COPD & Emphysema Support Group

COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...

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DifferentLife 02/22/2016

My dad has stage 4 COPD. 2014 was a trying year for him and my family. He was placed on the ventilator. 4 out of the 6 times he was hospitalized. He was released and was very depressed for a while which was understandable. He was a very active man. He is 71 and will be 72 in May. I am my parents' only child and it is truly an emotional roller coaster! My dad has been and still is a wonderful and loving father. In all of my 44 years of life he has never once raised his voice at me and only "popped" my hand when I was 9 years old for misbehaving! He has just been the BEST husband, father and Papa in the world! I am divorced and my children adore him. My son is his shadow.

Today my mom called to tell me she was taking him to the ER for SOB he's been experieicing for the past week or so and his nurse told him to go to the ER to be looked at because his EKG shows some abnormalities on his lungs. I know the seriousness of his condition. I am just trying to remain positive and faithful. I hate saying this but it feels like we "just don't know day to day." I think I've read everything possible on COPD until it gets to the morbid stuff. While I know the struggles this dreadful disease brings on it's patients and their families......I still want my dad here with us. I blame myself for being selfish like that but he is all I know. He is live unconditional, he is encouraging, supportive, kind, funny, caring....I could go on and on. I guess I am just venting. I have cried a little today and I dread going to the ER because I don't want any bad news.

This is so very HARD......

gracenme 02/22/2016

It is hard living with lung disease. prayers for your dad

jarca 02/22/2016

i'm sorry to hear about your father.
If he is experiencing "non normal" SOB suddenly, it could be an infection that can be cleared up with antibiotics & often times prednisone. (which the hospital can get right on with fast acting IV medication).

I also hope that your father doesn't need to be ventilated. if he is breathing on his own they may do something less invasive like bipap or even just canula with breathing treatments.

This is the time of year that so many virus' and bacterial infections go around. I get scared to go out to the stores as feb & march seem the worse disease months.

please keep us updated on how he is doing.
My prayers are with you dad & the rest of your family
(((HUGS)))

deegran 02/23/2016

I agree. This disease is so hard. Hugs.

yetmost 02/23/2016

you are right it is hard glad you shared with us
I feel like this is a safe place to vent.
just know that I am sending a hug
and that we are here for you.

DifferentLife 02/23/2016

Thank you all for your kind words and hugs! Fortunately they gave him a steroid and a breathing treatment. He felt so much better and was sent home. Please keep us in your prayers as this it a one day at a time type situation. My dad is a fighter and wants to be here as long as he can with us. I've even started him on green smoothies! I know how good they make me feel and he is enjoying them so far. Want to get some of those toxins out of his body while giving him a boost of energy too. Thank oh all again!

zigzzagz65 02/24/2016

It's really hard to accept situations we have no control of. I lost my mother to a several year battle with ovarian cancer and it is and was the single most difficult thing I've ever dealt with. It still affects me occasionally even today after 4 years and affected me significantly on a daily basis for the first 2. After living through that I still really don't know what advice I'd give to someone else with a parent with a progressive terminal illness other than to say don't let it draw you out or away from the society of other people. I was so preoccupied with work in the day and tending to her evenings and weekends that I stopped going out, I stopped socialising, and my circle of friends gradually diminished. Not just because I was busy, but also because I was miserable and felt like I'd just be inflicting myself on others in my misery. It was the single biggest mistake I made in regards to my own life since after she passed away, as an only child with my father pre-deceasing her, I had pretty much no support in keeping myself together. What's going to happen, is going to happen, but life marches on, so try to keep your life outside the support of your parents as close to normal as possible.
Good luck and best wishes for what you're facing.

gwapo 02/25/2016

So sorry to hear about your Dad....yes it is a cruel disease for those with it and those watching helplessly....I have told my close family about what to expect, and although my wife watched me come back from death's door during a long intubation, she still is very much in denial....It is frustrating for both of us in different ways....

Hope you take care of yourself and prayers that dad improves...

hugs Peter

redvelvetcake 02/27/2016

I'm sorry about your dad. My dad also has stage 4 COPD. I can't stand the thought of losing him either. It sucks big time. It sounds like you're doing all you can to spend time with him and that's the best thing you know? It took me awhile to realize that just being there is enough sometimes. Keep us posted and you can always message me on here if you want to talk about it.

HUGS.

LilEllie 02/28/2016

My only visit to the hospital was almost 8 years ago. My emphysema has got progressively worse but there have been lots of good times before you reach the "morbid" stage.

My dad passed with Emphysema in the early 70's and the treatment now is so much better so relax and enjoy your Dad and let life happen.

This is a good place to vent as everyone understands what you are saying.
The best of slow progression for you Dad.

Anna

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