severe emphysema

aside from having total heart block for years and a pacemaker for 23 years, i'm 63. i have now been diagnosed with severe emphysema, i' really having a hard time with it. does anyone know if this is going to decrease my mortality?

have a good day and GOD BLESS,
nelson

4 Comments

It didn't hurt my grandmother

by sboissonnas - 2007-12-05 03:12:39

Hi Nelson,

My grandmother was diagnosed with emphysema when she was in her 60s as well. She never had a pacemaker, but the emphysema didn't stop her from living to the ripe old age of 93! (Neither did the stiff bourbon she had before dinner every day. But I think her doctors strongly objected to that... ;-)

I'm no doctor, but I wanted to pass this along in hopes that it eases your mind a bit.

Take care,
Stephanie

Don't worry

by aldeer - 2007-12-05 06:12:52

Nelson....I was diagnosed with Emphysema about three years ago and all my ct scans and x-rays show COPD. I was very worried about it at first, but now I just do what I think will help it.....swimming! We swim in an outdoor pool year round and I swim 35 minutes straight lap swim and practice breathing every 4th stroke. I think it really helps.Also, deep breathing excercises are great to do. I will be 80 on Christmas eve and will keep swimming as long as I can. My pm slowed me down a little because my lead wires are right under my skin and it does irritate the area a little. I hope this will help you to realize that worry doesn't help anything! My mom did die of Emphysema, but it was at the age of 90. your pacemaker friend aldeer

mortality

by pat - 2007-12-05 11:12:17

nelson,

i have just had my pm for about 3 1/2 months, but also have copd, actually i think the pm helped my breathing. i don't really have the answer to your question, but then nobody really does. i just think that each day we are given is a blessed day and that we should be thankful. i believe we all have a purpose in life and should look for each opportunity that we have as a means to reach that purpose. enough preaching lol, i do understand the hard time you are having. i went through that a lot when i got my pm and actually am still sometimes resent that a little piece of metal in my chest means the difference between living and dieing. but actually at the same time i am thankful for that little piece of metal. silly huh?? but hang in there and remember there are people who care and do understand
pat

Emphysema

by SMITTY - 2007-12-05 11:12:29

Helo Nelson,

I was diagnosed with emphysema in 1991. I had known people that had the disease so I immediately collected all the information I could on the subject to see what the future held for me. I tried to do everything the doctor prescribed. I have no idea what happened. Either my emphysema, went into remission or the good doctor was mistaken, but a recent study of my decreased breathing capacity did not show any signs of emphysema. (My breathing problem is caused by a "sagging" diaphragm)

I am including a little information I had squirreled away on the subject. Maybe it will give you a little insight into the illness. As for answering your question on shortening your life span, I doubt that anyone can really answer that right now.

"Emphysema is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It is a chronic, progressive disease that affects the quality of life at least as much as the length of life. Similar to many chronic diseases, the prognosis is affected by many variables. There is no cure, but there are effective methods of treatment, which can slow the progression of the disease and allow for a normal life. In short, the diagnosis of emphysema is not a death sentence. Rather, it is a medical condition that should prompt you to take an active role in the management of your disease. If you smoke, quitting is the best first step. Regular visits to your doctor and taking medications as prescribed are also very important."

I wish you the best,

Smitty.

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Member Quotes

I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.