Smokers that now have oxygen tanks, what tests were done at the dr's.?

Question

My father is VERY stubborn and would rather suffer than go to the
hospital, he thinks he will have to go have surgery or be in the
hospital for weeks. He has smoked for YEARS and now has trouble breathing. We have to make him go to the doctors (last appt was his medical exam for the army 50+ yrs ago). I know he will need a breathing machine / oxygen tank, but what test will
be done at the Dr's? I'm trying to ease his mind and get his butt to the doctors asap) ....

Answer 1

The damage is largely done and no surgery will make it better. The test to establish whether he needs oxygen or not is a simple pulse oximetry. It is a meter applied to the finger and if the saturation rate for oxygen is low enough, then he qualifies.

I'm not sure how bad the problem is but of course he probably already has emphysema. There are medications that can improve his breathing. It would probably make sense that he have a chest xray to screen him for lung cancer. Also a cardiac workup would be in order. Shortness of breath can be an alternative to angina (chest pain from your heart).

It may be hard to hear but there certainly is an arguement to allow your father to do what he will. He needed medical attention twenty years ago. At this point, I suspect only supportive care measure could be provided anyway. Additionally your father's personality type is such that he probably would not take medications if he was given them anyway.

Good luck and god bless.

Answer 2

They will do an overall physical if he hasnt been to a doctors in that long. Probably an xray to check out his lungs for any lesions. A breathing test to check his input and output. They may take blood to run additional tests.

Good luck.