Re: ? Herbal/vitamin resource, Vest ?

July 27, 2003

Hi Jeanne,

I'm not sure why Shaelin's MD would say that the Vest is not recommended under

age 5. We have applied it to children as young as 17 months. The important

factor is whether or not the chest wall is developed enough to tolerate the

oscillations and if the chest circumference is appropriate. Our child medium

(currently the smallest one approved by the FDA) fits a child with a

circumference of 23 inches; we have applied this Vest to children as small as 20

inches and can modify it to fit even smaller children.

My wife is a pulmonary PNP, and she told me that she and her pedi pulmonologist

order the Vest for their patients as soon as possible to minimize pulmonary

exacerbations and potential damage. They also told me that many of their

patients don't " produce " sputum, but that airway clearance is vitally important

in maintaining healthy airways. Too many MDs and healthcare team members wait

with airway clearance until a patient starts to produce sputum. In their

opinion, that means that the damage is already occurring and excessive sputum

production is a symptom of that condition. Their opinion is that you must keep

the airways clear to prevent excess production, regardless of what modality you

use (The Vest, CPT, flutter, etc.). It has been their experience that the Vest

is the best treatment modality for their patients and the one airway clearance

treatment where they have seen the best results both short and long term.

I would suggest that you visit our website and review our data

(www.thevest.com). Please contact us and we can provide you with any

documentation you might require (1-). You can, then, make your own

clinical opinion on whether or not the Vest is appropriate for your daughter.

I hope this helps. I am here to answer your questions.

Randy , RN

Advanced Respiratory

1- (toll free)

? Herbal/vitamin resource, Vest ?

Hi Everyone,

I don't post often but I read everything and to those of you who are

new, you have joined and great and very informative group.

Kim, do you have any recommendations on a good

supplement/vitamin/herbal resource? I am a Nurse Practitioner and

would like to develop more expertise in this area both to help

Shaelin, and to improve my practice. Also do any of the resources

include recommendations for children. The resources I have looked at

do not seem to have this information.

Shaelin is 28 months and is followed at Children's in Boston.

Although he gets CPT twice daily and is on Pulmozyme and Flovent,

there is never any sputum production with the CPT. I have inquired

about the vest and was told that it was not recommended until chilren

were 5 years old. In reading the posts, many of you have children

who were started on it much younger. Do you know why there would be

an age recommendation?

I have finally posted a couple of pictures of Shaelin. We have now

had him as a foster child for 2 years and are still hopeful that we

will be able to adopt him. I have appreciated all of the support I

have received from this group regarding this as many of my friends

think I am crazy! I will keep you all posted on our progress.

Jeanne, foster Mom to Shaelin, 28 mos wcf

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The opinions and information exchanged on this list should IN NO WAY

be construed as medical advice.

PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS OR TREATMENTS.

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July 28, 2003

Jeanne,

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that our daughter, who is 4 & 1/2, is

not productive either. She is only productive when she is sick. when she first

started the MedPulse vest system, She did start to produce a bit of mucus but

that has gone away (I assume that is what was trapped in her lungs that we

couldn't get out with CPT) 's doc told us it is better to be not

productive that means that her mucus isn't as thick and the meds are doing what

they are supposed to do. Tell your docs that BOTH vest companies have given the

vest out to kids as long as their chest measured around 20 inches. Request it

again!

Mom of , 4 & 1/2 with CF

Feel free to visit our site http://groups.msn.com/TeamJane