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Followup To
Question - One more question and I promise to quit, could these calcifications be from exposure to asbestos or silicosis, because he has been exposed for years to those substances, and will the heat and his lack of oxygen have the possiblity of giving him a stroke? I'm sorry that was two questions....but I'm so worried. Thanks for your help. Melanie
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Followup To
Question - Thanks so much for your help and I am concerned about a couple of things. First, my husband is still trying to work and he works outside in the southern heat and humidity, around dangerous chemicals and fumes from repairing railcars. He only has 6 months disability insurance out there and he's afraid that he will not be able to get on medicare disability after that much is gone. He also believes that the more he uses the oxygen, the more he will need it, I don't know if that's true. And, also, with the August heat coming up, I'm afraid he may have a heat stroke out there and die. Is that a possiblity? I need to know all the risks so I can prepare his daughters, 24 and 18 and myself. Thank you for your honesty and help. Melanie Easley
Hi,
My husband was diagnosed several years ago with COPD, but recently it has gotten much worse, even though he quit smoking in January of this year. The doctor has put him on Oxygen and breathing treatments here at home. The doctor also did an MRI of his lungs this past Wednesday and says that he has severe COPD with calcifications. What is calcifications and what can cause it? We are, also concerned since his condition is rapidly getting worse, what can we expect to be the next stage of this to be like. My husband is only 49 and we've been married 25 yrs, and expecting our first grandchild in October...he and I both are terrified what will happen to him and how quickly. Thank you for your help. Melanie Easley
Answer -
Hi Melanie,
Calcifications are due to scarring of the lungs from the COPD. He should be on a multi drug regimen to control symptoms as much as possible. Unfortunately COPD doesn't get better. The best you can do is to treat it aggressively and hope to hold it off for now. If he is on Oxygen now then his condition is getting close to what is called 'end-stage'. He may have to be wheelchair bound as he'll have no stamina to get around even with Oxygen.
I'm sorry for the bad news but you need to know so you can plan around his illness.
Answer -
Hi Melanie,
He really needs to stay away from humidity if at all possible. He also needs to limit his exposure to anything that might set off an exacerbation of his disease such as toxic inhalants. He also should know that he will not get dependent on the oxygen the longer he uses it. That doesn't happen.
As his disease progresses, he will undoubtedly develop flare ups of his disease that might require hospitalization for treatment. He will need increasing doses of meds to keep him at baseline function. You also should decide whether or not he wants to be put on a breathing machine should his lung function get so bad as to need that. The first impulse is to d that but you really need to look at the long term and what the complications are and if he would ever be able to get off the machine should he be put on it. The same needs to be decided for resuscitation should his heart stop while in the hospital. These are all VERY difficult things to decide but his overall well being is the first priority. I would strongly encourage you two to discuss all these things with his treating physician so every thing is in place.
AnswerHi Melanie,
The only way to tell if this is due to asbestos or silicosis is to biopsy the lung.
There is no treatment for a cure if it is either of these causes.
Lack of oxygen could potentially cause a stroke, but is more likely to cause death of brain cells first.
