My wife has stage 4 emphysema,what do I look for next as this progresses?

[cz4806]

3 yrs. ago my wife was diagnosed with COPD. At that time she was put on oxygen part time and within 3 months she was on 24/7 at 3 liters. 2 yrs. ago her saturation level walking was 97 and this year at rest it was 89. Last lung capacity test was 18% and that was about 1 1/2 or 2 years ago, it's too stressful for her to have another so she has refused to take another. She was also told at the beginning that she was a prime candidate for a transplant, which she refused. She has also refused in patient steroid treatments. She has made no effort to be more active to help her condition. Are there more stages of emphysema? What do I look for next as she will just keep getting worse? How much time, approximately,  would be the best guess as to how much time do I have to get her affairs in order before she passes?

[heartfulwoman]

It's got to be so hard to watch her struggle with this nasty lung disease. Just try and be positive for you and her for the moments she has left. I hope she would go on a cruise for it's a life lifting experience rather than sitting in front of the TV. Wow and you lost your son so young with bone cancer. My heart goes out to you and your wife. You know I have a dear friend who also has stage four and she reminds me of your wife. She will not walk hardly at all. If she does it's 1/2 block to get her cigs but she usually depends on friends to pick up her supplies. She has a terrible cough and yes she does take a steroid inhaler along with another purple one. I can feel your pain and your right it's their choice of giving up and your feeling hopeless. May god help you be strong my friend. I will pray for you today to ask god to give you    strength to help you through this long journey. Take care!!

[marlo20]

Same thing with my dad.  he was the strongest man I know,at the age of 73 never ever complained a day in his life.  I know he was so sick and never complained of his illness.  he had been in and out of the hospital- 4x over 1.5 years.  he passed this past January 15th.  He was on 4-5 liters sitting and 6-7 walking (even though that wasn't good for him) he slept with a Bi-pap, took his meds, took walks as advised.  Nothing seemed to help.  he was anemic without origin, he received quite a few liters of blood, but it kept dropping.  His heart was weakening from the lung disease so his legs would swell and his heart beat was irregular. His Blood gasses were increasing.  My dad had had enough.  i know he didn't feel good, he didn't want people to have to wait on him hand and foot. he was very independent and that was taken away from him.  I know he is in a much better place without oxygen tubes up his nose.  I just miss him dearly.  I know it is very rough for you all, I feel for you.  I would be sick daily, worried sick just thinking about him and how he would die. i just didn't want him to suffer.  The last week in the hospital was a little rough for him but the morphine helped him a lot to relax.  Keep the faith and pray. :)

[cherylcov]

I feel like all thèse comments were typed by me, my mum is in stage 4, and day by day i see things getting harder for her, she was hospitalised à few months back, and it was scary and upsetting to watch, i take each day as à blessing now, its such à cruel disease....

[doogie2205]

I have stage 4 emphysema and I am 46. I have had this condition for 12 years. I am waiting for a double lung transplant. Why has your transplant worked out for you? I understand completely when you say you cant wait to die as I know how bad I feel and I know my body is giving up. I send all my love and best wishes to you xxx

[DByrne]

My husband was diagnosed with COPD in the spring of 1988. He was 46 years old.  He continued to smoke and by 1995 he was on 2 lts of o2. In the fall of 1996 he had lung reduction on both his right and left lungs.  3 weeks later he was diagnosed with guillain barre.  Do to this unforeseen medical issue, the lung reduction didn't help him.  He quite smoking and in 1998 he was added to the transplant list.  After 18 months, do to the generosity of a loving family, he was able to receive a right lung on January 31, 2000. There were a few rocky times, a lot of medications and some additional medical issues (diabetes, osteoporosis, etc.) but none of this stopped him. He continued to exercise, both physical  and breathing exercises and was part of a pulmonary support group. He's as able to watch our children become great adults and parents, our 14 grandchildren grow and the birth of our 5 great grandchildren.  I lost the love of my life, to end stage rejection on August 1, 2013, a week after our 48th wedding anniversary and 13 1/2 years after his transplant. I miss him immensly, but know that I was blessed because he decided to have the transplant. My prayers are with you all, no matter what decision you make.

[Nizzan]

I have/had stage 4 Emphysema and it got so bad I opted for a double lung transplant in 2009. It was he'll until I finally felt better in 2011. I could breathe like a normal person, started to play golf again and even started to hike. Life was grand until mid Nov. 2012.
Now it's straight downhill, massive infections, collapsed lung monthly and been intubated three time. Now in 2013 I cannot walk two steps.
I simply cannot wait to die then I will feel better. I have been a good man my whole life so this must not be Karma. To die at age 43 truly will not be fair but emphysema is the unfair east of them all