BLUE ACAPELLA

By beverlydemarco

1 min read

I STARTED USING THE BLUE ACAPELLA ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, MY LUNG DR. ORDERED IT FOR ME. IT'S GREAT AND REALLY HELPS TO MOVE THE MUCUS AROUND, SO YOU CAN COUGH IT UP. I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER DEVISE CALLED THE BREATHER AND IT ALSO HELPS TO MAKE YOUR LUNGS STRONGER. I ALSO USE SODIUM CHLORIDE TWICE A DAY IN MY NEBULIZER WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE MUCUS.

I HAVE A THERAPIST TWICE A WEEK TO DO LUNG EXERCISES WITH ME AND SHE HAS ME USING THESE DEVISES TO HELP MY LUNGS CLEAR THE MUCUS. SHE ALSO HAS ME USING THE VOLDYNE 5000 THAT I HAVE TO REALLY BLOW HARD INTO IT AND THE BALL GOES UP TO 1200 WHICH MY GOAL IS TO GET IT TO 2000. IT GETS BETTER THE MORE I USE IT. SO I AM TRYING EVERYDAY TO USE THESE DEVISES EVERYDAY, TWICE A DAY. I WAS IN BAD SHAPE A FEW MONTHS AGO BUT WITH HOME HEALTH CARE COMING TO MY HOME TWICE A WEEK AND DOING ALL MY EXERCISES, I AM DOING MUCH BETTER.

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Carol Kirker Moderator
<inline-mention username="beverlydemarco" user-id="2407285"/> I use the green Acapella. I would be lost without it. Over time, it has helped me control an out of control cough. Thank you for sharing! I hope you’re having an easy breathing day. Carol (moderator)
Lyn Harper, MPA, BSRT, RRT, AE-C Moderator
<inline-mention username="beverlydemarco" user-id="2407285"/> The Acapella is an amazing little device! We always wonder when we send people home from the hospital with one if they're actually going to use it - I'm so happy to hear that you are. The fact that you're using it and the incentive spirometer (Voldyne) is fabulous! Between the two of them you're covering all the bases. Take care. Lyn (COPD site moderator)
Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
Hi again, <inline-mention username="beverlydemarco" user-id="2407285"/> - it's always good to see you posting here in our <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a> community. I see my colleagues, <inline-mention username="Lyn Harper, RRT" user-id="2449585"/> and <inline-mention username="Carol Kirker" user-id="2412242"/>, have responded to your comment - I do hope you will have an opportunity to read what they wrote. Like them, I am so pleased to hear you feel you are improving using both the Acapella device and the Voldyne incentive spirometer. Between the two adjuncts, you are really providing a good and consistent 'workout' for your lungs, especially using them twice a day. Keep up the good work! Again so nice to hear from you again, Warm regards, Leon (site moderator <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)
beverlydemarco Member
HI CAROL KIRKER, I DONT KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS WITH THE BLUE OR GREEN ACAPELLA? I DO HAVE GOOD RESULTS WITH MY BLUE ONE, I ALSO HAVE A NEW INHALER CALLED. BREZTIE AND THAT HAS BEEN GOOD FOR ME ALSO. THE ONLY REAL BIG ISSUE FOR ME IS GETTING BLOATED WHEN I EAT SMALL MEALS AND ALSO SO OUT OF BREATHE AFTER TAKING A SHOWER OR WASHING MY HAIR. JUST LITTLE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED I CANNOT DUE AND IT MAKES ME DEPRESSED. I AM ON OXYGEN 24/7. SO I TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME, I AM ALSO IN STAGE 4 COPD. HAVE A GREAT DAY .
1. Carol Kirker Moderator
 To be honest, I don’t know the difference. Mine was given to me when I was in the hospital a few years ago. If the blue one works for you, I would keep on with it. I get the bloating if I eat heavy carbs. It has been trial and error finding the right combination of foods. We are all different in our tolerance of food. Sometimes after a bad bout with bloat, I settle on a couple days of a lighter broth soup or scrambled eggs. Keeping a food journal helped me. Good luck! Carol (moderator)
beverlydemarco Member
HI EVERYONE, THANKYOU FOR YOUR POST ON THE ACAPELLA DEVISE, ALTHOUGH I LOVE THE BLUE ONE ITS HELPFUL TO LOOSEN THE MUCUS BUT THESE PAST TWO WEEKS I HAVE BEEN SOOOOOOO BLOATED AND VERY UNCOMFORTABLE,, I WAS TOLD TO DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AND EAT ABOUT SIX SMALL MEALS A DAY. I CANT EVEN FINISH ONE MEAL BEFORE I START GETTING FULL AND BLOATED, I TRYED CUTTING OUT BREAD AND PASTA BUT NOTHING IS WORKING. ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT BLOATING , I DONT WANT TO LOSE ANYMORE WEIGHT. BUT I GET BLOATED JUST DRINKING ENSURE WHICH HAS A LOT OF CALORIES, I ONLY WEIGH 104 POUNDS AND I AM 5.7. I KNOW BLOATING IS COMMOM IN COPD BUT MAYBE SOMEONE HAS A SOLUTION TO FEELING FULL ON AN EMPTY STOMACH. THANKYOU,, BEVERLY DEMARCO
beverlydemarco Member
HI JANET, I JUST WENT TO WALGREENS TO BUY A PROBIOTIC FOR GAS AND BLOATING, I HAVE TRYED IT FOR A FEW DAYS BUT STILL FEEL BLOATED AND FULL AFTER EATING A COUPLE OF BITES? I HAVE HAD A LITTLE RELIEVE WITH PEPTO BISO. I GO BACK TO MY DR. NEXT WEEK AND WILL TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT AGAIN. I WILL ALSO KEEP A RECORD OF WHAT I EAT WHEN I FEEL BLOATED. IT MIGHT BE BREAD BECAUSE BREAD HAS YEAST IN IT AND THAT YEAST EXPANDS? I LOVE ITALIAN BREAD FOR SANDWICHS SO I HOPE I DONT HAVE TO GIVE THAT UP
1. Barbara Moore Moderator
 I too suffer from bloat from time to time. Keeping a diary is a great tool for finding the culprit. I am happy to hear that you are talking to your doctor and you may ask for a session with a nutritionist. Hope this helps you. Barbara Moore (site moderator)
2. Jackie English Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="beverlydemarco" user-id="2407285"/> Great idea about keeping track of your diet. Hopefully, it will help you narrow it down. I’ve noticed that if I eat less carbs like bread and potatoes that I am less bloated and can breathe much easier-Jackie (team member)
Jackie English Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="beverlydemarco" user-id="2407285"/> thanks for sharing about the device. It reminded me that I have one from a few years ago and that I should get it out and try using it again. I have been very phlegmy and couohing a lot. I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner. Thanks again, Jackie- (moderator)
1. beverlydemarco Member
 <inline-mention username="Jackie English" user-id="2415342"/> HI JACKIE, YES YOU DO NEED A PRESCRIPTION FOR THE SODIUM CHLORIDE, ITS ONLY A COUPLE OF DOLLARS BUT IT WORKS GREAT, TALK TO YOUR LUNG DOCTOR, YOU WILL REALLY FEEL SO MUCH BETTER AFTER THE TREATMENT, I HOPE IT WORKS FOR YOU AS WELL AS IT HAS FOR ME. I HAVE A SPEEECH THERAPIST FROM MY AT HOME CARE PROGRAM, ALTHOUGH I DONT HAVE ANY SPEECH PROBLEMS THEY HELP YOU WITH BREATHING EXERCISES AND TO STRENGTHEN YOUR LUNGS, I WAS AT ONLY 19% LUNG FUNCTION A FEW MONTHS AGO AND I AM NOW AT 27%LUNG FUNCTION, I AM ALSO IN STAGE 4 COPD, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE IS BLOATING AND LEAKING BLOOD SOMEWHERE IN MY BODY, I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL LAST MONTH TO GET A BLOOD TRANSFUSION AND MY DR. IS SENDING ME FOR CAT SCANS AND DOING A LOT OF BLOOD WORK WHICH I WILL GET THOSE RESULTS NEXT WEEK. GOOD LUCK
2. Jackie English Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="beverlydemarco" user-id="2407285"/> thank you, you too! -Jackie (moderator)