Zephyr Valves

[NancyUS]

Has anyone had experience with the Zephyr valves?

[skischool]

Hi,i have had six implanted in my upper left lobe some 2 yrs ago.others on the site have had similar procedures.i will pop you on few links for you to peruse at your liesure.

blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg600

Any queries after you have read them just pop back on and i or others will try to help you.

As a quick summary they have not worked for me but others have achieved reasonably succesfull results and a better quality of life.

Best wishes Ski's and Scruff's

🙃😸

[NancyUS in reply to skischool]

Thank you. I am considering these. My Doc says I may be a good candidate - age 61 and smokefree for five years, post chemo/radiation.... Hoping for greater stamina, walking, gym, etc. I am small, thin. But in great health otherwise....

What is your outcome?

[skischool in reply to NancyUS]

The valves are designed to collapse the target area in your lung which is the most diseased,this will then shrink down allowing the rest of your lungs to function better,expand to fill the vacant space and avoid gas trapping.Unfortunately my diseased area never achieved Atelectasis(collapse and wither away)and consequently they never achieved what they are designed to do,but as they say in life nothing tried,nothing gained so i do not regret having the procedure and would recomend it to anybody offered the chance.

Good luck and best wishes if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure and it is what your consultant recomends.

[O2Trees in reply to skischool]

Morning Mike - are the zephyr things the same as coils? I asked my consultant about coils at my last video appointment and he said they have stopped doing them, a commercial decision apparently. I was so taken aback that I forgot to clarify if this was an NHS cut, or whether the company has just stopped making them.

Hope you're doing well x

[skischool in reply to O2Trees]

Jean,I believe that the coils work on a different principlal to achieve the same thing in that they are constructed from alloys of metal with a shape memory and once inserted they spring back into shape crunching up the diseased tissue in the process. Unlike the valves they're very difficult to remove if things don't go according to plan and i believe that is why they are not used by consultants over here,cost may also be a factor?

Love Skis and Scruffs 🙃😻xx

[O2Trees in reply to skischool]

Thanks Skis - helpful xxx