Choking

[Mcmama54]

Would an anti choking device help getting phlegm up? Not a suction machine it’s a device which works if himleck doesn’t

 

[Nikki J]

I don’t think so. You might get a single hard clump if there was one but I am pretty sure it wouldn’t help overall. And I think I would rather be suctioned than to use that repeatedly

 

[Mcmama54]

Thank you

 

[highwaydevil]

We have one of those throat plunger things. I don't yet have or need suction yet, but we figure it can't hurt if I start choking and can't cough up the obstruction.

 

[Alyse]

What is a throat plunger?

 

[Nikki J]

There are various brands It is marketed as something that might work when you are alone and self Heimlich manueveres fail

Basically instead of creating force from the inside with abdominal pressure it pulls from the outside. I have one and tested it once (I was not choking). As I said above I think it might move a very solid chunk but I do not think it would work to replace suction for secretion management. I also found it very unpleasant

One brand is lifevac but there are others

 

[drewidia]

Before my diagnosis I had tried the lifevac... it's basically only somewhat useful for objects (solid) ... was an epic fail for the mucus stuff...

If you have thick secretions nebulizers help thin the mucus... but the cough assist device really the big help for me...

 

[lgelb]

I believe one key is prevention -- by the time you have to suck anything up, it is big enough to cause aspiration pneumonia, for example. So echoing Nikki's vaccine reminder for P/CALS, any and all visitors. This is the time. More here:

www.alsguidance.org/breathing/managing-secretions