copd/ emphysema how long do most live

[whatever52]

I am 52 father of 5 ex husband of 2 a hard worker lots of medical problems I really wish someone would just tell me about how long someone with copd with emphysema and all the rest have to live on the average... but all I ever get is "oh its not that bad"or "look at the bottom of your foot is there an expiration date ???" give me a break !! there must be a long list of fact on this condition. It almost seems like people think I  want to find out that I will die soon...and that is wrong lots of variables I know,but what are the known facts and I will take it from there ..give us a break will you.


This discussion is related to Prognosis of early stage emphysema.

[Sunny602]

I can understand your frustration....with any diagnosis, people want to understand about how long. The thing is with emphysema, it varies tremendously. I had a friend who was in end stage COPD and was told by his doctors that he would live maybe two years in that final stage. He wound up living well over a decade with a lung function of less than 30%. What helped his case was that he stopped smoking, became as active as he could, watched his diet and became very proactive in his care. He learned everything he could possibly learn about COPD so that he could be more productive when it came to doctor's visits. He believed that teamwork between patient and doctor is necessary, I happen to believe this to be true as well.

Do you happen to know what your lung function is? What have your doctors told you? (BTW, never listen to what they say, like I said, it varies greatly person to person).
I have had some patients (I am a former RN) diagnosed in their 60's with early COPD who were told by their doctors that their COPD would not end their lives, something else would, meaning that it is slowly progressive. All in all, it depends on how advanced your lung disease is, how well you take care of yourself (do you eat well, exercise, not smoke etc...) and a whole bunch of other factors.

I wish I could help more...Sunny

[whatever52]

                                                  Thank you !
      
             I have been smoking along time and a lot! and my Job is one that I am around a lot of metal dust,oil mist and other chem. waiting for doc appointment with C T SCAN in hand. It is not easy to stay positive when I wees every time I try to sleep.
              I will post what happens as it does for anyone else it may help thank you again for your caring enough to reply.

              p.s I am quiting smoking not easy but I must

                                                       whatever52

[teko]

The only thing that will slow the progression of the disease is quitting smoking. Congrats on making your decision to do it. The only advice that I can and will give is based on my own experience. I had quit several times. Staying quit is the hard part.  When I was diagnosed with emphysema, I quit cold turkey. I was disqusted and did not want to even look at one. Then after a couple of weeks I went on paxil for anxiety and it has helped soooo much, with no side effects.  I am at 3 months now and can go thru most days without even thinking about them.  My doc told me that if I smoke, the progression will be rapid thereby cutting the life span and quality of life to possibly 5 years.  I am 56 now and only have symptoms on exertion for the most part. I got pneumonia and had a chest film that picked it up and had second opinion with pulmo guy who did pfts and confirmed moderate stage. I still find it hard to believe sometimes. I have a cleaning business, and thereby are in chemicals all day, but do wear a mask. Go to whyquit.com and lurk. Is a great website for people wanting to quit.