Re: Will a flutter valve help clear up my mucus?

[Guest guest]

> I found this on a site. Does anyone know about these?

> http://www.careexpress.com/products.asp?

> CATEGORY_ID=154 & PARENT_ID=22 & COMBINE=SCA-910

No, I can't say I have heard of them but they look good

I have never heard of a flutter valve.

My advice is to ask your Ear Nose and Throat Doctor as well as your

allergist Thanks for posting

Doug

[Guest guest]

Please post anything you hear about this flutter valve.

You learn something new on this board all the time and

I have never heard of this.

I am surprised at the number of people that post with

GERD problems. I have had the Nissan Laproscopic surgery

to help control it.

I also have tried the sinus irrigator that several people have posted

about and it actually helps a little. Except I found out my nose is

broke (deviated septum)and now I have that surgery to look forward

to. But I am not doing that until after the first frost. Has anyone

had this surgery?

The doc I talked to says they don't do the old yards of gauze

anymore. He

sews it up I guess. I'm scared to death of the surgery because I

breathe so poorly I think I would go crazy (it blocks your nasal

passages for a week).

I am back on xolair. I took it for six months and quit because

I noticed no relief. But after reading this board it seemed some

people did not get relief until at least 9 months, so I am back for

more. I have very severe asthma & allergies and live in a condo

I call " the bubble " . Wood floors and a bunch of air cleaners.

I cannot travel because I get too sick (the lovely dust mite)if

I stay anywhere except " the bubble. " I quit my job 10 years ago

because I could no longer work at the same pace in the environment

I was in. So now I am self-employed and made my office into a bubble

also. I laugh everytime I see the bubble boy episode on Seinfeld

because it reminds me of my life.

Great board. Keep up the good work. You really do learn great things

on here. By the way, I lived in Arkansas for awhile and I wondered

if Doug has worn one of those Hog Hats for the Arkansas Razorback

sports teams yet

Tony

[Guest guest]

<<I lived in Arkansas for awhile and I wondered

if Doug has worn one of those Hog Hats for the Arkansas Razorback

sports teams yet >>

Why yes! I have had one for at least 25 years. I have never worn it

to a game but have had it displayed in each office I had. They hated

that thing when I lived in NC, especially after Arkansas beat the Tar

Heels for the National Championship in basketball several years ago.

Doug

[Guest guest]

Tony,

I had the sinus surgery about two years ago to repair a deviated

septum from a broken nose and also to remove some polyps. The

surgery wasn't bad and the recovery was quick. A friend hand the

surgery several years ago, and they actually re-broke his nose and

it took him about 8 weeks to recover - complete with the black eyes

and all. With mine, the doctor just shaved the bone in the septum

to open up my nasal passages. I was back to work on Monday after

having the surgery on Thursday, and no visible side-effects.

Having said that, I didn't notice a great deal of relief following

the surgery. The reason I had the surgery in the first place was

due to recurring sinus / ear infections. After the surgery, I still

suffer from ear infections at least 2 - 4 times a year. My sinuses

got so bad that I completely lost my sense of smell. There was no

nasal spray that seemed to do any good.

I started doing sinus irrigation several months ago, using a small

ear syringe and salt water. It was unpleasant at first, with no

results. After a few weeks, however, my sinuses cleared up, and my

sense of smell returned. I no longer use any nasal sprays, and I do

the sinus irrigation treatment about three times a week.

I thought I had a cold last week, but it turns out it was just

allergies gone amok. Ragweed pollen has been high, but then we got

a lot of rain and the air cleared up. Now we are getting hammered by

Frances so next week the mold count will be high. Xolair has been

great for asthma but clearly does nothing for the allergies.

One thing I have noticed is that when my sinuses are clear, my

overall breathing is much, much better.

Good luck.

Greg

--- In , " tonymason2001 " <robs@c...>

wrote:

> I also have tried the sinus irrigator that several people have

posted

> about and it actually helps a little. Except I found out my nose

is

> broke (deviated septum)and now I have that surgery to look forward

> to. But I am not doing that until after the first frost. Has

anyone

> had this surgery?

> The doc I talked to says they don't do the old yards of gauze

> anymore. He

> sews it up I guess. I'm scared to death of the surgery because I

> breathe so poorly I think I would go crazy (it blocks your nasal

> passages for a week).

>

[Guest guest]

Tony,

I have not heard about a flutter valve before.

I totally get the concept of living in a bubble. I was just about

there this time last year. I hope and pray that Xolair will work for

you. It seems that there are 3 groups of Xolair patients: some who

get immediate benefit; some who take 2-4 months; some who take their

own sweet time.

Take care,

Addy

[Guest guest]

Greg:

Thanks for sharing the information on the surgery.

I am basically getting it for the same reasons you

are, I simply have blockage and lots of infections.

I guess we will see what kind of luck I have.

The nasal irrigator was pretty gross but I have to

admit it helps some. I have tried all the nasal steroids

(flonase, etc) and chromolyn sodium and whatever else there

is and get no relief. I am glad you have some asthma relief

with the xolair but it is too bad you are getting no help

with the allergy part yet. It is supposed to really help

with the allergy part, at least that's they hoped it would

do.

I hope Ivan misses you.

Tony

[Guest guest]

Thanks Addy-

I guess I already know I'm in the " take their own sweet time "

category since I have taken 8 shots now but I will give it another

six months at least.

When I have some time I will try to find out about the flutter

valve.

I was wondering if there are any others who can no longer tolerate

prednisone. I am 46 years old and about 4 years ago I got to the

point where my body just absolutely will not tolerate it. I used

to take it quite often and would get the usually weight gain,

abnormal hunger, moodiness (at least that is what I am told, I don't

know how that is possible But now if I take 20 mgs once it is

like I took 200 mgs. I tell the doctor I get side effects walking

past the bottle. Of course with GERD it just rips your stomach up

also. Anyway, I think at one point a doctor put me on 50 mgs a day

for about four months and I think that is what did it to me. I will

do anything possible not to take prednisone.

Thanks for encouragement.

Tony

[Guest guest]

I am far less tolerant of pred than I used to be. Last year was a

nightmare. That book " Coping with Prednisone " has some good

suggestions.

Addy

[Guest guest]

--- In , " sunovapunta2001 " <ima4evr21gurl@h...>

wrote:

> I found this on a site. Does anyone know about these?

> http://www.careexpress.com/products.asp?

> CATEGORY_ID=154 & PARENT_ID=22 & COMBINE=SCA-910

There are several clinical trials that show flutter PEP devices increase FEV in

COPD.

They are used alot with CF.

[Guest guest]

-I was given a flutter valve in June. After using it the doctors

could hear air moving in my lower lungs. That is the first time in

a couple years that they could hear anything moving. At the same

time I started coughing up all this mucus. It has really helped me

in more ways than one. I hardly have any mucus any more, it is

great.

-- In , " sunovapunta2001 "

<ima4evr21gurl@h...> wrote:

> I found this on a site. Does anyone know about these?

> http://www.careexpress.com/products.asp?

> CATEGORY_ID=154 & PARENT_ID=22 & COMBINE=SCA-910