final stage emphysema

[carolyn885]

My father has been re-admitted (he's been out of hospital for 1 week after spending 4 weeks in hospital) to hospital and because he is at a poor government hospital i am unable to get legitimate feedback from any doctors as to how he is doing. A private doctor diagnosed him recently as having 2-6 months to live, however, he seems to be deteriorating very rapidly and is on a breathing machine 24 hrs a day and on cortisone in drip form. he is so weak that he is unable to walk, eat or take calls on his cellphone - i also tried smsing him as i know speaking is hardwork and he is too weak to even type an sms. he can hardly speak and simply lies in bed with his mask on all day. His legs, feet and hands are also very swollen. He is 5ft9in but probably only weighs in at a mere 40kg and is just skin and bone. Do I have much time?

[lynnkay]

I agree with what TRiggs posted to you. I too have COPD. We lost our insurance about 6 mths. ago. I called so many medical facilities trying to obtain medical care. I got much rude treatment and NO, NO, NO. I finally located a patient advocacy group in Virginia. I live in Kentucky. They helped me locate a clinic, that will give me medical care, on a sliding scale payment. That patient advocacy group got me into one of the clinics that had originally told me no. My heart very much goes out to your Father, you and your family at this time. My Mother passed away last year with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. She passed 4 mths. after a lung transplant. I do understand what you are facing. Only the good Lord knows how much time any of us have. But, I have to agree from my experience, that your Father probably does not have long. But, you are entitled to get answers from doctors. I though know how they can be at times. Get a patient advocate. Hospitals usually have them on staff. I do not look forward to what lies ahead for me with lung disease. I am 51 and already having many problems. The weakness, the swelling, weight loss, etc. indicate that your dear Father is in the end stage. If you need any comfort, then we are here for you.

[TRiggs]

First of all you have the right to demand information about your dad from any doctor no matter what hospital he is in. You have to be firm with doctors and nurses, if you don't get anywhere with that go to patient/advocasy, they are there to help the family of patients. As to your question, noone can really say how long someone has to live but going by my own experience of my own fathers passing with COPD, he probably doesn't have too long. Once my dad was put on a resperator, he died with 3 days. The swelling comes with the disease unfortunatly. It is never a pleasnat sight to see someone you love suffer like that. Just reassure him that whenever he is ready it is ok, that's what we did for my dad. It was hard but we had to for his sake and suffering. I hope this has helped and if you want to talk, I am here...Take Care and God Bless