what are the signs of end stage copd?

Question

what type of home treatment will be required and how will we know when to call in Hospic nurses?

Answer 1

End stage COPD patients have extreme difficulty breathing and are on home oxygen. They use nebulizer machines, inhalers and other medications to help open the airways. They are extremely short of breath, develop a barrel chest and have difficulty functioning since all their strength goes into the work of breathing. Often times the heart becomes overtaxed as well. You physician will monitor the patients condition closely and will advise you when the time has come to have hospice come into your home.

Answer 2

There are certain end of life issues to be decided in COPD, The patient will very simply start to smother. Copd patients usually die from somthing other than COPD, usually their heart gives out from the stress of being hypoxic on the body.

Answer 3

I lost my Pop to COPD this past January. He also had CHF. He was a smoker, but quit over 50 yrs. ago. He worked in the construction field doing sheet/taping. Back in the 40's-80's, there were no OSHA regulations & safety precautions taken against working w/ lead & asbestos. He breathed that in for years while he worked. Pop was on O2 at home & a portable tank, he took Spiriva & Symbacort daily. He still seemed to decline. He would have bouts of CHF flare ups & then be hospitalized for pneumonia. He went into the hospital the week before Christmas w/ double pneumonia, we almost lost him. But he pulled. He'd get better, then 5 steps backwards for the next few weeks. He eventually was transferred to Hospice & less then 24 hrs. he passed. The nurse had to keep aspirating his airways. The ironic thing was, we always thought that the CHF would take Pop, not the COPD. But he died of COPD complications at 90 yrs. young. I miss him & my Grams dearly. We lost her 4 yrs. to Vascular Dementia.

Answer 4

does every one die from copd Jan 2 014 I will be 58 I got copd age 53 I feel great I use Spiriva how long do I have

Answer 5

My cousin Anne died with COPD, she died in the hospital and it was pretty grim.
While she was able to be home she had a breathing machine, a lot of medications to take and after time passed she was so weak and unable to breath on her own it was decided she was to be in the respiratory hospital, it was one of my worst memories. I sure hope whoever is suffering there w/you is taken a more gentle way. God Bless.

Answer 6

. Early signs and symptoms are shortness of breath on exertion, recurrent respiratory infections or a morning cough. As the disease continues, the symptoms are seen with increased frequency and severity. In the late stages, the patient often experiences severe cough, constant wheezing, and shortness of breath with minimal exertion or rest. At this late stage, progression to respiratory failure and death is common. I would ask the physician that is treating them about hospice.......Flo

Answer 7

Emphysema final stages of emphysema patients are sometimes referred to as "pink puffers". This is because emphysema sufferers may hyperventilate to maintain adequate types of emphysema blood oxygen levels. history of emphysema Hyperventilation explains why emphysema patients do not appear cyanotic as chronic bronchitis (another COPD disorder) emphysema symptoms sufferers often do; hence they are "pink" puffers (adequate oxygen levels in the blood) and not "blue" bloaters (cyanosis; inadequate oxygen in the blood).

Answer 8

It depends on many factors

Answer 9

Would like to know more about this too

Answer 10

http://www.olivija.com/endstage/ gives many different examples.