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?

[MrsPinas]

I know it's hard watching your wife suffer trying to breath. I know it seems she is giving up, but she is fighting every second, every minute, every hour of the day. It may not seem like it, but she is. My husband is living with COPD. His last test in Dec. 09, he has 18% of his lungs working. He struggles everyday with the sudden loss of air, the consist coughing. Just like your wife does not want O2. He does try and stay active. He visits his family when possible, sits on the porch and talks with the neighbors. One day of activity means two days of recoupment.
Try and be supportive as much as possible. I know it's hard, you want her not to give up. Keep you head up. My husband doctor told him two years ago he had 1 to 3 years to live. Then in Dec.09 he told him that the copd is progressing rapidly. He has 1 year.
Keep your head up..My prayers to your family.

[lynnkay]

AWWWW WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SUGGESTION ABOUT THE CRUISE. I would never have thought of that.

[memory65]

I too am suffering from severe emphysema and also heart disease. I think your wife just wants it to over, I can' blame her. when your life's dreams are gone you feel as if you have nothing to live for. why not talk her into going on a cruise, it' not so taxing. I THINK THOUGH THAT SHE HAS HER MIND MADE UP.
I will pray for her and for you. I know what this has done to my husband.
                                                        memory65

[cz4806]

Thanks for your comment. I wanted to know if there were any stages past 4 and what I can look for next as her disease progresses. I guess that I look for her to start turning blue next. The answers I have gotten have been very helpful and understandably vague as to life expectancy but I expected that. She has apparently dicided that she is just going to wait and die. She does nothing to help her condition such as walking more to help her breathing improve just a little. She is content to just sit and watch TV all day. Only time I an get her out is twice a year for her annual Dr. visits. Thanks for your wishes and help.

[AudPat]

Apparently there are many factors that  determine the progression of emphysema.  Thus making it almost impossible to predict life expectnancy at any point.
Stage 4 does apparently relate to endstage emphysema.  However the stages are not an exact science.  Many lung specicalists prefer not to use them or use such terminology as  end stage.  It is not necessarily informative or  helpful and can be psycholigically very alarming for the patient.  
Hopefully the information at this web address for the National Health Service in the uk will be of help to you.  I have found if very informative.  
http://www.nhs.uk/Search/Pages/Results.aspx?___JSSniffer=true&scope=&q=copd
Very best wishes

[lynnkay]

My mother's brother, my uncle was in end stage COPD, when he was diagnosed. The doctors told my uncle he had 18 mths. to 3 yrs. to live. My uncle ended up living over 8 yrs. with end stage COPD before he passed away. I believe you saying your wife is in stage 4 emphysema, means she is in end stage. It depends upon the individual just how long a patient can live.

Is your wife taking inhalers to help her condition? Steroids are used to treat COPD. My understanding is steroids can be effective. Steroids though can be hard to tolerate. My mother had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and passed away not quite 3 yrs. ago from this awful lung disease. She took prednisone. There were side effects.

I too have COPD. I was diagnosed not yet 3 yrs. ago. My only sibling a brother has COPD as well. I am 53 and my brother is 50. We both found out we had COPD, while our dear mother was dying. Rather my brother found out he had COPD, about 6 mths. before my mother passed away. I found out I had COPD, 3 mths. after our momma passed. Thank God she never knew we both had lung disease as well. My mother was never a smoker in her life. My brother and me were. But, lung disease is running strongly in our family most obviously.

I do believe in lung transplants. Lung transplants save many lives. But, I personally will never have one, as my lung disease progresses. My mother passed away 4 mths. after receiving a single lung transplant. I thank the person with all my heart, for giving their precious lung to my momma. This person in my opinion deserves a definite spot in Heaven for such a gift. But, my mother left the hospital only 2 days, during the 4 mths. after her transplant. She spent 4 mths. in the hospital. My mother suffered unbelievably during those 4 mths. and died a horrific death. Haunts me still to this day. Transplants are blessings. But yet, when they instantly start rejecting like my mother's did, the suffering from the transplant, becomes worse than the actual lung disease that they have. Just my opinion.

I will pray for your wife and you. I know it is hard watching this with your wife. It is very hard on the caregiver I know. I had to take care of my mother. You feel so helpless much of the time. My heart goes out to you. God Bless You. I don't know if anything I had to say was of any help.

.

[willyscanlon51]

You wife has not much Time.I have COPD and I am on 3 liters of O2 at night. My lung volume is at 33 %. I also have lung cancer but the Cyber knife works for curing those. I also walk and try to improve my lung capacity. I also use a steam shower and it helps at getting the junk up from my lungs. I also us water therapy(a swimming pool) for exercise. If your wife has given up then say Ciao. I refuse to give up or give in. I use Breo and Spiriva. I plan to only leave this life kicking and screaming. I refuse to give up or give in.