New treatment for people with COPD, emphysema at Penn Medicine

Stephanie Stahl reports.

[MultivitaminCare]

I'm 59 years old and female. I was diagnosed a couple of months ago with COPD/Asthma and I was beyond scared! My lung function test indicated 49% capacity. After having had flu a year ago, the shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pains continued even after being treated with antibiotics. I've been smoking two packs a day for 36 years. Being born without a sternum caused my ribs to be curled just one inch away from my spine, resulting in underdeveloped lungs. At age 34 I had surgery and it was fixed. Unfortunately, my smoking just caused more damage to my already underdeveloped lungs. The problem I was having is that I enjoy smoking and don't want to give up! Have tried twice before and nearly went crazy and don't want to go through that again. I saw the fear in my husband's and children's eyes when I told them about my condition then they started to find solutions on their own to help my condition. I am 59 now and was diagnosed with COPD/Asthma which I know was from my years of smoking. I started smoking in school when smoking was socially acceptable. I remember when smoking was permitted in hospitals. It was not known then how dangerous cigarettes were for us, and it seemed everybody smoked but I was able to get rid of my COPD and Asthma lung condition through the help of Madiba Herbal Center com my husband bought, WWW. MADIBAHERBALCENTER. COM has the right herbal formula to help you get rid of and repair any lung conditions and cure you totally with their natural organic herbs. I wish anybody who starts smoking at a young age would realize what will eventually happen to their bodies if they continue that vile habit throughout their life.

[ZCGray]

Sad this comes 10 years after my dad died from emphysema 😢

[ChuckKarges]

Im on my journey to get the valves at Pittsburgh did the walk test and i quit smoking everything my test were better than last yrs so rehab Mon and waiting to see if Ill get them

[danbaileyphotostudio]

I had the zephyre valves (4) done in my left lung in 2021....it helped very little....the results only lasted about a year. There was no perceived "feeling" of relief. My exercise tolerance did not improve dramatically.
I had lung volume reduction surgery in january of this year-the results were leaps and bounds better. My exercise tolerance about tripled, there was a perceived "feeling" change for the better.
(Those of us with copd emphasyma know what I mean by "feeling" better)
The valve surgery requires a week stay in hospital, to monitor and make sure the valves dont collapse or cause pneumothorax.
With the lung volume reduction surgery, my hospital stay was 5 days. I had it done at Duke University-robotically. Pain level was extremely manageable-only 4 small incisions, with one being a drain left in until the day I left.
I am diagnosed "very severe" at the gold level standard.
I can take the boat in and out at the ramp myself-do 2 miles on the elliptical with no stopping (at pulmonary rehab-previously I struggled to do 1 mile on just a walking treadmill)
My experience and advise would be to opt for the lung volume reduction surgery instead.
(In speaking with my surgeon after the surgery-we discussed going back and doing the lung volume reduction on the left lung in the future when my exercise tolerance reduces-as it always will, there is no cure)
For anyone suffering with COPD-besides quitting smoking-the most important thing you can do is the pulmonary rehab-exercise and stay off being dependent on supplemental O2 as long as possible. When you stop-you decline.

[tomjessome]

DOES THE PART THATS CUT OFF OF OXIGEN COMPLETLY DIE OR IS IT REGENERATED I WISH THIS WAS AVAILABLE AFEW YEARS AGO WHEN MY MOM WAS STILL ALIVE MIS YOU MOM!

[nadyzeeshan]

Wow..please tell me where can I do that am from Germany…

[Fallonised]

I had 5 valves they worked for 3 years then they failed. I now have to have a lobectomy these valves are only a short term fix.

[donnaf]

Wonder if this would help me breath better, ???

[scavengerspc]

How do "professionals" not mention that the valves are called Zephyr Valves.

[genajenkins]

So my question is. Are they ever removed or they stay in the lungs?

[sthpac]

I have COPD and presently using the Wixela fluticasone. It's a disc with a pre measure dose of a powder that I take by mouth twice per day. It really works, but my breathing is still labored, but not like it was before using this. I'm scheduled to see a pulmonologist on the 12th of this month for a discussion about this procedure to see if I'm a candidate. I believe I am because the thing that get's you turned down is smoking. I haven't smoked in 19 years.

[stephenarzoomanian]

I have had them installed in both lungs and they dont work at all

[dstarkspp]

It’s NOt for everyone and please please read the side effects..I have copd and it sounds great!

[rjdnews]

In india where we get doctor?
Plz inform me

[RegisteredRohingyaRefugee]

Im from Bangkadesh please tell me how i get it for my father

[Nipanondini]

My father is also suffering from this disease for 3 years. Please help me. Please tell me how my father will get better. We are not getting any good treatment for this in Bangladesh. My father is getting sicker day by day.

[dukeofearl]

I just put in for the surgery my pulminoligist sent my paper work to the hospital