Life Expectancy

[cheercoachmom]

My mother has had copd/emphesyma for the last 10 years, she was recently told she is in the final stages of the codp.  Currently she has pneom in the right lung, and is coughing up sputum, her legs are swelled so that she can't walk, she can't make it more than 5 ft without collapsing.   The doc has given her everything that he can give her for the copd, and emphy.  Mom also has survived cancer, and triple bypass, and has diabetes.  What is the life expectancy once you reach the final stages of copd?  Will it be the copd that finally takes, her or will it be another part of the body that fails?  OH, and she is severly anemic due to a loss of iron somewhere in the body.

[asorofman]

Actually from all I have read, most likely if their heart is strong then they will actually drown because their lungs get so full that no air will be able to get in.  If we are extrememly lucky, they will go in their sleep without a struggle.  Too many  times my mother has come close and believe me to see the fear in her eyes because she cannot get a breath is heart breaking. My mother has had heart trouble and several other problems that would normally take a persons life but the doctors tell us that it will be her lungs that fail before anything else.  My mom's lungs are so full that you can hear her "rattling" clear across the room with every breath she tries to take. So what do I do? Get so stressed that after the attack and she is resting I go outside for a smoke off all things

[xxbowiexx]

i think aside from her congestive heart failure, she is very prone to a life threatening infection.  I would recommend spending as much time possible with her and find ways to improve her quality of life by being there for her.  Wishing you and your mother the best of luck, and stay strong.

[stannis]

Hello,
I believe that the heart fails.  If there is swelling in the legs, this is an indicator of heart failure.  
Good Luck and God Bless you and your beloved Mother