Not looking for sympathy, just an honest answer that makes sense.?

Question

In September I was diagnosed with COPD (Emphysema) then I had open heart surgery (CABG) in October, 5 bypasses were put in. I found out at that time I also have Idiopathic Intristital Pulmonary Fibrosis (IIPF). I have since been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). On Monday I had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (Galbladder removal). I am only 47 years old. My question is why is all this happening now? How much more can I expect to happen? How long can I expect to live?

Ok, I smoked 2+/- packs/day for 25 years. My cholesterol was a little high but not alarmingly so. I was/am active. My doc and I tried to find the reason for my chest/neck pain for 3 months. Even after a stress test the Cardiologist wasn't sure. So we did a heart cath. They woke me long enough to tell meI was going from the cath lab to OR for the 5 bypasses.

And no, I have never used illicit drugs, but I'm not offended that you question that. It is all too common.

By the way, I stopped smoking the day I had heart surgery. My doc said I am the only patient that he has had that ever did that. Just quit and stay quit.

Answer 1

Here's an honest straight-shooting answer for you...
This is a major wake up call for you.

You mix in science with heavy questions that science cannot answer. So, I will give you the hardcore truth...an answer with science, but not only science...

The truth is - we are all mortal and we will all die.

The cholecystectomy in no big deal. Forget about it.
The OSA is not that big of a deal either...get treated.

Sure, you have Coronary Artery Disease, but you just potentially added years to your life with the CABG. If you hadn't had that, you might of had a massive MI and died already or in the coming weeks. You probably should have died in 2006, but seredipitously got a heart cath to find the arteries in your heart all clogged up...and were able to get surgery before a massive heart attack killed you.

Your COPD is because of your smoking, of course. It is also what contributed to your heart disease requiring the CABG. Bottom line: smoking kills. You probably have the lung capacity of someone 90+ years old. Not much you can do to reverse the damage, but at least you've stopped smoking...so you won't beat a dying horse to death...but instead, just allow it to whimper until it breathes its last breath...

Perhaps more concerning about your situation is your bipolar disorder with suicidal tendencies...which you left out of this post.

Or perhaps most concerning is the IPF, which has a very, very poor prognosis. If it is a true and accurate diagnosis, a lung biopsy with histopathological subclassification will better clarify your prognosis, but given all of your medical problems, you likely have less than a handful of years to live. If the IPF is a really bad type or very advanced, it may only be a few months...

But no one knows the exact hour.
You may not live until tomorrow. On average, over 200,000 people die every day!

It may be weeks or months, but odds are VERY heavily against you living more than 5 more years.

But...it is possible that you might live more than 5 more years.
And it is also possible that both of us will win the lottery.

=
So...this is your wake-up call.
We all only live for 0-120 years.
We all die. Some before 10 years old, many before age 40, a lot around age 50...tons more before 60...and some live with a few brain cells still working as old as even 120 years old.
But we all die.

After death is an eternity of time. It may be in hell...or it may be in heaven. My suspicion is that if you were to die today, you would not end up where you would want to...but instead where you (and everybody else) deserve(s) to end up (and where most do end up).

For some very strange reason, God spared your life this far. You are lucky (or rather blessed) that you didn't die in 2006.

You want the truth?

Everybody in the world has thought, said, and done evil in the sight of God...and thereby, by God's standards of perfection and holiness, we all are sinners that fall short of His glory. The just and right result of sin is death and hell. Thus, we all deserve a lot worse life than we are dealt - no matter how short or long it is, and no matter how much pain and suffering it entails. More specifically, we all deserved a harder and shorter life than that which you have lived. And many, many, many in the world DO live a shorter and harder life.

Furthermore, we have justly earned the right to go to hell for all eternity. BUT, God in His love, grace, and mercy...and humility, became man - Jesus - and lived a sinless life. AND, He willingly laid down His life for us...as a sacrifice...a ransom. He paying the penalty for our sins, so that we may be forgiven of our sins. He granting us pardon, cleansing us by His blood, and counting us perfect and righteous before God. Thus, through repetance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, believing He died for our sins, we are redeemed, and welcomed to Heaven for all eternity when we die.

However, this decision to turn away from our sinful self and to God - pleeing for forgiveness, and receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior must be done before dying...or else our lot after death will be hell for all eternity.

Perhaps God has spared your physical life, and awakened you to consider your spiritual life - mercifully providing you a chance to seriously consider these things and repent before you die.

Or perhaps, even, you consider yourself a "Christian" - but really are not...yet. Such as the goats and tares spoken about by Jesus. Many are deluded and deceived...all the way to hell.

But an infinitely better life...for an infinite amount of time - in Heaven...is still, even now...in your reach...even if you are to die in the coming weeks.

Maybe I will (shortly) see you on the other side...or - for your sake - I should say...hopefully, I will see you on the other side.

-
Consider John and Romans.

Answer 2

Terry -

You ask 'why" - and that is such a creepy word. It very often makes people defensive.

I do not know how well you've taken care of yourself. But truly - that is in the past now.

I believe that everything happens for a reason. Sometimes when we look back at the horrible parts of our lives - we realize that if we hadn't had those experiences - that we wouldn't have what we have now.

Maybe you will meet wonderful people at the hospital. Perhaps your loved ones are learning to care for you and be compassionate. Or it could be that you are learning to appreciate your health. We don't know.

We don't know about the future either - so we can't say what will happen to us or how long we'll stay here on earth. We have no control over a lot of it.

What we DO have control over - and what is VERY IMPORTANT is this: You can concentrate on the positive - and you must! I know it may be hard with everything that's going on - but it's not impossible. Count your blessings!! I'm sure you have many. It will put you in a positive state of mind -and when that is happening for you - you can expect to live much longer.

Namaste!!

Answer 3

Well, you certainly have had a time of it recently. How long will you live? No one could honestly answer that but I will try to give you just a little insight. Basically, it looks like, without knowing you or that much about your history, that you lived pretty hard, meaning, high fat diet, lots of smoking, not a great deal of exercise, and it caught up with you. Some people can do this their whole lives and have few problems, that that is rare. Smoking does a lot of nasty things to the body,ie, emphysema. There is no cure for copd, and it is a progressive disease. Stopping smoking will certainly slow its progress and many people live for many years with this condition, but it is quite variable. You may find in the future that you need oxygen at home to maintain proper levels in your blood. Sleep apnea, very common and easily treatable and not generally life threatening. Gall bladder, too much fat in the diet probably, but no big deal, you can live without it and you will never know it is gone. Bypass surgery, your ticker should be fine for many years to come as long as you follow your md's directions, take your meds, lower fat diet, no smoking, moderate exercise, ect. Fibrosis, another lung issue that unfortunately isn't treatable. Its called Idoipathic in your case because they simply can't pinpoint exactly why it occured. Fibrosis is simply scarring in the lung tissue caused by chronic injury or inflammation. It could have been the smoking, but probably some sort of industrial exposure, chemicals, dusts, ect. Long story shortened a bit, you have had a rough patch but looks like you have most of your ducks in a row now. You need to watch your symptoms closely, keep in contact with your md, regular checkups and simply try to lead a more healthly lifestyle. The rest is not up to us to decide. Everyone is different, some might live another 40 years, some maybe 10, there is no way to know. So, don't live for what might happen, simply live your life and take advantage of your second chance. I hope this has helped in your quest for information.

Answer 4

Sorry to hear of all those medical problems , I'm only 49 and have extremely severe emphysema and have had pulmonary failure and hospitalized many times. I also have severe sleep apnea and acid reflux disease . However I have seen older people in worse shape that have lived and continue too as much as 17 years and counting with these problems. I meet many at the local pulmonary rehabilitation classes I attend , There are people their in rehab for heart conditions also . I don't know how long I have to live but try and take each day as it comes which isn't always easy but I've realized that things can always be worse than they now are. Best to try not to focus on how long you have but rather gleam whatever happiness you can daily and again take one day at a time . I understand when it rains it really pours with some of us unlucky ones. Try and keep your chin up and perhaps speak with your doctor concerning pulmonary rehab , it's helpful speaking with others with similar difficulties . I know we are so young to be in this shape , most in my pulmonary classes are much older than us. Good luck to you my friend , your not alone there are those of us in the same situation. Take care now and try not to fret about things which you have little control over.

Answer 5

Did smoking lead to the COPD? If so, please quit now! It's a terrible poison to your body. If you haven't smoked--GREAT! Do you have Pulmonary hypertension? Sometimes sleep apnea causes this, as does heart valve problems. I suspect you have a high cholesterol problem (leading to your bypass surgery) and did you know that many gall stones are made of cholesterol? Has your MD put you on med. to lower your cholesterol? My advice is to eat a good diet, check w/your Dr. about the cholesterol med., exercise in moderation, don't smoke, and enjoy every day on this earth for years to come.

Answer 6

Im sorry to hear of your many problems. However they all seem manageable if your doctors get you on the right meds and you watch your diet and keep your medical appointments. Believe you will be okay now and you will. But think deep and hard about what if any things in your lifestyle aren't healthy and promise yourself to change them starting immediately. There are plenty of websites on each of these diseases, just google the names in and start reading. There is no reason to think you are going to die soon, these breathing conditions are treatable, I am guessing that you might (not sure) need to lose weight if you have sleep apnea, so work on it.
God bless and keep positive.

Answer 7

It's the point in life where everything in your body that you have abused catches up with you. I have many things too as I am 43. How long can you expect to live, well you have to ask God that one. NO ONE here can tell you that.

Personally I am supposed to be on several types of dietary restriction where it would leave me eating rice cakes and water!
I told my doc to do his best I am going to eat what I want and die happy.

Why struggle and live miserable for the next who knows how long just to try and live longer like that??? Makes no sense to me. Enjoy what time you have here and forget about the rice cakes and water!

Answer 8

Terry - I looked at your photos and your myspace page....you seem like you are looking for people to pity you - even though you say you are not. You have provided almost too much information, and like many before me have said....no one here can tell you when you will die.

You need to get a handle on your many problems and learn to live happily with who and what you are. I hope that you will take some time to look at you and what you want out of life and go for it!
Take care of yourself...you said in myspace that you smoke - stop now especially with your medical history to date.

Best wishes

Answer 9

You'll be fine, modern medicine is very well equiped to take care of you. My grandfather lived till 95 and he had a triple heart bypass surgery at 60. Diseases of the lungs are well behaved provided constant care by you. Your probably better off without ur gallbladder. You'll live a long life..........

Answer 10

I have the same things with the exception of by-pass. BUT I do have Menieres Disease. I've had these problems for over 17 years, and I'm still kicking!

Seems like my early years of intense partying has taken it's tole on my bod! So join the over 40 crowd, and just keep on trucking!!!