How long will my mother live?

Question

My mom is 44 and was diagnosed with emphysema about a year or so ago. She cut down on smoking, but she still smokes. Her emphysema was at the early stages when she was diagnosed, but she hasnt been checked since then.
Someone...please tell me how long she'll live...
You probably won't be able to tell...but an estimate would be nice...
I'd really like to know...
I'm so worried about her :-/

I'm not sure how bad her lung damage is, but she was taking towels into the bathroom closet the other day, which is like a 10 foot walk, and the towels werent heavy, and she had to stop because her chest hurt. She had to go to the doctor's twice, because after looking at her lungs they wanted to take blood tests to see if she has lung cancer, but luckily the test said no.

Answer 1

I have pulmonary fibrosis - a terminal lung disease that kills over 50,000 people every year in just the United States alone. I was diagnosed in 2003 and given just 18 to 36 months to live. I am happy to report that I am still hanging in there and the quality of my life isn't too bad. Every day above ground is a good day. There are two important points to stress to you and your mother.

First, no doctor has a crystal ball and they cannot predict with any great degree of accuracy how long your mother will live. Many people live well into their 80's and 90's with emphysema. You could have her in your life for the next 40 years.

Second, and more importantly, your mother can positively affect her life span by quitting smoking. I have a personal message for her. If my doctors could give me an additional 40 years of life and all I had to do was toss the smokes, I would have done that in a New York minute. Unfortunately, I cannot change my lifestyle and impact my life expectancy with something as easy as quitting smoking. Your Mom will say it is too difficult to quit. I say it isn't. I smoked for 25 years and quit cold turkey when I found out I was sick. I thought if I quit, it might give me an extra month or two of life with my family. I was willing to give up smoking just to gain a couple of months. She stands to gain decades simply by changing her lifestyle a little. She can beat the habit. She needs your help, but she can beat it. If she doesn't quit, she will end up like me - hoping for just one more day with my loved ones. She needs to ask herself if that cigarette is worth the price she is paying. Take it from someone who knows, it isn't. Stop now before it is too late.

Good luck to both of you.

Answer 2

I have COPD, which is a combination chronic bronchitis and emphysema. I was diagnosed about 5 yrs. ago. I am at a moderate stage now. I was tested again just before X-Mas. (Pulmonary function tests) I have had numerous lung scans, etc.
I still smoke too. It is hard and I prob will quit when I can't breath at all anymore. It gets more difficult every yr. I'm 51 now.I hope to last another 10 yrs. I want to see some grandkids before I go. My daughter is 19 now. No one can say when you will die. It is in God's hands. When my nuimber is up, I'll go. I won't have a choice.
I chose to still smoke becaue I had SEVERAL friends who were diagnosed the same as me and they quit right away. Didn't matter. I am bored because I can't work or do much of anything because I can't breath. Hard to just sit all day and do nothing.

Answer 3

I understand how worried you are and to be honest no body know how long they will live except God, But I can say that my mother is worse than your mom because she has C.O.P.D. (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) which is caused from emphysema, she still smokes but not as much, and she just turned 71 but she was diagnosed more than 10 years ago. They have to help them selves by quitting smoking that's the first step. Good luck Hun.

Answer 4

I know a better idea. Concentrate on how to increase her quality of life and enjoy every moment you can with each other. Try not to dwell on the Doctor's diagnosis. Try telling yourself that she will be here indefinitely, as long as she really wants to be!!

How about building her body's immune defence system by increasing Vitamin C intake, any chemist will sell sugarless vitamin C tablets. Put about 20 in the blender and crush then place in a large mug with 2 inches of warm water. Taking a tablespoon each hour with increase her immunity to colds and viruses when she is feeling under the weather. On a day to day basis just follow the instructions on the bottle. Also there are some studies that have apparently been done to show that people who have a very adequate intake of Vitamin A are less likely to succumb to this disease. 4,000 IU per day is the recommended daily intake for adult females.

Hope this helps a bit.


PEACE & LOVE & ALL THAT

Answer 5

My mom smoked until well into her 50's and lived to be 87. But she did have a lot of breathing problems.
I quit a dozen years ago and I could not have done it without the nicotine gum. I became addicted to the gum for over a year, but I was finally able to get past it. Without the gum, I could not have quit. It could not hurt to get her some gum to help her past her nicotine addiction.
Good luck with you mom.

Answer 6

hi my dad had emphysema, back in 1975, well im not goin to lie all i know is he had no oxygen to take, he smoked 4 packs a day i no my mom took him to the doctor in 1976 he said he had 1 year to live,and he died june 1977, but he also had cirosis,of the liver, honey get her checked my girlfriend has it, ok listen to me if u ever find mom talkin like funny out of head, that means she is not getting enough oxygen, if ever that happens get her to the ER, is she on oxygen yet?xcoughing, spitting up yellow but my dad went to down to nothing lost weight,, but my uncle had cancer of the throat from smoking,now if it hasnt hit her lungs, it can hit her voice box, he had to have that taken out and couldnt talk but he lived 25 years after, can u let me know a little more, remember about talkin funny out of her head,has she ever seemed confused? please let me know, i lost my mom dad entire family, but ill try and help you

Answer 7

My husband lived about 10 years after being diagnosed. He didn't stop smoking and would not avoid the things that made him worse. You end up hospital after hospital visits, steroids, oxygen, and breathing treatments, broken bones from the medicines, etc.
It's hard to convince someone that they will die. I understand how you feel. God Bless You.

Answer 8

build an extension for her to live in and let her Friday club friends stay over. you won`t have a pick of bother. Poor old woman thrown out into the streets in her nightie. What a liberty!

Answer 9

my mom had emphysema and she still smoked a pack everyday....she was with us another 4years until she passed...too bad your mom won;t quit all the way'but it;s hard to do,,,,, as long as she takes good care of herself could be years.only god knows exactly how long she;ll be with you....LOL

Answer 10

this does not sound good. but i am afraid no one can tell how long she can live but god i think if she quit smoking and let her body heel that would be the best for her. also plenty of prayer will help her hope she gets well soon.she will be in my prayers