I've been researching 'The Vest'...and wondering if the benefits of the vest warrant the high cost. My daughter currently uses PEP mask and percussion therapy....13 yrs. old. Would appreciate your comments and any experience with vest you can share. Thx.

When I was between high school and college my parents got the vest for me. I did not like having to sit in the same room to do my treatments. It was also very heavy and not very travel friendly. I have since found the Flutter to be the best solution yet - and more cost efficient. However, I have heard very good things about the vest. One girl I knew actually took the vest with her when she went to visit family overseas. It's just a matter of preference.

I'm 17 and also prefer the Flutter...I also still get good ole fashioned CPT aka Pounding...I;ve heard differing opinions on the vest...From its wonderful all the way to its too big and bulky.

Good luck

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Hey, I'm 27 and just...recieved the VEST about a month ago. I love it!! The machine itself it not too big. The vest looks like a life jacket. I 'm doing the VEST now.. It shakes you from head to toe. It is not really too loud.. My 18 month old son is in the next room asleep and it does not wake him. I always get on the net and pass my time away. I have to do it for 20 mins. 2x a day. I usually just do it late at night for 40 mins. and the time flies. I can already tell a difference. Up until now.. I have always have the old CPT. The VEST really works you over.. I hated the flutter..Really....HATED the flutter. I found it to be a joke. It is in the bottom of a cabinet somewhere. It is really expensive.!!! ($$$17,000)Most insurances will pay for it. Mine did.. Hope this helps in your decision..
Holly

i have owned the vest for about 6 years and i think that i might have slightly over 10 hours of use on it.

i hate it. it does nothing for me. i use self chest pt and sometimes use the flutter. the best is cycle breathing which really moves things around .

HI, I HAVE A 17 YEAR OLD SON WITH CF. HE BARELY USED THE FLUTTER AND HATED CHEST PT, HAS BEEN USING THE VEST FOR 2 YEARS NOW AND WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH HIS COMPLYING WITH HIS THERAPY. COST SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH THE VEST REP. I WAS TOLD IF INSURANCE WOULD NOT COVER IT, THE COMPANY WOULD MAKE SURE THE CHILD HAD IT AND IT WOULD NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY.

Clog-Just an FYI,Please turn your caps lick off.Writing in caps is the equivalent of yelling in the cyber world

Our hospital had the rep from the vest company come in and they were offering the vest at what ever the insurance would pay..quite a deal. Our insurance at the time would pay a max of 1200 dollars for durable medical equipment, and from what Ive heard the vest can cost up to 14,000 dollars. Anyway, my son was 8 at the time and did not want to try the vest, but I tried it and I felt like I was being squished and it was hard to breath with it on, and I dont have CF! I did not think my son would like it, so we are sticking with the Acopello.

My granddaughter is 5 and has had the Vest for 2 hrs. Medicare paid for it. She will do it along w/nebulizer treatment once a day but only if she's feeling good. It initially shook her so hard it made her ears ring. Overall we think it is helpful and she will be able to use it for years as she is so small.

I have 13 year old son with CF. We have tried a couple different methods of PT. He tried the flutter and did really bad with it. The doc took him off and put him back on the mechanical chest percussor. It does a good job, but he has always wanted to try the vest. For some reason the doc doesn't like it so well. So needless to say we have not tried it yet.