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Topic: Does anyone else have a mom with emphysema?
no photo
Thu 01/17/08 04:22 PM
The reason I ask this is because my mom has smoked for over 40 years and I'm pretty sure her emphysema has gotten worse than what she would ever tell me. Not long ago, for instance, she couldn't breathe and it was so bad that she had to call an ambulance to come and get her, versus driving herself to the hospital. Also, she's been losing weight and has lost almost 50 lbs. now. At first, I had thought that was a good thing, but she told me that people at these cafe's where she goes to eat are worried...and now I'm thinking that maybe her weight loss isn't such a great thing after all. My father died in 2004, and he was a major diabetic who chose not to take care of himself and he, too, had lost a large amount of weight, although I'm thinking mom's lost weight in a shorter period of time. When I asked her what her diet is, she says she eats next to nothing. She did state she's sick and is seeing the doctor today, but I haven't heard anymore as of yet. Anyone else have any thoughts on her weight loss?

J_Pen's photo
Thu 01/17/08 04:28 PM
Not to try to scare you sweetie!!! But, my dad has Lung Cancer, and I do know that dramatic weight loss, can be a symptom...She should definitely go to her doctor and get a chest scan, as soon as possible.

Medic_Ronnie's photo
Thu 01/17/08 04:29 PM
unintentional weight loos is a symptom of emphysema,im not exactly sure why,but if you would like some web sites to check out just message me and ill get a list together

MsTeddyBear2u's photo
Thu 01/17/08 04:31 PM
Edited by MsTeddyBear2u on Thu 01/17/08 04:32 PM
Her weight lose is due to her breathing diffaculties.
Only God knows when her time is up.
Love her and spend alot of time with her. The disease will
eventually kill her. Not a whole lot you can
do- just love her and be there for her.
She is going to need you for support... :heart:


Sorry to hear... :cry: flowerforyou
I will pray for her.

no photo
Thu 01/17/08 04:32 PM
Thank you so very, very much for answering. It makes me terribly sad, because I've always been closer to my mom than I was to my dad and I'm concerned we might lose her. :( For years, I'd tried to talk to her about not smoking...but many people have vices and nagging doesn't do any good.

no photo
Thu 01/17/08 04:32 PM
Thank you so very, very much for answering. It makes me terribly sad, because I've always been closer to my mom than I was to my dad and I'm concerned we might lose her. :( For years, I'd tried to talk to her about not smoking...but many people have vices and nagging doesn't do any good.

no photo
Thu 01/17/08 04:33 PM
Sorry for the double posting, am upset.

no photo
Thu 01/17/08 04:34 PM
Thank you for the prayers, too. Unfortunately, I can't :( spend time with her. We don't have a car, and she's in another state, but I do email her a lot.

Enya's photo
Thu 01/17/08 04:37 PM
All I know is that rapid wieght loss and loss of appetite are possibly caused by these...............

CANCER
AIDS
HIV
HEPATITUS B/C
EMPHYSEMA
KIDNEY FAILURE
DIABITES
ANOREXIA
DEPRESSION


My advice...tell her to see her Dr. A.S.A.P. SOS!

no photo
Thu 01/17/08 06:33 PM
All I know is that rapid wieght loss and loss of appetite are possibly caused by these...............

CANCER
AIDS
HIV
HEPATITUS B/C
EMPHYSEMA
KIDNEY FAILURE
DIABITES
ANOREXIA
DEPRESSION


My advice...tell her to see her Dr. A.S.A.P. SOS!

She was going to see a doctor today. She also has a habit of not telling me what exactly the doctor says, but I suspect emphysema because of the smoking and the fact she's had the bad cough for years, plus she's had pneumonia a couple of times in the past year or so and was put on oxygen at least once.

Amberdee29045's photo
Thu 01/17/08 06:56 PM
my mother has emphesyma, and just lost part of her lung due to cancer, i really don't know what to say except that try to convince her to at least slow down on her smoking.......my mom now smokes one third of what she used to smoke....one pack a day versus three to four....i'll be prayin for y'all

Journey2008's photo
Thu 01/17/08 07:07 PM

All I know is that rapid wieght loss and loss of appetite are possibly caused by these...............

CANCER
AIDS
HIV
HEPATITUS B/C
EMPHYSEMA
KIDNEY FAILURE
DIABITES
ANOREXIA
DEPRESSION


My advice...tell her to see her Dr. A.S.A.P. SOS!

She was going to see a doctor today. She also has a habit of not telling me what exactly the doctor says, but I suspect emphysema because of the smoking and the fact she's had the bad cough for years, plus she's had pneumonia a couple of times in the past year or so and was put on oxygen at least once.


Can you call her doctor?? Get the infor right from them?

CFAFirey's photo
Thu 01/17/08 09:49 PM
Sorry to burst your bubble, but HELLLLOOOO!!!!, shes been smoking for 40 years, by my calculations, thats 40 years too long.
Face facts, save your money on doctors bills and put it towards a donation to the Cancer Council Funds, my god, instead of praying for her now, you should have started praying when she began smoking that she should give them up.
Best thing you can do is cut her lungs out and display them to anyone who does or thinks about taking the cancer sticks up.
What the hell does it matter how much she weighs if she cant breath?explode

no photo
Fri 01/18/08 06:49 AM
Edited by RomanticSoul on Fri 01/18/08 06:49 AM
To the "man" that said this: Sorry to burst your bubble, but HELLLLOOOO!!!!, shes been smoking for 40 years, by my calculations, thats 40 years too long.
Face facts, save your money on doctors bills and put it towards a donation to the Cancer Council Funds, my god, instead of praying for her now, you should have started praying when she began smoking that she should give them up.
Best thing you can do is cut her lungs out and display them to anyone who does or thinks about taking the cancer sticks up.
What the hell does it matter how much she weighs if she cant breath?


Isn't this a little harsh? My mother is human, just as yours is. I love her, as is. Can you say the same about others? I was little when she started smoking, so how could I possibly have prayed for her then? Since you seem to know all the answers, I can't wait to see what you say to that! And, she did go to the doctor and she probably has pneumonia again. All they can do is give her antibiotics and cough syrup with codeine, but it's more than likely she's getting this sick because of something else. By the way, my kids know the dangers of smoking and they will never smoke. However, my 3 siblings all smoke, so do you want to yell at them? Go for it.

Amberdee29045's photo
Fri 01/18/08 12:52 PM

Sorry to burst your bubble, but HELLLLOOOO!!!!, shes been smoking for 40 years, by my calculations, thats 40 years too long.
Face facts, save your money on doctors bills and put it towards a donation to the Cancer Council Funds, my god, instead of praying for her now, you should have started praying when she began smoking that she should give them up.
Best thing you can do is cut her lungs out and display them to anyone who does or thinks about taking the cancer sticks up.
What the hell does it matter how much she weighs if she cant breath?explode


just cuz her mother smokes, doesn't mean she does.........she didn't ask her mom to smoke, just like i didn't ask mine........all i can say is try to gently coax her to slow down......not quit cold turkey, she's been smoking way too long for that.....mine's been smoking for 51 years and she's only 61.

no photo
Fri 01/18/08 05:27 PM
I tried for years to talk to my mom about smoking, and her doctor too. She has tried to slow down on it, but gets stressed and it gets bad again.

unsure's photo
Fri 01/18/08 06:43 PM
OMG people!! Did you all read what you posted before you posted it? Good Lord you all sound so damn rude!
If I was you, I would ask you mother to give permission to talk to her doctor and then call and talk to him. I personally go in and talk to my moms doctor but I know you can not do this. My mother also has all kinds of health problems and yes she did smoke BUT she gave it up when she had to have open heart surgery.
There are lots of reasons why your mom could be losing weight. Maybe she has just cut back on her calorie intake? If she is a diabetic like my mom, just cutting back makes them lose a little weight. My mother has just recently lost 35 pounds, she isn't feeling well BUT I promise you she doesn't have all the things you are listing!! For crying out loud lets just scare this woman to death and make her think her mother has cancer and aids!!
I suggest just calling the doctor and finding out whats going on instead of sitting there in the dark. Most doctors will take the time and tell you exactly whats going on and explain to you what needs to be done!! I wish you luck because I know just how precious mothers really are! flowerforyou

Amberdee29045's photo
Fri 01/18/08 06:49 PM

OMG people!! Did you all read what you posted before you posted it? Good Lord you all sound so damn rude!
If I was you, I would ask you mother to give permission to talk to her doctor and then call and talk to him. I personally go in and talk to my moms doctor but I know you can not do this. My mother also has all kinds of health problems and yes she did smoke BUT she gave it up when she had to have open heart surgery.
There are lots of reasons why your mom could be losing weight. Maybe she has just cut back on her calorie intake? If she is a diabetic like my mom, just cutting back makes them lose a little weight. My mother has just recently lost 35 pounds, she isn't feeling well BUT I promise you she doesn't have all the things you are listing!! For crying out loud lets just scare this woman to death and make her think her mother has cancer and aids!!
I suggest just calling the doctor and finding out whats going on instead of sitting there in the dark. Most doctors will take the time and tell you exactly whats going on and explain to you what needs to be done!! I wish you luck because I know just how precious mothers really are! flowerforyou


sorry romantic, if i scared you half to death, i'm just telling you what happened with my mother. i've been there too.

RichEm's photo
Fri 01/18/08 07:20 PM
To RomanticSoul, First, I'm sorry about your mother and her lung problems. I do have lung problems from smoking as I quit 10 years ago. The problems I have will be with me for the rest of my life, and I'm living with it. My only advise to you is, go to a website - WWW.dailystrength.org. Click under - Communities. Then click under - Lungs and Respiration. Join the group and you will be suprised the support you will get. I'm only trying to help, so good luck. Rich

no photo
Sat 01/19/08 07:12 AM
Thank you, most everyone, for your responses. It's helped me, tremendously. Even though mom made her choice to smoke, I love her and my kids do, too, of course. She's made me laugh so many times in the past, that most people would never understand why. She was diagnosed with emphysema years ago (she claimed it's mild), but...she has that bad cough that goes with it. She is diabetic, borderline, and the weight loss could have been good if it wasn't so much in possibly a short time.

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