What is the life expectancy with COPD? When did you start Oxygen?

Posted by tinagf @tinagf, Jun 15, 2022

Hi. My mom, 73 years, has COPD (bronial and emphisema) for 30 years, now she has: lung function 63%, FVC 46%, FEV1 38% which I guess is stage 3 heading to stage 4, not on oxgen yet, kCO 47%. She is 170 cm and 68 kg, she can walk for 500 m and then stops a little.

How much time do we got cca? 🙁
Thank you
Tina

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Tina that is the age old question . No one knows any certain date but wow if your mom is not on Oxygen she cannot be at deaths door . She sounds like a fighter walking 500 . I am not good with the numbers you have posted but I say get her to fight & plan on living & not leaving . I am saying prayers

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You have same numbers and have oxygen? I will measure actually how many meters but i think she can.

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@gregoryz

Tina that is the age old question . No one knows any certain date but wow if your mom is not on Oxygen she cannot be at deaths door . She sounds like a fighter walking 500 . I am not good with the numbers you have posted but I say get her to fight & plan on living & not leaving . I am saying prayers

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Now I measured her saturation when still, is 93%... when does a man get oxygen?

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I think that is a safe number anything over 90 . Can you get her to a Doctor or ER and they will know fast if she needs oxygen .

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She doesnt have any symptoms of any kind only if she walks upstairs 32 steps or walks longer she gets trouble breathing.
The biggest problem is she cannot stop smoking she tried.
When you get on oxgen is that stage4?

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@tinagf

She doesnt have any symptoms of any kind only if she walks upstairs 32 steps or walks longer she gets trouble breathing.
The biggest problem is she cannot stop smoking she tried.
When you get on oxgen is that stage4?

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you get oxygen when all else fails. when you walk or do steps. if you cant breath you would thearetically be working your heart extremely hard. there are many programs available to help in stopping smoking. you have heard all the stories already. dont need to hear my sad story. you have to want to quit. if you have not sought the help of our lord and savior jesus christ maybe nows the time. what have you got to lose.

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@tinagf

She doesnt have any symptoms of any kind only if she walks upstairs 32 steps or walks longer she gets trouble breathing.
The biggest problem is she cannot stop smoking she tried.
When you get on oxgen is that stage4?

Jump to this post

You may also be interested in this related discussion:
- COPD and oxygen therapy: Will I really need the therapy in the future? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/strange-oxygen-therapy/

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How long is up to her. She needs to expand her walking, even if a couple of steps. Increase weekly. The most important thing is to quit smoking. Fev1 of 38% isn't bad. I know of people with less than 20% who get along fine. The most important is to stop smoking and to exercise.

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@tinagf

She doesnt have any symptoms of any kind only if she walks upstairs 32 steps or walks longer she gets trouble breathing.
The biggest problem is she cannot stop smoking she tried.
When you get on oxgen is that stage4?

Jump to this post

I smoked for over 50 years when I was diagnosed with COPD. I tried Chantix but ended up going back to smoking after a few months. My doctor recommended I try Varenicline 1mg. I believe it is generic chantix. You can smoke until it starts working and It took about 3 days to kick in and I haven't had many yearnings. When I do have one I take an extra 1mg tablet and the urge to smoke fades away in about 20 minutes. Tell her all us former smokers find it difficult to quit but we need to just bite the bullet and keep trying.

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I am very interested in pursuing stem cell infusion/shots for my COPD. Does anyone know of a Research Study that is promising

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