“How To Use An Incentive Spirometer?” Asks Janice

Janice:
After my mitral valve repair surgery, I was very compliant about using the spirometer during the 8 days I was in the hospital (due to Adam’s book!). I had no pulmonary issues while in the hospital, despite being asthmatic.
However, I became more lax about using it at home. I developed a mild (but scary and painful) case of pleural effusion. It disappeared when I went back to hourly use of the spirometer.
When I vacationed in Florida 6 weeks after my surgery, I began to experience the symptoms of pleural effusion again. I had brought the spirometer with me and, once again, when I increased my use of it, the symptoms were immediately alleviated.
Lesson I learned: use the spirometer as often as recommended by your doctor!!

hI REbecca,
Thank you, so much for sharing! I had open heart surgery on 10/2/09 and I am at home recovering and I also used the spirometer in the hospital and it helped…but I am not using it as much now and I am going to start using it more and packing it with me , if I go away. I am afraid of coughing still and I find if i use the spirometer more at home, my breathing feels better.

Absolutely use one and stick with the instructed cycles, how many and how often.
I still use it twice a day, 9 months after aortic valve replacement and am up to 4000ml!
Believe it also helps one avoid getting serious colds and/or keeping the ashma in check.