Hi. This is Candy. My first post here. My husband just got diagnosed with Emphysema a few months ago. He had a PFT that showed that he had Emphysema and that his lung function is 50% I am looking for something that really helps or potentially cures it. I am also going to read a bunch of posts on here to try and figure out what I should do next for my husband. I did get my husband to take a lung supplement, which includes mullerian root, among other ingredients. (Unsure of spelling of mullerin root). He is only 44 years old and we have been together for 25 years. I can't imagine living without him. Some prayers would be appreciated. I will also pray for anybody who would like prayers, also. Any tips or any holistic cures would be appreciated. I love him so very much.Thanks so much.
Emphysema: Hi. This is Candy. My first post... - COPD Friends
Emphysema
The best things are for him to exercise regularly and to eat healthily. He should stop smoking if he's a smoker and to avoid Smokey or dusty environments. I also find I have to avoid strong perfumes. There is no cure for emphysema but taking these measures can slow down the progression. There is no reason for your husband to not have a long life even with COPD as long as he has a positive attitude and makes sure he takes his meds and keeps active. It is also useful to learn some breathing techniques to help if he gets short of breath. The problem with Emphysema is not to get air into the lungs its getting the air out. This reduces the amount of air that can be inhaled. Pursed lip breathing helps here is a link to a YouTube video from the American lung association youtube.com/watch?v=7kpJ0Ql...
Thank-you so very much for all the great information that you provided for me, and the link.. I really appreciate it!!!
I have this also and I am on oxygen 24/7 sorry no cure that I know of, but is you get one let me know. 50% is pretty good I think. I will take your prayers and will send some for him, name?
Hi. Thanks for the payers. My prayers are with you, also. I will let you know if I find anything that truly helps Emphysema.
I'm sorry....His name is David Busken
Hi Candy, I'm sorry to hear of your husband's diagnosis. It's very difficult to accept & deal with. He's blessed to have you by his side at this time. I joined this group in the Fall & have found it to be very helpful. I'm glad you're going to read the many posts. They hold a wealth of information, support & encouragement. The most important thing seems to be not smoking, exercise, esp. walking & drinking plenty of water. I'll surely be praying for your husband's health & for peace & comfort for you as you care for him. God is in the business of healing so thankfully you trust in Him as you continue on this new journey. Pls keep us updated. God bless, Terri
Thanks so much for your kind and helpful words. Thanks for your prayers. My prayers are with you, too. I, also, pray for healing for Dave (my Hubby). I will pray for healing for you, too. And everyone who asked for prayers I do trust in Him. I will let you know how it's going. Please keep me updated, also. I would really appreciate it. God Bless.
Hi Candy; Praying for your husband and you, sorry to hear he has emphysema which is part of copd. You said he had PFT, did he also have a chest X-ray or scan done to show where the disease is. I ask because for me it's scattered through the lungs. If he is on any inhalers be careful about mixing prescription meds with natural ones. Get doctor's approval first. If he isn't already under pulmonary doctor he needs to be, they know the correct test to do and the meds to use for it. As ask the doctor for a referral to pulmonary rehab. Everyone I know of that has already done this has nothing but praise for it. I'm on the waiting list to do it.
The first time that he got real short of breath I took him to the hospital ER. They did an x-ray. Then, a couple days later, he had to go the doctor, who told him that, since he got his pft's, that the x-ray didn't matter. I asked him if it would be good to know. Our General Practitioner said no. I don't understand. I am going to ask him for a referral to pulmonary rehab, and I am going to mention that I would like to know the results of the lung x-ray, also. Also, thank you for your kind words. Thanks for the prayers. I pray for you, also.
Hi Candy, I have had emphysema for almost 20 years and have been very active up until about a year ago. I have been on oxygen 24/7 for about a year. It is different for everyone but I just wanted to encourage you and your husband that one can remain active for a long time. As others have said, Pulmonary Rehab is very important and is very informative. Exercise is also important. I walk every day for at least 30 minutes, sometimes longer. I will be praying for you and your husband and would like your prayers too. Your husband is very lucky to have your support.
Oh, thank-you so much for sharing your story. It is comforting to know that you have it, and have remained active for so long. I am sorry to hear that you have to be on oxygen 24/7 now. My prayers will be with you, and thank-you for your prayers.. Oh, I am going to get a prescription for Pulmonary Rehab. It seems like a lot of people are pointing us in that direction. thanks so much. God Bless.
also candy tell them you would like for him to have a spiromatory test to check his breathing and a ct scan hope all is well ignore spelling please
What stage were you when you were first diagnosed?
Candy, all of the information above is most helpful to you and all I can add is to suggest that you google "COPD" on your computer and stand back because there is so much information on COPD that you can never digest it all in a lifetime, most of it good. Yes, I was a smoker, 35 years, but gave it up because it was costing me 50 cents a pack but, too late, two years later I came down with bladder cancer (smoking!), treatable, and have been having periodic check up since. The final blow came last year, at 90, when I was diagnosed with stage 3 COPD-severe Emphysema. I'm on oxygen like many of us but still looking forward to hitting 100 by trying to do all of the many things my COPD companions above talked about. Best wishes and prayers for you both, Chuck.
Thank-you for all your help I googled COPD, and stayed up all night writing down information. I am still not done researching. I am sorry to hear of all your troubles. With your great attitude, I bet you will hit that 100 year mark, and maybe beyond! My prayers are with you Chuck!
Your very welcome. I have a large 3 ring binder that I keep all of my COPD medical records in and a special section for research items I find useful on the internet. I don't write it down I just print it out and file it. We all have a real challenge but nothing can beat a PMA and I'm sure that you, too, have that. The best to you Sweetface1. Chuck
90 years old the lord has been good to you hang in there 100 is just around the corner
Iwish I could get out there and walk. I also am on oxygen24/7 they put me on it right away. and can not go to rehab. I have bone on bone in my right knee, so everyone pray for me for both my C0PD and my knee.
Thanks
I am so sorry to hear that you have COPD and your knee problems.. My prayers go out to you for both.
You stated that your husband is only 44. Has he been tested for Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency? ( Causes Emphysema like symptoms) If not, have the genetic test completed to find out if he is ZZ or MZ (carrier). If he is, there are some different treatment options available to slow progression and a lung transplant would be a possibility later (provided he is not a smoker or quits now). Also, I found that taking NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine - 600 mg daily) helped with controlling mucus production and cough. I stabilized for about 18 months (was on O2 24/7 for three years) then began having pneumothorax issues, so a double lung transplant became my only option. I am now almost 3 months out and finally back at home (we had to stay in the transplant center area / apartments until I was released - for me it was 11 weeks.). I'm doing great, but would appreciate your prayers. I will also pray that God will give you strength, guidance, and healing on this new journey he has set before you and your husband. I acknowledge Him completely in the gift of healing He provided for me. We serve an awesome God. Remember to cry out and give Him FULL control. Then wait patiently for Him to give guidance. It can come in many different ways.
I am so sorry to hear of all you have been through, but glad that your doing great. My husband stopped smoking 2 weeks before he got diagnosed. He had started smoking when he was 10 years old. So sad. I will still have the doctor do the genetic test, though, even though he had smoked for a long time. I do believe in God. He is an awesome God. I will totally give this over to God. I will do everything that you told me to do. Thank-you so much for your prayers, and thanks for guiding me in prayer. That means a lot to me. My prayers are with you, also.
Hi Candy, I'm sure sorry to hear about your husband, he is lucky to have you to take care of him. He is very young to have this, but there are lots of things he can do. Number one is to keep busy, moving about, and every day type exercises. Drink plenty of water, take medications every day, use oxygen if needed. And, try to have a positive frame of mind. It's easy to isolate oneself, but I believe that's the worse thing one can do. Having others around really is a blessing, there are things in life that one can not do alone, COPD. Is one. We need a good support system. A good way is on sights like this. Good luck and God Bless.
Thank-you so much. I would do anything for him. Thank-you for all of your advise. I have been helping him to be more active, but all of the sudden, he can't stay awake. He has slept for about 24 hour now. I keep trying to get him up. But, then I go back and forth. Does he need to sleep this long today? Will it just be one day. I don't know what to do. I wonder if I should wait and see if he keeps this up, or is this just a fluke, I know that he needs to stay active. But, I don't know if it is okay to let him sleep this long. I think I will call the doctor and see what he thinks. I don't think this doctor knows that much about Emphysema. I plan on asking about pulmonary rehab at his next appointment. But, I think to myself "is he dying?" I am going to pray right now, and then try and wake him up again. Then I feel that I have to call the doctor and see what he says. Thanks again. My prayers are with you. God Bless You.
Hello sweetface1, that is a great idea to call the doctor. COPD does make one tired, but, I would say sleeping for 24 hours is a bit much. Wondering if he is on oxygen, if not, maybe low levels could make him so tired. Whatever the cause, a good pulmonary doctor could most likely be a bonus for him. Sending you prayers and Gods Blessing. Does he take any medication that could make him so tired?
you can join a gym together I know exercise is very important did the doc give him any tips ??? I will pray for you !!
Hi. Thanks for the advice. I already have a free gym membership. It is just so hard to get him to go. I have tried for a long time. I think that it would be fun. Thanks for the prayers. I will pray for you, also.
Hi Sweetface 1, I was diagnosed with COPD primarily emphysema. Reading your posts, you are doing all of the things that was suggested to me. I would like to suggest that you really work at remaining calm and live in the present. I found that trying to understand this disease is very complex and nerve racking. Learning the different tools and techniques to help with breathing was very helpful to me in reducing the anxiety I had every time I got a new and different symptom, I found that the more anxious I got, the harder it was for me to breath, consequently I would find my self panicking when I became short of breath or dizzy. Ask questions of your Dr's, I have used the line that I got from the film Philadelphia (Denzel Washington"s character would ask whoever he questioned to "Explain it to me like I am six years old", the Dr's sort of laugh, but they began to explain things to me in layman terms. Also ask them to tell you what behaviors you can reasonably expect regarding symptoms. I can't emphasize enough, keep asking until you are satisfied, even if you don't like the answers. Make a list of questions that your husband and you have and take it to the PULMONOLOGIST. Last thing, I was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago at age 70 and have had two major surgeries not related to this. I have had to be mindful of the fears and anxiety of my children and friends by educating them about COPD and some of the symptoms. I had to do this in order for them to stop treating as if I was an invalid and did not have to be waited on "hand and foot" This process has been a two steps forward, one step back process. Keep the Faith. Prayers up. Peace.
sorry about your husband candy prayer and blessings the oil diffuser and peppermint oil in it works great to loosen mucus in nasal passage and the euctlipus is great for lungs you can order this on amazon. keep him active and keeps his bmi under control and eat healthy onions green bell peppers i believe are great for lungs there is a list you can google good luck and god bless
Feeling lost!
Severe emphysema medications
COPD WHAT FORM OF DISEASE COULD I HAVE? 
40% Function
