Thanks for posting this Peter. I found out about thermal ablation just a few days ago when I was researching treatment options in Germany. It's not too invasive and according to the article, 80 % of patients have an improvement in FEV1 of 12 %.
Have you found out if something like that is available in your country. I so much hope there is a treatment out there for you!

GWAPO, It was indeed a great advertisement. It is the type of thing that we all look forward to seeing what the long term true results are, and costs for such treatments. Thank you for sharing

Here's another link. I asked my DR. about this procedure, and he said "NO". He said my lungs were too bad again. It's worth sharing for sure! Thanks qwapo http://youtu.be/w842fnmSwgs

Tomorrow I see my Pulmno Dr and you can bet I'm asking about this.
Thanks for the info.

OK, I am slow, and maybe a bit dumb, but I can not understand.......The doctor uses a catheter to insert water vapor into your lungs, which will set off an inflamatory response, and later an excaberation that may resemble pneumonia, and this is good because????????

I did notice the positive reviews , but why do you have to get worse to get better??/ Just asking...I am also looking for ways to help with this disease, but shooting water vapor into my lungs , where usually you would NOT want water, just does not make sense.

I realize most of you understand things more than I do, so please feel free to explain this, in plain English please !!! : )

It does sound great, but it is a study and not really any long term results on all the people, not just a few.

Thanks for sharing Gwapo,

BJ

Hey BJ,
This is how I understand it. It is similar to a lung reduction surgery where the the part of the lung that has non functional tissue from COPD/emphysema is removed. Just in this case the bad tissue is destroyed by steam/ vapor. This is done during a broncoscopy.By destroying the non functioning tissue, the healthy tissue in the lung has more room to expand which allows the patient to breath better. The other stuff you mention, like pneumonia are POSSIBLE side effects, but they don't seem to happen too often. Even if they do happen, they can treat it on the spot.All surgical procedures have possible risks.

To me this just looks scary! I don't know what to think about it.

Heilke if you're right I think I'd give it a try before I would EVER have my chest opened and part of my lungs cut out. That is a terrifying thought. I've never had a bronchoscope done so I don't know how bad that is but I have NEVER had any kind of surgery in my whole life. The thought of being knocked out and cut open is one of my worst fears. My very worst fear is being cut open and NOT being thoroughly sedated......I watch a LOT of horror movies...>^..^

Ilovethekitties, I have had a bronchoscopy and it hurts but I think it's far better than having surgery and part of your lung cut out. All these new treatments are quite experimental, I guess if it comes down to live or die, ok try it.

Well...my pulmno has heard of this steam cleaning method and he said he would never use it.