Severe copd and emphysema

[Bichone]

Hi i was diagnosed nearly 4months ago and have been sent to hospital a few times because my sats are low. They have told me i am classed as severe copd emphysema  I have the resprotory team who have told me i need oxygen for walking especially up stairs and hills  i. 46 am currently trying to stop smoking , down from about 20 to 3 or 4 a day. Does anyone no life exspectancty. I also have fibromyalgia which causes me lots of pain     My son and daughter have just lost there dad to lung cancer (both lungs) at end od october after we nursed him at home for 7 months , he passed away peacefully in my arms at home. Im am so scared of not being around for them even more so now    sometimes its nice to have things in black and white.   I do strugggle and get very breathless which also causes my legs to allmost cease up but i find it hard to take in how serious this is   Am i worrying for no reason , or is it just because i cant see it i forget about it.  I put the breathing problems down to smoking and getting older  but it is causing my mum a lot of worry as she thinks im not taking it serious enough. Im very stubburn and like to do things for myself , i find it hard excepting i cant do what i used to. They said my lungs are like that of a 70 + woman.  Must admit i do feel like it sometimes.      Thanks for reading and any feed back would be very much appreciated.


This discussion is related to emphysema.

[allmymarbles]

Like you I have severe COPD. I am 83 and have had this ailment was diagnosed about 15 years ago, although I think the first signs appeared about 30 years ago. I am on 2 liters of oxygen and used a nebulizer. I do not take prednisone or inhaled steroids as I found they affected my health very badly. I do use Duoneb and natural anti-inflammatories. I have not found any benefit from Spiriva or Singulair. The progress of my illness is slow and my pulmonologist refuses to speculate on my life expectancy. He says there is great varieability.

[notdeadyet1999]

Correction to above:
THEY ARE NOT THE SAME ILLNESS
Sorry ,bout that

[notdeadyet1999]

Hello Bichone,
I too was told I had severe COPD. I couldn't walk very far the burn in my legs was unbearable, shortness of breath waking up at night.
I eventually ended up with a great pulmonologist; I do not have bronchitis,  emphysema or any combination of the two. I have pulminary hypertension,
my oxygen level was in the 70's and lower (should be at or near a 100) the pressure in my lungs was measured at 98, I think 15 or 20 is the norm.
COPD and PH are the same illness, though the first is sometimes confusesd for the latter, as in my case.
I wish you all the best.

[Bichone]

Hi , i was given nebuliser and oxygen due to my sats being low , was in for 2days and than allowed home.  Have now got neb at home 4times a day and am awaiting my oxygen for out and about and climbing stairs which i find makes me very breathless.  Have been told i myt have to have lung transplant if things carry on the way they are. Allways getting infections and very tired. Also have M E which doesnt help. Dont no if im worrying for nothing and with help it myt improve , ive allways suffered with my health in one way or another. Its nice to talk to someone , i dont no anyone with the sme thing , i live in brighton.   Thanks for replying hope this helps. X

[allmymarbles]

Why were you hospitalized and what treatments did they give you there?