Passy Muir Valve

[trach mom]

HI. I read on a previous post about passy muir valves being a good transition to capping, and since she cannot tolerate being capped, I called the doctor to get on. It is now on the way and I am SOOOOO excited. Please tell me some of the pros and cons of them. I have some questions:
Is it hard to get on and off?
Where do the secretions go? Do they really cough them up?
Does it take a long time to get them to tolerate it?
What are some hints to get a 7 mo old to wear it?

Oh yeah, did I mention I am SOOOOOO excited?

[cariaad]

The pmv is great in my opinion. Alli started wearing it for very small amounts of time around 6 or 7 mos old (she came home at 5 mos) at first 10 or 15 minutes, then gradually more and more. SHe can wear it all day now. It worked wonders with her secretions, gets her using her nose (we got the first buggers after a day of wearing it! funny thing to get excited about but it means her nose is doing its job&#33http://www.twinEnterprises.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif It is easy to put on and take off-just a firm quarter twist, but make sure to hold the trach steady when you do it! WEve never had a humidity problem...but I make sure to take it off immediately if she's coughing too long or hard, crying really hard or getting a shot...she's still not good at taking a deep calming breath with it on is why. Once she's settled, back on it can go! Good luck! Deb

[p's mom]

we love the PMV. It's been great. We started trying Parker with it at 5 months. He had a lot of vocalization but just couldn't tolerate it for more that about 15 min. Through time and persistance he's now as of Christmas Eve wearing it all day.
I usually let him cough up all the morning goop and then suction him and put it on. He coughs, crys, screams, laughs , eats,drinks, everything with it on. I do take it off during naps and night night times. Although he has slept a nap with it on.
As far as humidity I think it depends on you child. Parker's never been one to have humidity problems and has only ever needed humidity during sleeping.
hope this helps. Good luck and You should definately be excited!!!!!
Cory