• Our Mission

    Our Mission

    Our mission at PCD Smiles is to bring smiles to hospitalized primary ciliary dyskinesia, no mater their age; through the gift of a cheer package. Currently serving only The United States and Canada.
  • Request Cheer Package

    Request Cheer Package

    Know of a hospitalized primary ciliary dyskinesia patient? Please visit our “Request a Cheer Package” link and fill out our secured form to submit them for a cheer package today!
  • Donations

    Donations

    Our cheer package program runs on donations. To see how you can help PCD Smiles, visit our donations section today!
  • The PCD Artist Project is a collaborative effort by artist to raise awareness for PCD & support the PCD Smiles cheer package program. Visit our exhibits today!
Time remaining for 2023 Limited Edition Merchandise...
Days
:
Hours
:
Minutes
:
Seconds
  • Nasal Washes, Yay or Nay?

    Nasal Washes, Yay or Nay?

    Are you Team Yay or Team Nay when it comes to nasal washes for you or your loved one with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)? Nasal washes are an integral component to PCD care, or rather they could...
  • Disordered Sleeping and Sleep Disturbances in PCD

    Disordered Sleeping and Sleep Disturbances in PCD

    Disordered sleeping and sleep disturbances are more common in PCD than once thought. It’s not surprising given that you need to be able to breathe properly in order to sleep properly. Sleep related...
  • Can I live a Holistic Lifestyle with PCD?

    Can I live a Holistic Lifestyle with PCD?

    There are no studies into holistic lifestyle alongside a primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) diagnosis. There are however a few antidotal reports from the PCD patient population where patients have...
  • PCD Awareness Month a Necessary Evil?

    PCD Awareness Month a Necessary Evil?

    We are a little less than two weeks away from another PCD Awareness Month. I’m just not feeling it this year. It seems to get a little more difficult each year, and I am not sure why it gets more...

Dear Smile E.

I injured my back a few weeks ago and my vest machine is really killing me during treatments. Honestly all airway clearance hurts at this point. What should I do? Is there anything I can do besides just skipping my treatments.

Signed,

Airway Clearance Hurts

 

Dear Airway Clearance Hurts,

This is definitely a topic to discuss with your PCD team. There are most definitely ways to modify your airway clearance regiment around an injury, surgery, and pain. You can adjust your vest settings down to the lower level suggested by your PCD Team Respiratory Therapist. The great things about the vest is that they can be adjusted to allow you to still get your treatment in with minimal pain. You will however have to ask your team what the appropriate lower settings are in your case. I suggest starting by lowering the hertz be fore lowering the pressure of the vest. The higher numbers seem to make even minimal pain from minor surgery or injuries hurt. Most surgical teams will say to stay at your settings because the vest doesn’t interfere with there surgical area, but I thing that those surgical teams do not consider then referred pain associated with being shaken in the vest or during any airway clearance techniques. I strongly recommend that you call your airway clearance prescriber as soon as possible to discuss any needed modifications to you airway clearance treatment plan. I do hope that you are feeling better soon!

Yours Truly,

Smile E. Turtle


Do you have a question for Smile E.? 

Please EMAIL your questions to; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

And tune in next Sunday to read the latest Ask Smile E.

Join our Facebook group Turtle Talk Café today, click here.

We have several ways that you can donate to PCD Smiles;

- Visit Smile E. Turtle's Amazon Wishlist

- For more information on how you can donate, please visit our "Donation" page to check out our "Do & Don't policies.

- Or sponsor a PCD Smiles cheer package today!

- To shop for your “Official” turtle care ribbon gear today, visit PCD Style or Smile E. Cove

Thank you for your consideration!

  • Hits: 1361
PCD Smiles’s 1st  Biennial Fundraiser Painting 4 Smiles

PCD Smiles’s 1st  Biennial Fundraiser Painting 4 Smiles

Can you help us reach our goal? PCD Smiles’s 1st Biennial fundraiser Painting 4 Smiles runs the...
Random Fact Friday 1

Random Fact Friday 1

“Regular clinical visits to monitor disease status are key. Aggressive treatment is recommended to...
Urgent Stuffies Needed for our Cheer Packages!

Urgent Stuffies Needed for our Cheer Packages!

We are in great need for all things stuffy for our littlest cheer package recipients. Our younger...