1. < COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

COPD and Emphysema: Confused by pulmonary function test and more

Posted by redsox @redsox, May 29, 2018

Confused by PFT. So much to absorb ! What are the treatments for Mild, Moderate and Severe ?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Support Group.

justapril | @justapril | Apr 5, 2019

joangma I hope you read the replies I posted today 04/05/19. I pray your biopsy is negative. Please keep us posted

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justapril | @justapril | Apr 5, 2019
In reply to @bb729 "Thank you for the recommendation and insight. Have a breathe easy day." + (show)
@bb729

Thank you for the recommendation and insight. Have a breathe easy day.

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bb729 check out the Zephyr Endobronchial Valve for Emphysema. It at least shows some promise. Myself I wish we could all go to a US clinic and have all the options of stem cell therapy available to us and covered by insurance. I would rather die trying to improve my breathing than just accept my fate. When I am finally able to go for stem cell therapy I will update you all on my progress or lack of progress no matter which way it goes I am willing to try and I have so much faith that this is the right treatment for me. I have faith that God has led me to do this and will help me find a way.

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joelars | @joelars | Apr 5, 2019
In reply to @justapril "This is why I am interested in using stem cells from the Umbilical Cord preferably using..." + (show)
@justapril

This is why I am interested in using stem cells from the Umbilical Cord preferably using the placenta after the healthy baby is born through cesarean section. I believe as we age our cells are not as effective as cells from a new born. This treatment can not be performed in the United States as I will not be using my 66 yr old cells. I am hoping to have great success with one treatment of 200 million stem cells. They recommend 300 million but I know I can not raise enough money for that. I may even have to go with 100 million stem cells if I am unable to raise the $6500 I was told it will cost for 200 million. I am very hopeful that this treatment will extend my life another 15 to 20 years maybe longer if it is God's will.

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To Justapril
how much is the 300 million and where is the procedure done? Are they posting results, if so where?
Realize, the success achieved with lab mice was not achieved using umbilical stems but adult lung stems (as I interpreted the article). So, it may be (and this is pure speculation) that the health of the stem cells is the issue, not necessarily the age, and that in many COPD patients they have areas of relatively, healthy stem cells that can be used to produce millions more.
Can anyone with medical knowledge clarify?

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1 reply
justapril | @justapril | Apr 5, 2019

I agree Big Pharma does not want us to find a cure. There is no money to be made in saving lives. They just want to continue pushing drugs. Not help to find a cure. Of course this is just my opinion.

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1 reply
alamogal635 | @alamogal635 | Apr 5, 2019
In reply to @justapril "I agree Big Pharma does not want us to find a cure. There is no money..." + (show)
@justapril

I agree Big Pharma does not want us to find a cure. There is no money to be made in saving lives. They just want to continue pushing drugs. Not help to find a cure. Of course this is just my opinion.

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Have a tendency to agree with you. Iw Ould like to think the other way, but often wonder if opinions like yours are true. my mind stays open.

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justapril | @justapril | Apr 6, 2019
In reply to @jgpolachek "Marc; I've read Dr. Morrisey at Penn University found that AEP stem cells will regrow alveoli..." + (show)
@jgpolachek

Marc; I've read Dr. Morrisey at Penn University found that AEP stem cells will regrow alveoli in mice. I also read where Mayo can produce millions of stem cells quickly. I would like them to get together and see if they could help each other find a cure.

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jgpolachek there are stem cells in all areas of our bodies. If someone is in their early 20's so are their stem cells. I am 66 so my stem cells will not be as active as a younger persons and may not work as well or at all. For this reason I am choosing to use Umbilical Cord stem cells. Hopefully from the placenta. Umbilical Cord stem cells come from women who have delivered a healthy baby by Cesarean section and have donated the afterbirth to help either science or people like me to have a fighting chance at life. Some people save their cord blood for use by the family. In the United States they can only use your own stem cells to treat you with. The stem cells come from either your fat or bone marrow. I have read of many people being helped by their own stem cells though they may have to get it done every 5-7 years. Since I can only have treatment by raising enough money to get it done I will only be able to do this one time. I have done a lot of research and I've seen where those who have used Umbilical Cord stem cells have shown better results and have only done one treatment. Unless they are having something else done. Such as had hip done now going to look younger. Ect. I had read that the Mayo Clinic used people's own stem cells in the trial and that may be why their results were not as good.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 6, 2019
In reply to @joelars "Mayo did just what you described-they grew millions of stem cells and "introduced" them into the..." + (show)
@joelars

Mayo did just what you described-they grew millions of stem cells and "introduced" them into the lungs of COPD sufferers. (As I said) only 5-10% really benefited. They (Mayo researchers) have "no clue" as to why the results weren't better. Mayo is planning to re-run the trial as early as this summer. I have asked to be included. While the people who obtained significant improvement was small, no one has had adverse side-effects. I understand that is because we use our own stem cells "foreign" or donor cells are not used so rejection wouldn't be a side effect. However, I understand that the quality of the stem cells may be related to the extent inf lung injury, therefore severe lung damage may not be suitable for effective stem cell harvesting-but that is something I read in the literature. I have no medical training, and the Mayo researcher I spoke with did not offer that as a reason for the disappointing result.

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@joelars, @justapril,@jgpolachek, @hazelnut - Good morning. I don't know if any of these will help you but give a look. https://stemcellsportal.com/clinical_trials_lung_disease
Unfortunately stem cell research for lungs has a ways to go. But looking at all of these different trials is certainly encouraging.

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jgpolachek | @jgpolachek | Apr 8, 2019

my advice for now is to google alldaychemist and check out med prices , been using them for ten yerars.

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justapril | @justapril | Apr 8, 2019
In reply to @joelars "To Justapril how much is the 300 million and where is the procedure done? Are they..." + (show)
@joelars

To Justapril
how much is the 300 million and where is the procedure done? Are they posting results, if so where?
Realize, the success achieved with lab mice was not achieved using umbilical stems but adult lung stems (as I interpreted the article). So, it may be (and this is pure speculation) that the health of the stem cells is the issue, not necessarily the age, and that in many COPD patients they have areas of relatively, healthy stem cells that can be used to produce millions more.
Can anyone with medical knowledge clarify?

Jump to this post

@joelars I am planning to go to dream body clinic in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I believe the cost for 300 million stem cells is $8,000 and I would be there at least 4 days. So far they appear to be the best rated clinic for cleansliness, quality and cost. If you decide to go there joelars please let me know what you think. What are you having treatment for if you don't mind me asking??

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 9, 2019

@justapril- Good morning. I love Puerto Vallarta for vacations. But I'm worried about going out of the country for stem cell implantation. In America there hasn't been enough research to even consider it a trust worthy treatment. I haven't heard anything about Mexico being a mecca of medical breakthroughs, so why would you chose to go there?. I don't want to lecture but sometimes when we feel desperate or we think that some thing sounds too good..to be true, it often is.
Please please be careful and really think about this. Have you talked about this with your family or doctors?

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