that they have a foundation that will help so if someone really needs it, they can usually get it for them. Ask your doctor if he thinks it will help you. He will need to contact them. Here is the telephone number: 1-. My primary insurance, Medicare, and supplemental insurance are making the payments. It has been very helpful to me. I am having a bit of a flare-up of my asthma and a chest infection. In addition to the inhaled Tobramycin that I start the last two weeks of each month--December 18 this month--my pulmonary doctor prescribed Prednisone (Med-Dos-Pak) and Doxycycline this afternoon that I will pick up in the morning. Just what I need--some more medications--and antibiotics. The last few days down here in Austin, we have been having very windy weather. One day they are from the North and are cold--the next day they are from the South and warmer--just what anyone with respiratory problems needs. Please let me know what they tell you when you call about The Vest. Good Luck and Good Health, Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 Nona, Thanks for understanding about late night emails, breathing treatments and all the other things around home to do. I am glad that you thought about adding the .com to the web site address. Sorry about that. I hope you get the information you need. Please let me know if you need more information. Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 Do have a question what kind of charge for the vest. Nona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2003 Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 Nona, I am not sure about whether it will be mine when Medicare and my supplemental insurance completes all of the payments. Did you call them? When I got mine, they said that they have a foundation that will help with the payments if your insurance will not pay for it. Perhaps that has changed by now. First of all you need to ask your pulmonary doctor if he thinks it will be helpful for you. Please let me know if you need further information. Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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