Chest Therapy
The respiratory system is greatly affected by cystic fibrosis. The thick sticky mucous that is produced in the lungs is breeding grounds for bacteria. Recurring chest infections is very common with cf and leads to progressive damage of the lung tissue which often leads to the need for a double lung transplant.
Every day since Wyatt was diagnosed we have performed chest physio therapy on him. This is done by a method called percussion. We basically place our hand in a cup position and tap on different areas of his chest. This helps to release some of the mucous that accumulates in his day to day life. We do various positions (like laying flat on his back, flat on his tummy, on his side, and sitting upright). These different positions use gravity to drain the mucous (postural drainage) in different lobes of the lungs. From start to finish physio takes about 30 minutes. We do this in the morning and before bed every single day.
Physio is such an important step for Wyatt to stay healthy and we refuse to skip doing it. I’ve calculated how long we have spent doing physio with Wyatt since he was diagnosed and it’s approximately 1,155 hours (or 48 days!). When Wyatt has a cold we add a third physio session midday.
Another important part of chest health for Wyatt is using a nebulizer to breathe in medicine. He uses a medication called hypertonic saline before his physio everyday. The nebulizer turns this medicine into a mist to breathe in and it helps to thin out the mucous in his lungs. Then we do the physio to clear the mucous out. The nebulizer takes about half an hour, twice a day. Wyatt is a champ with it and he sits so great. As long as he has a show to watch or a puzzle to do he will sit still for the whole session. His brother and sister usually keep him company as well so that makes it a lot easier on him!
The main point to take away from this information is cf does not take a break. It is a disease that requires attention every single day. If we didn’t do his therapy he wouldn’t be as healthy as he is. Before he began using the nebulizer (a little over a year ago) he had a chronic cough. He would cough throughout his sleep, at meals, when playing, etc. It was a constant reminder that something was wrong. The therapy combo that he does now has been life changing for us and we are happy to say he lives a cough free daily life (except when he has a cold).
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