That's what all the medical information states, progressive.

Maybe some day we will read curable....

Sorry bud, but have to think it is. Every time I am ill it is worse. Not on O2 yet but am to the point to at least have it when I need it. Is different for us all so glad you are not doing any worse. Keep it up! My very best to you...

Curt

Dogman -
It is progressive, but the rate varies for each of us. There are people that will stay at a given stage for many years. A lot of it is tied to getting sick, a cold or flu. It can set one back quite a bit and takes months to recover from - and you generally don't get a lot of lung capacity back...

Dennis

Good posts Kurt and Dennis it certainly is different for us all.For me it has been rapid descent following diagnosis followed by a levelling out period,a marked improvement then occurred and I have remained at that for some months.

Am however not under any illusions regarding the progressive nature of this disease,I just try to appreciate the better times while they remain with me.

I am much like you, Yew, in that I have also improved. I do, however, take all my meds regularly, eat healthy and don't tend to sit on my butt for very long. Whatever the reason, I'm thankful for it.

Perhaps with all the new medications now as compared to years past, we will live longer, relatively healthier lives than those before us.

Ditto with regards to taking meds healthy eating jams, wish I could say the same about not sitting on my butt.I enjoy reading watching movies computerising and sitting talking, if there is anyone else around, all couch oriented activities, but for me mentally stimulating, trick is to learn how to balance out with physical exercise !!

And yes perhaps the increase in effective medicines will ensure a better quality of life for victims of a disease that affects a significant portion of the worlds population.

All humans lose lung function as they age; Emphysema or not. You can call it by any name you choose----part of aging or progressive?

That's right Sally. Emphysema is a natural aging of the lungs. If you live long enough, you'll have 'E'. They call it 'senile emphysema'. I guess my smoking all those years caused pre-mature aging of my lungs. So glad it wasn't my face. JUST KIDDING!!!!

What I can't figure is with all the preservatives we were eating all those years, why we have wrinkles?

Jam snazzy sounds like you still have mirrors in your home....how fortunate we are with the research on our buddy's...the tank....same with meds....help with the progression of the damage caused for those who smoked..I think they have helped with the progression slowing down.....moon sky.

Mine has changed very little since 2001, when I was 'officially' diagnosed. We do have some much better meds, although what we really need is a better anti-inflamatory. Prednisone is a devil drug!! The Daliresp is good if you have a chronic bronchitis aspect to it, but it will really make you drop the weight, which most of us with pure 'E' can't stand to lose. I'm still sure there is going to be a cure :>))

Dogman thank you for your comments along with others.

I have to say just this one thing....My Lung doctor told me at the beginning of seeing me a few years now. That if I want to live longer I will stay on the oxygen.
I have so far.
But I notice I can sit without it on watching tv....I can't lay down though without it one.
If I have any type of colds etc...I have to even turn it up to 3lts...I usually try to leave it at 2lts...
I am not that bad........I have no idea why some doctors don't put people on oxygen and others such as myself get to have oxygen?

It is all in the testing....I had all these tests of these large machines and it was not just one...
I had to have these things done after my surgery of my stent in my heart....something must of happen because I first saw these men that were lung doctors right after my stenting? I never was told why?
I do spit up blood after that surgery.....I do go down too low I guess while sleeping way too low...
I do have sleep apnea...but this is something different?
They really never explain it or I forgotten....
But I feel guilty having oxygen when I see so many here write about not being on it....I just do.
There is this man in my church who probably worse then me....he thinks it is crazie I'm on oxygen because he isn't....
He even at the beginning had my husband go to his doctor. His doctor with out all the fancy tests like I had when I was in the hospital.....try to take my oxygen away.
I think it is the way each one thinks or is train...something.
But I still am on oxygen...my husband would tell you I need it he lives with me and says I need it.
So I beleive him.
beez

Bee...

If your oxygen saturation drops to too low of a level (usually 88 - some doctors say 90 but medicare covers at 88) your vital organs, your heart, brain, etc, aren't getting enough oxygen. This can lead to heart problems, loss of cognitive ability (brain power), and all sorts of unwanted stuff. Some people have consistently low readings and are told to use oxygen continuously. It's my understanding for those folks they must be on it at least 16 hours a day for it to be effective.

Then there are those like me, and maybe like your friend from Church, whose oxygen saturation drops during hard physical labor (working out at the gym, etc). Oxygen is often prescribed to be used at that time, for the same reasons, and so the heart is supplied with oxygen while working harder.

The reason you think don't need it while watching t.v. is because you are at rest and your heart is not working as hard.

And then...there are some who just use it at night, because their oxygen levels drop while sleeping in addition to sleep apnea or separate from it. (And yes, sleep apnea is different from COPD, though they often go hand in hand.)

You can get a pretty good idea of how you are by using a pulse oximeter and keeping track of the readings.

To me, this just proves how different we all are and that, as so often stated, this is not a one size fits all disease. If through testing, etc., I have been told I need to be on oxygen, I would be leery of anyone telling me I don't need it.

Good breathing to you!

P.S. I was told last week by a doctor that once you stop smoking, you halt the progression of the disease, but your lungs keep aging, as they do with anyone getting older. Us ex-smokers speeded up the process.