emphysema life expectancy

[DanarCorseth]

I am a 40 yr old male // smoked for 22 yrs and have recently been diagnosed with emphysema apparently stage 4 because I have already been put on O2 // currently taking advair twice a day and spiriva once a day. honestly // Pissed at myself for the damage I have caused myself and the future pain I have caused my wife and kids // The FEV1 test i have had says my lungs are providing capacity of a 65-70 yr old // I am a firm believer in prepare for the worst and hope for the best // in this case work for the Best // I was wondering what type of Longevity / Life expectancy I can "honestly" look forward to say "BS" so I can shape my mental attitude for more. I know this is all combobulated jibberish to some but this is recent and my mind is racing in 200 different directions and I want to be prepared for myself as well as for my family.

Thanks for any input
Dan

[cornishcarole110]

I too live in Spain and have stage 3 ie. severe COPD whereabouts are you - maybe we could keep in touch - have only recently been diagnosed after spending over 2 weeks emergency admission to hospital for dangerously low oxygen levels.  Anyway hope all still well with you.

[gro913]

You are so right, six months ago I was told I had emphysema, had 20% lung function, and doc wanted to put me on lung thansplant list. I quit smoking, changed my diet, and get alot of exercise ( with oxygen). I also don't take any meds that supress the imune system. Albuterul in a nebulizer 4 times a day works for me, and it only costs $16.00 a month. I feel better now than I have in years. my blood oxygen level has improved, and some days I can blow 50% in my peak flow meter. I still use O2 when I am working in the yard, sawing and splitting wood, weedeating. I  am 56 and I believe I will still be around at 80 as long as I stay active.

[frisky510]

I am 71 and have emphysema and have it for 20 years   It is just now getting really bad --you must keep active---no one knows when the end stage will be ----everyone is different----my doctor said because I stay active I am still alive----so pay any mind to people or doctors who say 3 years to 5 years --we are all different I have outlived 2 of my doctors    sooooo hang in there all  

[26245]

oops! sorry, I wrote excarbations instead of exacerbations, probably because it's such an awful thing just thinking about it messes you up...

[26245]

I really wish somebody told me why ALL DOCTORS are so hip on Advair (Seretide here in Spain) when it is a known fact - that you can read in the literature and in the Internet - that this drug does not stop the decline, but supposedly just makes you feel better... Since it did not make me feel better (I have state III COPD) I stopped taking it and binned the other daily inhaler (Spiriva) too, only kept the emergency inhaler at hand which I use about a couple times a month. In lieu of these medicines I've been taking - as suggested by allmymarbles and based on extensive googling  - N-Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst in the US, Fluimil here in Spain) orally for about 3 months now and it seems to help: no excarbations so far. I'm also taking  a flavonoids drug (Daflon) with anti-inflammatory properties and believe that helps too. One final advice: don't tell your doctors you stopped taking Advair, they will not understand and will develop an instant dislike to you and... eat lots of broccoli.

[jo803]

What kind of reaction did you have with Advair. I am on that. I have been diagnosed with copd and i am having a hell of a time dealing with this which I am sure is only main things worse. I actually freak out I think i will end up giving myself a heart attack because of it