Acapella device on prescription?

Chest and lungs
1

Sorry if this question has been asked before but has anyone obtained an acapella via a GPs prescription? 

My position at the moment is that my respiratory consultant and two respiratory practitioners have written to my GP and requested he prescribe it for me. When I asked the receptionist if the prescription had been done I was told that he said...he'd never heard of it so wouldn't prescribe it. 

Anyone been successful? 

 

2

Hi Janet

Yes, I have. Like yourself my doctor had t heard of it before but fortunately they looked it up on the internet. I knew I needed the green one. It’s not something the pharmacist keeps in so it has to be ordered. Maybe if you go with all the information about one your doctor may be a little more forthcoming. I also had to explain how to use it and what it does.

best of luck

 

3

Thanks dancing queen that gives me some hope!

Hopefully I'll get an appointment to see my 'favoured' GP tomorrow who understands about bx because her mother suffers too. She's been a great support to me. I'll take the 3 letters I have and if she hasn't heard of it perhaps she'll look it up too. She knows that shifting phlegm is an issue for me so that's why I'd like to try one. 

4

If all else fails, but it yourself on Amazon. No Rx needed.

5

What is the difference between blue and green?

6

I saw the favoured GP this afternoon who had obviously been 'primed' by the head GP of the surgery. She said the surgery wouldn't prescribe it as it was untested and they'd be liable if something went wrong with my using it. I wasn't happy so she said she'd write to my consultant who (maybe) could give it to me through the hospital. 

So I went to my pharmacy to collect some Itraconazole and talked to them about it. They said GP's are prescribing it and patients are getting good success with the acapella. I asked how much to buy my own? £60...I ordered one...I really can't be bothered with all the politics of who can and who can't. Like the pharmacist said...of course it's tried and tested or it wouldn't be listed by the NHS to be prescribed.  

7

Very true aitarg35939. I think I got a good deal with my local pharmacy...bx being classes as a chronic illness it's VAT free. BONUS!!! 

8

Oh Janet, how bad is that for you. I can tell you that you’re supposed to replace them every six to 12 months, although I have had my current one for about 18months. It doesn’t seem right that some GPs will prescribe then and others won’t. Hopefully you will find it a good investment.

regards, Anne

9

Oh well if somebody does give me one I'll have two!! 

I think the GP doesn't want it out of his budget....

Thanks Anne for your support. 

10

Hi

Yes i have used the acpela myself. I find it works sometime others not so much. Do you get alot of pneumonia often? Do you have chronic rib pain? I have been dealing with chronic pain for 10yrs now.

11

Hi Kris,

Yes unfortunately I've had a lot of bouts of pneumonia too. I've just finished with a bout of pleurisy in the right lung too and it was extremely painful. But it has gone now. I don't want that again anytime soon!!

Thanks for your thoughts on the acapella...I'm hopeful it will help me. Maybe it works sometimes and not others depending on how much phlegm is there?  

12

It depends to some extent on propee use, on how much phlegm there is, and how loose the phlegm is. It's good lung exercise when used properly. The one thing about no Rx is that you don't know what setting to use. But if you blow & feel a flutter or flapping action in your lungs, you'r e doing it correctly.

13

Thanks for the advice aitarg. 

I collected the acapella today and am making an appointment with the respiratory specialist so I know I'm using it correctly.  

14

My GP was happy to prescribe it on the advice of a private physiotherapist I saw for a session on breathing techniques (it wasn't offered to me on the NHS) when I was diagnosed.

15

I had a good consultation with the respiratory specialist who showed me how the acapella worked...

Yesterday I saw the consultant and she really couldn't understand the GPs non action. She wrote me out a prescription for an acapella. 

16

That is good to hear Janet. I hope you find it helpful after all the effort to get one.

Anne

17

Thanks Anne, I've been using it for a few days now and although I'm not a cougher it's certainly feels like it's draining mucus from somewhere.