how long can this go on?
My DH, age 77, has had lung cancer, in remission, and is now stage 4 copd. Just in the last month, every time he moves, his sat levels go to 74 or so and it takes a long time to get it backup. His concentrator is set at about 6 1/2 and, when his levels get very low, he'll use his portable bottle set at 4 at the same time. Mentally he seems ok, but has a hard time eating enough to maintain weight. Getting back and forth to the dr is hard for both of us. How long can this continue, do you think? He doesn't want hospice yet and can get to the bathroom or something to eat on his own while I'm at work. What signs do I watch for that we need hospice or that the end is near? What do I do if the end comes without hospice? Who do I call first? I'm so stressed and that's not helping us.
Hello Gertie555, thank you for reaching out. I hear how overwhelmed and worried you feel for your husband. It is hard watching a loved one struggle to breathe and endure the many symptoms of COPD. Your husband is not alone struggling to maintain a healthy weight. This is a common struggle among many in the community. I thought this article might be of interest to you: https://copd.net/living/maintaining-a-healthy-weight/
With COPD, life expectancy is something that is very hard to predict. There are those in the community who have lived with stage 4 for many years. Each person and their experience of COPD is unique. I want to share the resources we have about hospice and palliative care with you, as they may give you and your husband some alternate perspectives. Hospice care isn't just for your husband, it is also to help give you the support you need so you are not trying to carry everything alone. Even if your husband doesn't feel he is ready for it, you might frame a conversation with him around the fact that you need hospice or palliative care to help care for him so you do not burn out and can be his partner and not just his caretaker.
https://copd.net/living/palliative-care/
https://copd.net/living/the-word-hospice/
https://copd.net/living/hospice-misconceptions/
Being a caregiver can be draining. I hear how exhausted you feel as well. We have a variety of articles dedicated for caregivers that might be helpful for you to peruse: https://copd.net/caregiver/ I hope this can help you feel less alone. We are here to listen and offer support when you need a friendly ear. Reach out anytime. Wishing you a gentle day. ~Allyson (COPD.net team)Thank you for your reply. We are already doing these things as far as keeping his weight up. Mostly soups and brothier things, since the dryer it is the harder to eat and he tends to not drink. I did some research yesterday about hospice and palliative care. Apparently, where we are in North Alabama, palliative care consists of non-english speaking college students who come over to visit and get paid for it. There are 3 main providers and all of them have 1/2 star out of 5. There are some newer ones, but my research has shown that they are merely companies who closed due to lawsuits and have reopened under a new name. He doesn't want hospice because you have to give up the option to treat the copd. He is afraid that, the next time he gets pneumonia or a collapsed lung that they'll just let him die and not treat it. So, I'm still at the same point. There is a great difference in our ages, so I have to continue working and can't retire to care for him full time. I'm afraid that I'll come home and he will have passed, but the palliative care companies don't seem like they'd be any better than that. I don't think people realize that, after the Affordable Care Act, many rural hospitals were closed and we just don't have the options that people in large cities have.
Hi Gertie55, and thank your for your reply and explanation of what health care is like in your area. I'm sorry to hear of all the challenges you are currently facing in managing the care for your loved one. My heart goes out to you.
Please know that you are always welcome here in our online community. If there is anything we can do to assist you, please let me or any other moderator / team member know.
Warm regards,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
Do anyone still doubt natural herbs? I’ve seen the great importance of natural supplements and the wonderful work Dr Edidia has done in my husband life.
I was looking for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD treatments for my husband who was 72yrs old, my husband has COPD and cancer, his condition was very critical which i was very afraid that will not survive it.
His white blood count was very low right now and his doctors are planning on starting some chemo or other treatment soon.. I don't believe he will last long if he does this.. His COPD is getting worse even though he hasn't smoked in 30 years. so i decided to come online to see if there will be better alternative, during my research i saw a lady post about doctor Dr Edidia who has power over deadly disease, so i decided to contact him because i really do not care about what my husband was talking in all i want for him is for him to get well for me because he was all i have, my husband took the remedies that he send to us through UPS as he told us and few weeks later my husband stop to notice that symptoms of his disease are begging to leave him so he went back to his Doctor and he was told he no longer has those diseases.
My husband is totally free of COPD and cancer if not for doctor Edidia who help us rid this problem there is a possibility that my husband wouldn't be alive today.
their contact info
Email: dredidiaherbalhome@gmail.comwhatsapp: +2349074505296
Do anyone still doubt natural herbs? I’ve seen the great importance of natural supplements and the wonderful work Dr Edidia has done in my husband life.
I was looking for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD treatments for my husband who was 72yrs old, my husband has COPD and cancer, his condition was very critical which i was very afraid that will not survive it.
His white blood count was very low right now and his doctors are planning on starting some chemo or other treatment soon.. I don't believe he will last long if he does this.. His COPD is getting worse even though he hasn't smoked in 30 years. so i decided to come online to see if there will be better alternative, during my research i saw a lady post about doctor Dr Edidia who has power over deadly disease, so i decided to contact him because i really do not care about what my husband was talking in all i want for him is for him to get well for me because he was all i have, my husband took the remedies that he send to us through UPS as he told us and few weeks later my husband stop to notice that symptoms of his disease are begging to leave him so he went back to his Doctor and he was told he no longer has those diseases.
My husband is totally free of COPD and cancer if not for doctor Edidia who help us rid this problem there is a possibility that my husband wouldn't be alive today.
their contact info
https://dredidiaherbalhome.wixsite.com/dredidiaherbalhome
whatsapp: +2349074505296
