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COPD and Emphysema

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Courtney_J

Community manager

07/14/2021 at 2:07 AM

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Courtney_J

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Last activity on 08/08/2022 at 11:09 AM

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1,339 comments posted | 30 in the COPD Forum

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Hello members,

How are you today? emoticon cute

I thought I would open this discussion today to talk about emphysema!

For those who do not know, COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is actually an umbrella term used to describe a group of lung conditions that block airflow and make it difficult to breathe. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions making up COPD.

Emphysema is a progressive disease of the lungs caused by over-inflation of the alveoli (air sacs in the lungs). So, a person with emphysema has COPD, but not everyone with COPD has emphysema.

So, what about you? Do you have emphysema? How long have you had it? How are you doing today?
@Kathy7‍ @Devildogwife‍ @stellawilson‍ @RogerWi!ll‍ @jocpd1‍ @Sweetlady63‍ @Wooten‍ @razzle5150‍ @RoyTruchon‍ @Ginny13‍ @AdelineDellaMenefee‍ @Maggie,sson‍ @Terrisfca‍ @Spygirl‍ @CarolnTN‍ @tylarkate‍ @Sharonf‍ @Nanny1‍ @Merrylynn‍ @Sewdebit‍ @Tammy11‍ @brokirch‍ @Klinker‍ @bizzyazab1213‍

T‍ake care,
Courtney

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NannyDuffy

08/13/2021 at 5:42 AM

NannyDuffy

Last activity on 10/31/2021 at 5:46 AM

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2 comments posted | 2 in the COPD Forum

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Having emphysema stinks combine that with asthma and sometimes even talking can get ya out of breath but payback for smoking for 40 some odd years well enough said.

COPD and Emphysema https://www.carenity.us/forum/copd/living-with-copd/copd-and-emphysema-3559 2021-08-13 05:42:43

Magdamaria2

08/15/2021 at 12:11 AM

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Magdamaria2

Last activity on 05/29/2025 at 6:13 AM

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Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions making up COPD. Yes i have both along with heart disease, spinal stenosis and others, i wake up in pain and go to sleep in pain. Iam learning how to ease my pain before it comes, right now i live on the 3rd floor and have to walk up 45 steps to my apt, I feel like my scar from open heart surgery wants to pop out. So once I'm home I do the breathing excercise. breath in thru your nose and exhale as if your spitting out the air, that helps, it does take practice, Hope this helped..

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"Save A life" Adopt A Pet" MagdaMaria2 aka Paws_4_Cause

COPD and Emphysema https://www.carenity.us/forum/copd/living-with-copd/copd-and-emphysema-3559 2021-08-15 00:11:06

NannyDuffy

08/15/2021 at 5:21 PM

NannyDuffy

Last activity on 10/31/2021 at 5:46 AM

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I live with spinal stenosis myself the pain gets unbearable at times. Regular exercise helps but with COPD your limited on that as well. It stinks that most Drs. Dont get it.

COPD and Emphysema https://www.carenity.us/forum/copd/living-with-copd/copd-and-emphysema-3559 2021-08-15 17:21:58

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CarolSchmidt

12/21/2020 at 10:35 PM

@KathyA‍, please read what I wrote above on using oxygen. I am so, so, thrilled to have portable oxygen that gave me more of my life back. I was told in 2011 when I lived in San Miguel de Allende at 6,400 ft altitude that I needed to go on oxygen, but all I saw around town was one woman with the heavy metal canisters in a cart behind her, and that looked terrible. I moved back to near sea level and put off needing oxygen all day for another seven years, just a Bipap at night.

Finally I was huffing and having to stop every few feet even near sea level, but I still didn't want to be lugging a heavy canister behind me. I ran into an old friend who was always really active, ballroom dancing, hiking, fly fishing in rivers. And there she was with an Inogen in a backpack, doing everything she'd always done!

She showed me all about hers and the total package with machine, extra 8-hour battery, two battery chargers for house and car, carrying case, and extended warranty, was around $3,300!

Finally I saved enough for it and have loved it every minute since. I started on 2 for almost a year but had to go to 3 for every day. I switch to 4 liters a minute several times a day when I still get winded bad, and have gone up to 5 for stair climbing. I worry that I will need to go higher than 5 eventually, but I hope by then there will be sronger machines developed that go higher, though then the $500 batteries only last a few hours before needing recharging, instead of 6-8.

The portable ones now are breath-operated--you have to be breathing into the nose cannula for them to work. And my BiPap at night requires continuous flow, which the big oxygen machine Medicare covers provides, so I need both machines. Some day they may all be continuous flow and still portable.

There are cheaper, refurbished units available from the Inogen factory, too. After 1 1/2 years mine started sending strange messages and I called the factory and they sent a new one out the next day! I sent them the old one back no charge. So I am pleased with service, too.

Hope this helps you accept your machine. I am so, so happy I got mine and wish Medicare paid for everyone who needed one.(I understand in a few cases they will pay for one now, but not my particular Cigna Medicare Advantage plan.)

I bet when you go to your reunion you won't be the only one on oxygen! And everyone will be so old! The ones who are already dead and not there are the ones to think about--how many of them had COPD? Fourth leading cause of death in the US before Covid, so now we're fifth. Be glad for all the help you can get! I hope you have a wonderful reunion!

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cbholder3

12/02/2022 at 3:21 PM

@Thakera Yes, even on Medicare it was $400+ a month. My Pulmonologist arranged for me to get it with no copay from GSK, GlaxoSmithKline, you can look up their assistance program at https://www.gskforyou.com/ Hope it goes okay for you, I am just in the process fo renewing mine for next year.

GSKForYou | GSK Patient Assistance Program

Learn how our program can assist you if you need help paying for your GlaxoSmithKline prescription medicines and vaccines, whether you have coverage or not.

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CarolSchmidt

12/21/2020 at 10:35 PM

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cbholder3

12/02/2022 at 3:21 PM

GSKForYou | GSK Patient Assistance Program

Learn how our program can assist you if you need help paying for your GlaxoSmithKline prescription medicines and vaccines, whether you have coverage or not.

See the best comment

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