Emphysema
My Husband got diagnosed with Emphysema just under 5 years ago , he is 54 . It is very prevalent throughout his lungs according to the CT scan . His FEV1 was 77 % predicted at the time of diagnosis, he did his yearly PFT last week , his FEV1 is now 51% predicted . It goes without saying all the other numbers are off as well .
I am having a hard time getting any real information about what to expect , it seems to me that this is a very rapid progression from what I am seeing online .
He is really in denial about what is happening to him , nobody in his family talks about it , because he doesn’t..
I am concerned about how quickly this seems to be changing .
Hi again,
, and thanks for your post. I see you posted something similar elsewhere on our COPD.net community platform, for which I was able to provide an answer. For ease of reference, here is a link to that post of yours, with my response: https://copd.net/forums/chronic-shortness-of-breath-but-good-oxygen-levels#reply-166818. I do hope you have an opportunity to read that conversation when you can.
We are glad to have you as a new member here, If there is anything we can do to assist you (and your husband), please let me or any other moderator / team member know.
All the best,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
Hi. Welcome to the forum. I'm not a medical expert, but I do have some questions that might help us to give you better support. Is your husband on a medication regimen right now? Do you think it's been effective for him, or not as much anymore? It may be worth going back to the doctor and re-evaluating his current meds, doses and oxygen needs in order to help him feel more comfortable. Also, has he ever done pulmonary rehab? If not or if it's been a while, the staff at rehab might be able to help him build his strength. These aren't cures, but the right care can slow the progression of COPD. Beyond that, we try to remind people that numbers aren't everything ... five people with similar PFT results can have very different life experiences, capabilities and outcomes. That said, I hear your concern about what seems like a fast progression. We are here to support you both ... keep asking questions and don't let the doctors leave until you are feeling informed and on the same page. Take care! -Melossa, copd.net team
My husband does not have COPD, he's just stubborn, especially when it comes to healthcare! 😀 I am one of the staff moderators that helps answer questions and provides support. My grandmother had COPD for at least 10 years, and my mother was her primary caregiver, so I got a close look at some of the struggles that people with COPD can face. It's a joy for me to be here and help where I can. Your husband is on his own journey ... perhaps when he feels more ready, he'll come around to making some changes. I'm glad he has you. -Melissa, copd.net team
"It's a joy for me to be here and help where I can." That is so very sweet of you to say. Thank you so much for saying that!
Thank you Leon.
You are most welcome, Rebecca!! This is actually a large part of what our online community is all about. What do you plan to do next?
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
