No O2? Kinda odd. What is your PulseOX/SPO2 when you are moving around and sitting still? What is your FEV1? All important contributors to your oxygen needs.
I looked around the web a mite and could only find laser emphy information in the 1991-1994 time frame, and only one limited study done at that. Today the stress is towards less invasive techniques, like the coil or umbrella variants of LVR. As far as I know, people with diffuse emphysema weren't recommended for LVR (the laser study was done on diffuse patients).
Oxygen therapy is a primary tool in reducing the effects of emphysema. Without O2 I'd be gasping for breath just getting to my car. I use O2 24/7. You must also realize that we are all different and our diseases progress along different time line.
I think I'd be asking some serious questions of my pulmo doc - and if you don't get satisfactory answers and numbers that make sense, go looking for another doc...

Hugs,
Dennis

Do get a second opinion from another pulmonologist.

Hugs,
TJ

i agree with dennis.
my 1st thought was why no 02 also.
i got put on 02 before anything when i was diagnosed (it was my huffing & puffing that got me diagnosed)
i wasn't even given an inhaler until a year after diagnosis & my going into an exacerbation.
personally i would get a second opinion and i also would try "non-invasive" things like 02 before drastic measures. (this is my opinion only---everyone has to chose how they would want to be taken care of).
as for walking very far, our "endurance" is a vicious circle. we can't breath so we do less, so we get weaker so we can't breath even more so we do less....
i am dealing with that right now.
i was sick & it really took me down.
i've had to start all over with my walking (i was at 40 minutes a day)---i'm doing 5 minutes 3 times a day and just went to 10 minutes....i know it's a long haul & when i want to give up i push just a minute more....
i also suffer from chronic neck & back pain so that adds to my not wanting to do things, but i'm not ready to be bed ridden yet so i keep pushing.
of course ALWAYS check with your dr (?) to make sure what exercise is right for you. (and second opinions i'm a firm believer in until you find a dr you really trust)
you mention the last 2 months this has gotten this bad? are you in an exacerbation?
(you didn't mention how long you have had this disease, what tests you have had & their results or what stage of this disease you are in or what meds have been tried----there are lots of variables in how and what works best for each of us, but i'm a firm beleiver in tests helping us find what is best for us, not just a dr guessing)

BTW welcome!!!
prayers are with you ((((HUGS)))

I "Third" the same question of "why no O2"? But first thing is: Get another opinion AND another Pulmonologist!

Glad you found us!

BTW: re: how to get through a day, etc. The most important thing is don't become a couch potato! Hopefully, you'll get a new pulmo who will prescribe supplemental O2 for you. I really can't speak for the others, but, without the O2 I probably would have either passed away by now, or I definitely would be a couch potato by now. I've been on O2, 24/7, for the last four years. Without it I can't do anything and I would sound like you!
defected and down in the dumps' That's enough for now Janie. except, let me repeat: WELCOME TO OUR GROUP!!!!! I'm so glad you found us! Jim

DEJECTED ..... NOT defected. Sorry Sweetie.

You will find that I'm not the world's greatest typist, as the other members know, but you will get support from me and all of the other members. If you have a question, no matter how silly you may think it is, if it crossed your mind, it's important to you! So ask away. one of us sickos will have an answer for you, that's for sure!

Welcome to the group Jzbra. If you are worse it sounds to me like you may be in exacerbation. I can't believe you are not on 02. Everyone else has given their opinions and I also agree you need to get a second opinion. I had the same questions the others did. What is your pulse ox. Where is your FEV1. Have you had the tests? Please keep in touch and try to breathe easy.
Hugs,

Geezz I feel like such a dummy hearing all talk about ox/spo2 and fev1...I'm on ox and have been for over a yr and also in a wheel chair but I trusy my doc he makes sure I get what I need . I've been in the hospital 3 time in last yr but my fiance and my kids are great help to me without them i waould just give up ..but im a fighter a disabled veteran so all my medical needs are taken care of by the va. Oh btw I'm new to this group...HI.. sorry for rambling but I wanted to say something tired of being alone at night like this...please forgive my typing to...thanks everyone

Hi jzbradley and riding now. Welcome to the best, most caring group around.

First to riding now, thank you for your service to our country. In this group, you are never alone, just get on the computer and we can talk, or someone will!!

JZBradley, Your story sounds a bit confusing to me. Why would a pulmy doc send you to a doc that does laser surgery on your lungs and give you no information?

My friend, I would definitely get a second opinion, fast. There has to be other lung doctors around.

Some of our folks manage with out oxygen, and some do not. This disease treats everyone differently.

But consider your heart...It has to take oxygenated blood from your lungs and circulate it thru your body, then back thru your lungs to get rid of the carbon monoxide.

With copd, your lungs are not putting out enough oxygen to do all this , and sometimes retains the carbon monoxide, which is not good, so your heart has to work extra hard, which is not good thing for your heart.

That is where oxygen comes in. it supplies the oxygen necessary to keep you going, and breathing, preventing maybe a stroke or heart attack down the road from a over worked heart.
It helps your heart and makes sure , as close as possible, all your organs, brain also, get the oxygen they need to function.

Not to mention all your other organs that are starving for oxygen , and all the damage you are doing to them, if your lungs do not work properly and you do not have o2, but should.

This also help the energy, because those of us that need it, can not do any thing without huffing and puffing, unless we are on the oxygen.

You ask how do you handle it trying to get thru the day with out having to sit so much...well, I am in stage 4 , end stage, and on oxygen 24/7, and I go places, do things, exercise, have hobbies, ect, all with in reason. We know how to pace our self, and when we feel winded, we know to stop and rest a second.

Your life is changed, and going slower, doing slower, is your new normal. But just sitting is not!! You have to stay active as much as you personally can. That is where a good lung doctor comes in. I am not sure you have one!!

Please ask about oxygen, and about the tests he should be giving you (breathing and walking) and ask him why you need this laser doctor. If that could cure emphysema, we all would do it.

Good luck and God Bless...

Brenda

PS Ridingnow, you might ask the same things of your doctor, if you do not know what a pulse ox is or have not had proper breathing and walking tests. ...Just my opinion Sir...

Well, I am not real sure what to say, except a huge thank you to all that have given me such input. Feeling a big overwhelmed with the responses and kindness shown to me.
My Pulse OX has always been around 96 to 98, but they have never taken it with me moving around. I suppose that is why no O2. I see my pcp next Mon. and I will address these questions with her at that time. the pulmonary doc is mailing me my pft results...I did not see it when I was in his office and he did not give me any numbers. He just said according to the test, it is showing emphysema COPD ....According to him this referral doc is doing some cutting edge research with the laser...it is a new treatment. Not feeling up to being a guinea pig.
Ok. Ask Questions: Get 2nd opinion: Move my butt: last one is the most difficult....I can walk like thru the grocery and that is it. How am I suppose to exercise? Ok. Willingness!
I will be writing down all the info you all have provided and taking it with me to pcp.
Thank you so very very much for your time and sharing your wisdom. I am ever to grateful to have found you each and every one.
Janie PS Prednisone makes me crazy. lol

Try to answer some of your questions. I was told in 2008 that I had COPD w/ acute bronchitis. Then in 2011 I was told, after having an asthmatic attack, that I had asthma and not COPD, asthma was being caused by allergies is what I was told.
Due to insurance I had to change pulmonary doc, this new one agree with the asthma and allergies.
I was on and off steroids from 2008 to 2010. 2010 I was put on 10 mg of steroids daily. Singular, Advair, Spiriva, Flonase, Albuteral, Nebulizer, Ventolin..along with depression med, sleep med and anxiety med.
I moved from Fl to Ky in 8/2013. Have had two sinus infections, two bouts of bronchitis in three months. I fit the criteria of exacerbation right now. wheezing, coughing w/ production, can't sleep, heavy chest, short of breath....this new pulmonary doc knew all this when I saw him on Monday.
I am currently back on 10 mg per day...since he is a new doc, he tried to wing me off steroids...that has never worked out for me...so he put me back up to 10 mg. and recommended the cutting edge laser burning.
I really am sorry to put all this out there...no way do I want to be a bother or a bore to anyone. Just feeling a bit like sitting on the pity pot and lost. This is the only way that I know how to communicate so you can see the whole picture.
Thanks again to each of you!!
Stay well.
Janie

Janie -
You might think about talking to your doc about getting a treadmill test while monitoring your SPO2. One of the characteristics of emphy is that "at rest" or idle measurements can look quite normal, as your lungs will support the body's low demand. You get up and dance and your O2 falls through the floor because the damaged portions of your lungs can't provide the needed increase. It might provide the justification for O2 therapy.
We are all on the same track as you, so don't sweat the small stuff - lots of room for one more soul on this train...

Hugs,
Dennis

Dennis, thank you thank you! I will ask for sure.

stay well,
Janie

welcome ridingnow!
janie; good luck, at least now you have a list of questions for your dr LOL. i do wish you the best & i agree with you= i'm grateful to those who give themselves over to research, but i prefer having using already tested things.
your PS was interesting as i'm allergic to steroids.
i can't wait for your next update & prayers are with you.
question---just what were they going to burn with the laser??
makes me wonder what the PFT test showed LOL

jarca,
My doc said I could not be allergic to the steroids...he said that I can have bad side effects, but not allergy. They are just so hard on the body and mind.

The pulmonary doc didn't know much about the laser research..he said they laser bronchial tubes..he thought...not sure. Heck, I am not into having my lungs burnt.

My PFT is being mailed to me. Will surely have questions concerning reading and understand that test.

Thank you for the welcome and the prayers. So nice to not be alone in my head.
Stay well.