Why do I feel so all alone in the respiratory category? I have severe end stage Emphysema?

Question

and I can't find one single question regarding the disease. I have asked questions also and have not received many answers.
COPD is now the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. & I am beginning to think I am suffering alone.
The only ones on Answers pertain to people who have already passed on......Oh, woe is me.....Now, I am not talking asthma here, just emphysema patients.

Answer 1

You should try a chatroom/blog specific to the condition you wish to discuss. In this case, access:

http://www.copd-international.com/MainChat.htm:

Answer 2

Since starting my current job about a month ago, I have treated a severe end-stage COPD patient. His oxygen saturation was in the mid-70's on a non-rebreather mask. I really don't think we was in any shape to be using a computer to ask a question on Yahoo! Answers. His main concern was not to die on a daily basis.

There are lots of people everywhere with end-stage COPD. I think that most have resigned themselves to the fact that it will cause them death in the near future and are trying to make every day count. Not to say that asking questions here is a bad thing to do, but it isn't the same as spending time with the grandchildren.

Age may be an issue. Older people may not be as computer literate as younger people. Because end-stage COPD is reasonably common but not rampant in the general population, the likelihood of you finding a question from a person in the same condition as yourself is somewhat unlikely. Asthma is very common, up to 10% of the general population, so there is no shortage of asthma patients of all ages (including myself).

You make a great point about COPD being the fourth most common cause of death in the USA. If you add together all the diseases that smoking causes, it is by far number one. All the heart and lung diseases, as well as cancer together can be attributed to smoking. This is why there is such a push to get people to stop smoking now. It's very costly to society for people to die of smoking related deaths. I, as a health care professional (Respiratory Therapist), would like the general population to take anti-smoking campaigns more seriously. We're not trying to take your freedom away. We are trying to prevent you from dying in a terribly slow horrible way.

Answer 3

I just barely saw another question on here about COPD, so I know you aren't alone (unless you posted that question). I'm sorry you're suffering. Honestly, Yahoo! Answers isn't a good place to get answers about medical conditions because there are so few people on here who have any kind of expert medical knowledge. Your doctor is a much better source of answers. As far as support, though, perhaps your doctor or a social worker can help you find a support group of people who are suffering like you. I wish you happiness.

Answer 4

o I had end stage Emphysema but through the grace of God I was given a lung transplant. I is normal to feel depressed like you do. When I finally found a good lung specialist, I had 18 percent usage of my lungs.End Stage means that you have less then a year to live. Do you have a good Pulminologist? Have they ever considered a transplant?I was given my lung just in time. I really don't think I would have lived another two weeks.You know. Just from day to day is hard.I sympathize with you.I was unable to move from my chair by myself.I not only did not have the strength but I did not have the oxygen. E-mail me. [e-mail].

Answer 5

I feel awful at the end of this day. One of my bosses reduced 2 people to tears today. He denied one girl the 3 weeks holiday she wanted for a long haul flight holiday at the end of November but allowed another to book 3 weeks in September. He also made another girl cry when he asked questions about time off she had a week or so back when a close relative died. Needless to say, he is not flavour of the month right now. Both girls are now absolutely sure they are going to leave now. This is just the last in a long line of stupid things he has done. Always with a stupid smirk on his face too.

Answer 6

I am so sorry you feel isolated and abandoned by the answers community. Move you question to "health in general" or something like that and I am sure you will get some answers. Even if you don't, it does not mean you are unworthy of an answer. You deserve answers to your questions as much as any other question. I have wanted to answer questions before but didn't because I was afraid I would be mocked for my answer since I am not an expert on it but had some kind of info to share. If you put your question in "health, other" or even "alternative health", just anything...see if you get more answers that way. Good luck. Don't feel overlooked. People often want to answer but are afraid to look unintelligent. Your'e OK,it's us. We have to start giving more answers!

Answer 7

Hiya, dnt worry hers the best treaty or remedy availble for it just eat 2-5 gms of Turmeric powder a day and be healthy wealthy and wise from yr all complications well it will take severe days so ontiallyu wont fing any change and later u will be benifitted, mark my words am a Pharmacist and haing very good knowledge regarding Ayurveda so have it cure yr self with natural way and be happy

Answer 8

You're not alone, I might not be severe, but I do have mild emphysema and some other respiratory issues, what would you like to know?