10% lung capacity

[ChiCat]

When my Mom was in stage 4 emphysema, she was given morphine to help her breathe. I cannot remember the reason, but my sister is a respiratory therapist and she worked with the pulmonary Dr to manage the medications. I just remember that she needed ativan and morphine because she got extremely anxious when she could not find her breath. It was awful..

More than likely it just made her comfortable, her breathing was bad but she wasn't scared. If that makes sense but also breathing is a vicious cycle if you panic because you can't breathe then it makes your breathing worse and so on. So ativan helps with that.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Are you sure the "10%" refers to her lung function and not her heart function?

Morphine is often used in low doses for acute respiratory distress.

BiPap can do a good job in a short period of time to lower C02 levels.

Physicians and teams will ask for one "family spokesperson" with the idea that that person will communicate with other family members. However, I'm sure if your husband requested it and his mother agreed it was ok, that the attending physician could update him, too, and answer any questions he might still have. Once your DH does this, he could then decide whether to go up there.

Best of luck!

 

[phorsenuf]

Are you sure the "10%" refers to her lung function and not her heart function?

Morphine is often used in low doses for acute respiratory distress.

BiPap can do a good job in a short period of time to lower C02 levels.

Physicians and teams will ask for one "family spokesperson" with the idea that that person will communicate with other family members. However, I'm sure if your husband requested it and his mother agreed it was ok, that the attending physician could update him, too, and answer any questions he might still have. Once your DH does this, he could then decide whether to go up there.

Best of luck!

The Dr said she had 10% lung capacity. We called the Dr on Monday morning and were told he would call us back to speak with him regarding her condition. We still haven't heard anything from him.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The Dr said she had 10% lung capacity. We called the Dr on Monday morning and were told he would call us back to speak with him regarding her condition. We still haven't heard anything from him.

Call again.

 

[D. Padgett]

I too am not a doctor but this is through my own personal experiences and my own research. My father was first told 3 1/2 year ago that his lung capacity was only 24% and he had sepsis infection and that he wasn’t going to make it. They told us to call Hospice & that he would pass because they had nothing else they could do as he has COPD, Emphysema and also found out he had Lymphoma. Wanted us to call in Hospice and take him home. We did this as directed... the morphine kept him highly sudated and they kept increasing it. He was in that hospital bed in his living room of his home for 3 1/2 months, down to 76lbs. Well my father & step-mother both people of faith. Anyway he begged us not to give him anymore morphine that he was done with that stuff. Low and behold 2 days after being off morphine... he was alert & knew everyone around him. He got his mind back & wanted hospice gone. So we did as he asked. Went to his pulmonologist and cultured showed no new growth or sepsis infection. Now we are 3 1/2 years later and he is still with us. He is only working at 11% but He works in his yard, he still drives and is very active. All I can say is someone had a different plan for him and odds can be beat!!!! Thank you for letting me share my story and I put as it may help someone else get to have time to enjoy a family member or loved a few months or years longer.

 

[Praying Colonel]

OP, I went through this with both of my parents. My father died in 2008 from COPD after suffering with it and related illnesses for years. My mother died last month from metastatic lung cancer after also suffering with COPD for years. The ending was especially difficult for both of them, and the family. I'll keep your family in my prayers.

 

[SirDuff]

OP, I went through this with both of my parents. My father died in 2008 from COPD after suffering with it and related illnesses for years. My mother died last month from metastatic lung cancer after also suffering with COPD for years. The ending was especially difficult for both of them, and the family. I'll keep your family in my prayers.

The OP posted over four years ago.

 

[phamton]

Morphine is used a lot with COPD during a flare up. It really does help, especially with the anxiety. (just imagine not being able to breathe. The morphine relaxes you and makes it easier to breathe without fighting or anxiety) As far as the Co2 level being up, that is also common when a person with COPD is on oxygen. It is tricky keeping that balance. I imagine that the sleeping, not eating, and any confusion is from the CO2 levels and low O2 and not the morphine.

Oops didn't realize this was a zombie thread.

 

[Praying Colonel]

The OP posted over four years ago.

Thanks--didn't catch the date.

 

[piccolopat]

I agree. It sounds like she is steadily going downhill. If she does not have a DNR, don't be surprised if they go ahead and intubate her. I'm really sorry for you all.

Just wanted to speak to the texting--everyone approaches end of life stuff differently. When my dad was dying, I couldn't handle phone calls much so I did a lot of texting. Believe it or not, I totally forgot to call one of my sisters. She knew he was sick, but since she doesn't call or text, I somehow just let it slip my mind. I have 3 other sibs and none of them thought to call her either. So when my dad died, she was totally out of the loop. I was horrified when I realized what I'd done, but there was no taking it back. After that experience I came to see how each of us dealt with his death in very different ways.

You know, your sister could have called to see how your father was doing.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

ZOmbie

 

[runwad]

Ya but now I want to know what happened!

 

[anniemae]

I thought this was current then read a reply from MinkyDog. I thought maybe she came back.............

 

[phorsenuf]

The OP posted over four years ago.

Yep! It's been 4 years and she's still with us! In fact, we are heading off to TN on Sunday for a visit.

 

[okeydokey]

Yep! It's been 4 years and she's still with us! In fact, we are heading off to TN on Sunday for a visit.

Aw, so glad to hear a positive report.