30% after all those years - I am so jealous. I am in my 6th year and at end stage with under 20% left. I was doing pretty good, had not had an exacerbation since last Sept. I never have much of a cough unless I get sick and this time I did not even get that. I just kept not being able to get my breathing under control. I have an action plan in place complete with all necessary drugs and a nebulizer but I didn't think it was that because no phlegm, no cough. The hospital kept me from 4 until well after midnight on a Sat, night and said there was nothing wrong. Go home. I had to take another Ambulance home because I am on O2 24/7 and did not have anyone to get mine from home. I was able to slept for 2 days only waking up to drink. Monday I called my Repiratory person (nearest hospital is in the next town 1/2 hour away and closest pulmonary specialist is 4 hours away) My respiratory person had steam coming from her ears - not only should the hospital have known to start me on antibiotics and steroids but I should know by now that any change for me is not a good sign. I try so hard to be careful. I never forget to wash and gargle if I have been in contact with anyone and I keep masks with me at all times just because you never know when you will need the. At the moment, I really need help to get some weight back on and to get an appetite. Tell me your secret! Sending hugs from the Canadian Rockies. Carolyne

I'm new today too. I am "end stage" or so my pulmonary doctor says, and I'm down to 20% lung capacity. Just had my first hospitalization, however, with a major exacerbation. As miserable as Prednisone is, it sure as heck works miracles. I'm quite confused about the "purse breathing" and have received mixed advice. If I'm just sitting here and I choose to exhale as much as possible on a 12 count, for instance, and then inhale on a 6 count repeating this twice before resuming regular breathing, am I confusing my body? By the way, I'm on 2L liquid oxygen 24/7.

I am a 75 year old female with emphysema. I sleep under oxygen at night and have for about 10 years. When I started it was set on 1.5 and no one has changed it. I went to a pulmonary doctor and he would not say if it should be changed. I have 30% lung. Please give me your thoughts on this setting.

I have no idea why I did so good for so long but I think it helped that I've always been active and other than emphysema I am relatively healthy. I used to love to go on long walks but I find that I can't do that anymore. I still try to get short walks in every day.

Hello Carolyne....Long time......Glad to catch up in a sort of way.......

I also remained stable on 22% for over 2 years after being late diagnosed when i was treated for Chronic Asthma and ended up going thru a nightmare intubation...The Result was Emphysema with my Lung Function at 36%...

Since then i engaged in a rigorous exercise program and learned all i could on this site before the change of format destroyed the support group.

Fast forward to after July 2016 I ended up in hospital twice with Bronchial Tube Blockage caused by build up of mucous...Both times.. Massive amounts of Prednisone and Saline Nebs got me better.

Unfortunitely the last stay also caused me to catch HAP Influenza A...from which after 7 months I am still recovering, now on Supplement Oxygen be it only 1 LTM for Activity...but enough to cause a lot of catch22 issues, as I am a Retainer....My Fev.1 dropped from 18% to 15% in one hit but over the recovery period and building up my endurance i am now back to baseline of 18%.....but no where as physically capable as prior....

Someone mentioned re PLB...I left a link......I use that constantly to breath from a long time back but now I rely on it to do my gas exchange along with various PEP devices and recommended mucous eliminating techniques..

Like Carolyne....with Emphysema I have no appetite and am well below my BMD...In spite of being on 10mg Prednisone Daily Maintenance plus 250mg Clarithromycin to deal with Pseudomonis Colonies, in my lungs getting an infection....there is not much more i can do but try and remain independent.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqIPW474azk