LVRS

By moe1955

1 min read

Hi, I am 61 years old and have had COPD since I was 48. I am now at 24% capacity. I try to walk every day and if I can't I dance in my house. I am single. I use oxygen at night and during the day my stat is at 94%, so not enough to use oxygen during the day but I get out of breath even changing changing my clothes.
I also lost a brother with COPD, he was 63 and I have one brother that is about bedridden on oxygen 6 lt. and uses the Cpap too. 24/7. His capacity is 15%. They say our COPD isn't genetic. I think it is.
I have recently looked into LVRS, Lung Volume Reduction Surgery. I was just wondering if anyone has had it. I would go to the University of Michigan to have it. So anyone out there have it yet?

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Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
Hi Moe and thanks for sharing your COPD experiences on line with the community. If any of our community members have had the LVRS procedure, perhaps they will share their experience once they read your post. This link: <a href='https://copd.net/treatment/surgery-overview/lung-volume-reduction' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/treatment/surgery-overview/lung-volume-reduction/</a> (which has also been incorporated into your posting), will provide a good overview of the surgical procedure, options for patients, potential benefits and risks. If you haven't as yet, I'm sure you will find reading the article to be informative and helpful. I thought you might also find this additional article will provide more information on COPD and related surgical procedures: <a href='https://copd.net/treatment/surgery-overview' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/treatment/surgery-overview/</a> I would then urge you to discuss this with your doctor to help determine if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure. Please check back with us and let us know how you're doing, too. Warm regards, Leon (site moderator)
Lyn Harper, MPA, BSRT, RRT, AE-C Moderator
Moe616 - I have to commend you for your remarkable attitude and obvious effort to do whatever it takes to feel better. I'm sorry about your brothers; it sounds like your family has suffered a great deal from COPD. As I'm sure you know, there's a rigorous process to qualify for LVRS. Each facility has a different criteria, but all are strict. In my pulmonary rehab days, I knew two people that had gone through the surgery. They were doing really well! I knew them in the months following the surgery as they came for pulmonary rehab. Each week I saw a marked improvement over what they had been able to do pre-surgery. Hopefully someone in the community will have first-hand experience and can comment. I wish you the best! Lyn (site moderator)
John Bottrell, RRT Moderator & Contributor
Thank you for sharing your story. There have been a lot of studies showing positive results for lung reduction surgery. It seems to improve both lung function and quality of life. Although, I work in a small town hospital, so have not, to my knowledge, met anyone who has gone through it. As Lyn and Leon said, it would be neat to hear from any community members who have experience with this surgery. As far as genetics, researchers are on the cutting edge of understanding the links between genes and COPD. They have found a few COPD genes, and are working to find more. Stay tuned, as this is a subject I will cover in an upcoming post here at COPD.net.Keep us posted on what you decide and how things are going. John. Site Moderator.
flo1 Member
You mentioned you feel this could be genetic? Please ask for the alpha one antitrypsin deficency test, if you live in USA this can be found through Alpha One Foundation (look on the net) and follow the link to ask they send out a test kit, its private, and free in UK it might be same there? A1AD is genetically inherited I have this very severe disease , it is common knowledge that up to 3% of all COPD patients have lived undiagnosed with this and been wrongly diagnosed with COPD so I urge everyone presenting problems in their 4th decade to get tested and those here young that were diagnosed young to check and get tested....it could save your life. Thanks...pm me if you want more advice.
cathyinmb Member
I had LVRS in 2006 in Northern Virginia at the age of 44. It was a tough surgery as far as recovery but I had almost 10 years of "forgetting " that I had emphysema!! I'd be more then happy to give you more details if you want. I think the testing you go through before surgery is much like the testing you have for lung transplant, its very thorough and the doctors have a good indication if you are a good candidate for surgery. I'm hoping to to hear back from you and to find out if you've done any of the testing. I hope you are doing well. CathyinMB
bunnymusic60 Member
Cathy I was 59 when I had it done and I couldn't be happier. I am now 73 and although I wasn't lucky enough to get off oxygen I am still alive and a walking example of what it can do for us. Exercise is so important and your emphysema must be in the upper lobes. Go for it! Smile, Bunny