End-stage emphysema with little hope.....

[marktheteacher]

What is the life span of my mother, 84 -yr. old, with end-stage emphysema, with serious memory loss, no longer given oxygen or nebulizer treatment since it no longer is effective, down 40 lbs. in the past 10 years, must live in a nursing home for 24/7 supervision, no longer can stand without  assistance, has not been able to walk for the past one year?  Does my mother have any way to make her feel better, even for just a few minutes?

[Julie20111]

My prayers are with all of you.  
Wishing you and your mom the best.
Julie

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
I am so sorry to hear about your mother. The only advice I can give is to take each day as it comes. If oxygen therapy and bronchodilators are not effective, then long term continuous oxygen therapy and corticosteroids can be tried, to ease her symptoms. Reduced lung capacity, reduces oxygen supply to brain and slowly lowers cognition and memory. Slowly the whole body is affected, and an individual's body compensates by reduced activity.
This is a slow progressive disease, even at end stage, and the degree of progression cannot be given with 100 percent accuracy. Take care!