Do you know anyone with emphysema?

[papie]

The story is always confusing with my mom. But my dad had a follow up scan booked a year ago. They thought it was a colon cancer follow up. Maybe it was. My dad got called two weeks later saying he needed to see his oncologist ASAP. Cue waiting 2 weeks for appt. at the appt, he found out that they saw something in his lungs. Non cancerous. Possible emphysema. Needs another scan to find out more.
He had his scan Friday and is seeing a lung specialist Wednesday.
He does have symptoms. Bronchitis like cough that is permanent, constant exhaustion. He has been smoking for over 50 years. Ugh.
Of course nobody told me any of that because I am pregnant and fragile. My mom accidentally slipped on the phone and told me the whole story. Last time I was pregnant he had colon cancer.

[papie]

Oct 28, 2013 21:37:47 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

My stepmom has it.

How is she doing? Treatments?

[Deleted]

My dad has it. And lots of my patients. What do you want to know?

[joenali]

I'm so sorry. My dad is a smoker as well, except he doesn't go to the doctor. He has the worst cough on the face of the planet. I'm sure he has emphysema. It pisses me off that he hasn't even tried to quit.

[papie]

Oct 28, 2013 21:38:52 GMT -5 @bostonjen said:

My dad has it. And lots of my patients. What do you want to know?

The only person I heard having it was the mother of a friend and she died.
I am looking for more positive stories

[Deleted]

Well, my dad has had it for many years. Treatments can slow the process but the damage is irreversible unfortunately. Pulmonary rehab can help to teach him correct breathing techniques, exercises to improve his endurance and energy conservation techniques. With good compliance and depending on how advanced it is he can actually do quite well. Is he still a smoker? Sorry your family is going through this, papie.

[papie]

He is still smoking. I have no idea if he will manage to quit. He has a lot of other stresses going on at the same time

Thanks for the answers.

[AmeliaBedelia]

My grandpa has had it for years. He takes medicine daily and it hasn't been much of a problem for him. He's had other health issues, but so far none stemming from the emphysema. He struggles being outside in certain weather, but has stayed active and been well otherwise.

[lexxasaurus]

My dad has it, and only one lung due to cancer and the removal of his left lung. They originally told him he most likely had a few years... That was five years ago. They've done follow ups and say it really hasn't progressed much. It's not necessarily some fast, crazy death sentence. My dad does need to use his oxygen tank when doing something strenuous, but he's still mobile and okay without it for the most part.

[VeryViolet]

My grandmothers best friend had it for many years and she lived happily into her 90s. It was really only the last few months of her life where she was really debilitated by it. She had been a smoker but I had never known her as a smoker so she had quit for some time.