Have you got experience of a relative with emphezima?

[pupuce]

My dad has been diagnosed with emphezima... he is so out of breat that he now sleeps with O2. He is now in hospital (has been for a week) but after 30 yards he is totally out of breath. He was worse before they sent him there but I wonder how often will he be in and out etc.

Anyone can tell me their experience ?
Thanks

The only person I know who had it got an enlarged heart (because it has to work so much harder to try to get Oxygen to the body) and died of a heart attack when he was 69.
I'm sorry... I know that's not what you'll be wanting to hear

Once a person hase this condition it never really goes away I'm afraid. they can use druge to help improve lung function....steroids and bronchdilators etc. It may be that you dad will need O2 in the day as well as at night.

They will normally help to stabelize the patient, and at that point they can cope OK at home, but may be re-admitted if they have a chest infection, which will make breating more difficult.

My uncle had it. It is a slow progressive , chronic condition.

Sorry to read that you dad has it

MB is right, but sometimes with good therapy input from physio and OT people can continue to lead very independent lives. It's important your Dad sticks to any excercise programmes they give him and use labour saving devices to conserve his energy for his most meaningful activities.

I'm afraid the O2 will become a fact of life but there are more portabale units becoming available now and management techniques are improving.

I hope your Dad gets a good therapy/medical team at his hospital, sorry that he has had this diagnosis.

My Dad had emphysemia for quite a few years before he died. He was very breathless and used several inhalers, then as he worsened he had a nebuliser 4 times a day. The worst problems came when he got a cold, which invariably caused a chest infection and worsened his symptoms. He always kept a supply of antibiotics in the house so he could start them at the first sign of an infection.
It is a horrible debilating illness-you and your Dad have my sympathy.

sory-should have said "debilitating"

My mum had it for 20 years and never smoked!

Anyway, at this point there is no way of knowing if he will improve ot not. Emphysema is characterised by breathlessness because the lungs are damaged.

Your uncle will be very susceptible to any colds or chest infections, and will need anti-biotics ever time he catches one. He will probably need much longer and stronger corses of them then usual

The disease is managed by regular use of inhalers, and as your uncle stabilises he may find his brethlessness reduced, although it may never go completely. I am suprised they have let him out of hospital TBH, although it isn't really the best place for emphysema sufferers TBH.

Have they started him on a programme of inhalers? This is then usually managed by GP. If he is really bad, they will offer him steroids, but you can't take them regularly.

I am suprised at use of oxygen TBH, it was avoided at all costs my my mums doctors etc.

It generally improves in summer weather.

Best drug that I can remember is an inhaled one called Spiriva, BUT very expensive, and medical profession tend to offer it as last resort because of this. However that is the one he will probably do best on.

HTH

Have just read message...going for world record of TBH by looks of it!

The man I knew who had it had never smoked, either - he worked in a paper mill so it was caused by the dust, apparently.

It can be cause by dust, it is very common in ex miners. Smoking is the major cause.

My uncle was a carpenter who worked with wood dust all his life. He also smoked 40 a day.

Basically it is cause when constant infections and coughing cause damage to the tiny sacs that make up the lungs, the alveoli. Instead of having lots of lots of tiny ones, you end up with fewer, bigger ones. This stops the gases being exchanged effectivy. Eventually O2 is needed , since the patient cannot extract enough o2 from the air.

It si a difficult condition to live with.

We suspect my Dads was at least partly caused by his occupation too-he was a farm manager and in the summer, he used to go in the large grain drying bins to rake over the grain. They did not wear masks in those days and he would be hoarse by the end of the season. He also smoked. although ironically he had given it up by the time the emphysema developed.

Thanks for all of that.
My dad lived in a very humid flat and got bronchitis from it so they think that is a factor.
He is on O2 at night because he can't sleep otherwise, he keeps waking up.
He also has water around his heeart and is being treated for that too.
I am 99% sure he won't do any exercise, he is very depressed and doesn't even shower!!! His whole life was transformed the day my mum left him.... very sad indeed !