My 77 yr old Uncle checked into hosp. for bad cold, came home w/ oxygen

[henslee]

tank. I was shocked and asked him if he was diagnosed with something. He said nothing except the emphysema he had been diagnoised with a year earlier. HE NEVER TOLD ANYONE. THIS IS A GUY THAT STILL SMOKES EVERYDAY. Is he totally screwed? Even if he stops? I heard of lung transplants. Or is it all downhill, fast and quick? Note: He is a spunky dude.

[Cuban_Liberal]

1. COPD is not a death sentence, per se.

He can live many more years, BUT--- he MUST quit smoking, take his meds and follow his doctors orders.

[candy]

2. For God's sake he's 77----Let him keep doing what he wants to do.

[henslee]

3. Quitting was already his idea. He is a young 77. His mom lived to 99. nt

[LeftCoast]

4. I agree with you in part

but let me tell you, dying of COPD/emphysema is NOT, I repeat NOT a good way to die. Imagine lying in bed, exhausted, and nothing you can do lets you breath quite enough air. In some ways it's something like what I imagine a goldfish must feel like after jumping out of its bowl.

I really hope this person stops smoking if he can. He may be in the early stages where life is quite tolerable. With some luck, the disease may not progress any further.

[seriousstan]

5. Ask him how many times in the last 50+ years he has enjoyed lighting up.

Outside looking at the sky, pondering a thought or just relaxing. Try to weigh that against a few extra declining years. How much comradely did he enjoy over a cigarette? How many friends did he make or spheres of people was he invited to because of or with the aid of his habit?

You are right, he probably could live longer if he ran instead of smoke. But then, he could have been hit by a truck.

Let the old man enjoy what he has left of his life. Help him be safe with the oxygen in the presence of flame.

Note: I have never smoked and would never condone it in my children. Nor would I ever encourage anyone to take up this habit.

[jrthin]

6. I can't help myself, I must

comment. Half of your post sounds romanticized and silly. Lighting up a cigarette "Outside looking up at the sky, pondering a thought or just relaxing," sounds like a scene from a bad movie.

Since you've never smoked, let me add my ex-smoking experience: the sky looks brighter and more splendid when there is no smoke getting in the eyes; and it's easier to relax when your heart isn't thumping because the smoke in your lungs is choking off your arteries and blood supply. THERE IS NOTHING WONDERFUL ABOUT SMOKING.

To the original poster: If your Uncle can quit, without much painful withdrawal, help him to do it. It is difficult for him and others to quit because they are addicted to the nicotine (equally as powerful as heroine), and an ingrained habit of associating everything they do with smoking a cigarette. I feel sorry for you Uncle and I wish him good health.

[KittyWampus]

9. Hmm, I LOVED Smoking. Loved Every Cigarette Until I Stopped

although I'm one of those few people who just stopped with no second thoughts or relapses....

[seriousstan]

10. I was just pointing out that we cannot judge the pleasure someone

gets from a given activity based on what it costs them. There are many activities that are hazardous to our heath that people enjoy enough to accept the costs. What is one man's pleasure is any man's poison.

[henslee]

11. Thanks 4 good wishes He has no urge for cig. since he's been ill.

Like I said, quitting is his own idea. He had already cut way down.
He has such a pos. attitude.

[NurseLefty]

7. Smoking + proximate location to oxygen = DANGER!

He may know this already, but PLEASE remind him to be far, far away from his O2 tank (turned off, too) when he smokes. Otherwise, he'll have a problem FAR WORSE than emphysema!
My father was diagnosed w/ emphysema over 20 years ago (has asthma, too) and smoked for 50 years prior to quitting in 1995. I am convinced that he would not be alive today had he continued to smoke.
COPD can be managed, and depending on your uncle's condition, he could stabilize with medications. But quitting smoking is the single best thing he could do. There are improved ways to quit these days, ie, gums & patches.
As for lung transplants, it is very unlikely he would be a candidate, due to his age and the fact that he smokes. (Plus, emphysema alone would not be an indication for transplantation.)
I have seen patients with advanced lung disease, and it is not a good way to go. I wish you & your uncle well.

[henslee]

13. Thanks for the 411. Never thought I'd ever start this type of thread but

this place is really a great place to get good advice. I sure feel lucky everyone is a keystroke away. ;)

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. My grandmother has emphysema and never smoked a day in her life.

A lot of other pollutants have done her in. She's doing great though.

[China_cat]

12. my mother-in-law just died from it

and, again, never smoked in her life. Her mother, a non-smoker, also died from it and her sister has it...also a non-smoker.

What the doctors in this country don't want to tell you is that there IS a genetic form of emphysema...a lack of an enzyme that protects the lungs. Smoking will make it worse and kill you sooner but any air pollution at all will trigger it.

But here the only thing we hear is that smoking is the ONLY way to contract emphysema and allows insurance to drop you if you develop it because it's a 'lifestyle' disease.

[NurseLefty]

14. Corrections

Hereditary (alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency) emphysema IS commonly known by health care providers, and it is not true that smoking is the only known cause of emphysema.
As for insurance, if one misrepresents his/herself on an application (declaring as a non-smoker when one actually smokes), that is grounds for cancellation. But, I never seen cancellation for "lifestyle" diseases alone. Premiums can go up - but imagine all the other lifestyle-induced diseases being grounds for cancellation. No one would be insured!

[China_cat]

16. I know it's not true that smoking

is the only cause. Show me someone that will tell a patient that in this country. Find me an ad that DOESN'T -say- that if you don't smoke you won't get it.

I don't smoke. But the level of dishonesty ... on BOTH sides ... of the smoking issue pisses me off highly.

[Padraig18]

15. Unlikely he'd be eligible for a transplant.

Stop smoking is his best chance, if he wants to live to be old.