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Introduction/ vest question for females

mic10467

New member
Hello Everyone,

I am kind of new here. Been reading alot of the posts for a few weeks. I was initially drawn to reading more regularly because of Sean mentioning the Oregano Oil. I have since bought some and have been trying it. I am really inspired that others also are doing the OO, hypertonic saline, and other supplements in order to fight their CF in a more assertive, aggressive form.

I was diagnosed at the age of 18, despite suffering from health problems throughout my life. I didn't need treatments, or should I say I didn't think I needed treatments until about four years ago at the age of 34 with doing albuterol inhalation daily. The last year or two I've been doing Tobi, pulmozyne, and recently tried the hypertonic saline. I also have been using my Vest more compliantly everyday. My 34 year old brother with CF recently had a very successful lung transplant in October of 2005. Now I am not the healthy one anymore, so it's made me focus more on my own state of health and how to improve it.

My problem is that I have a big chest, and that kind of defeats the purpose of getting the vest tight on the lung area. My question for the ladies is does anyone else have this problem and have they figured out any tricks. My doctor gives me a guilt trip if I don't use my vest, so I've been using it, plus I want to take advantage of everything possible in fighting the CF. Alot of people I understand rave about the effectiveness of the Vest, but maybe I am not getting the same great effects.

I seem to get more gunk out with deep pushing of the air down into my lung, sort of a slow huffing. It's what I've done for years. I didn't really see doctors from the age of 19 until 34. I dealt with the CF on my own. But in the last couple of years, I have gradually entered into the phase of doing all of the meds and keeping watch on my health.

I also have tried the inhalation of the OO. I remember the second day, dancing around and feeling young again. I had so much energy, and felt in control of the Cf. I didn't take it after that for whatever reason. However, after reading that someone said, if you don't take it for awhile you might start to feel crappy, I think I will try it again tonight. I just started my six day of tobi, and have been feeling really tired and sick since. It can be frustrating doing all of the treatments and the vest, about 2 hours or more, and then two hours later going shopping and hearing more gunk in my lungs.

Anyways, thanks to all of you for posting about your lives. Though I don't comment much, I absorb it all like a sponge. I love to receive all of this new information of what other CFers do. It gives me things to try also. Here's a picture of me and mynew nephew.
 

anonymous

New member
Amy,

thanks for the reply. It's good to know I'm not alone. I do realize that it is getting to all of the other areas of my lungs, but just thought somebody might have discovered a trick, like hanging upside down or something. I do sometimes cross my arms under my chest, and that seems to force the air down into my lungs straighter and clearer.
 

anonymous

New member
HI,

I am rather large chested myself and during some times of the month, the vest is painful. For those times, I turn the vest backwards so the air pouch of the vest is on my back. BUT, my therapist told me that chest size has nothing to do with how effective the vest is. The "beating" of the vest against the chest is not how it works. It is the vibrations that is causes inside the lungs that makes it work. Therefore, she said, whether your very large, very small, big busted or not, the vest will work. Thought that might help.
 

JazzysMom

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>anonymous</b></i>

I thought somebody might have discovered a trick, like hanging upside down or something. </end quote></div>


Well I swing from the chandelier, but that is for another post!
 

Diane

New member
if i use the vest braless i turn it on first ,put on the vest , and then hook up the tubes. Then i grab each boob and lift real quick and the vest doubles as a push up bra. I am a 36 C and i agree the vest can be uncomfy so i always try to use it when i have a bra on, but if i am braless i always use the "quick lift" method to help make it more comfy.
 

anonymous

New member
Hi Diane

I am with you on this. I am the same size but my chest boobies are really sensitive. I am not sure if this is related to the transplant but when I put on the vest it hurts for a few seconds then the tenderness goes away. I had a chest cold (minor one Thank G-d) and the vest helps. I think it is excellent for the first year after a transplant because it massages the chest and the chest has scar tissue. I am sure this also helps CF lungs with all the scar tissue that you all have.


I think the vest increases breast size lol. Hopefully only in women.
 
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