Mary, my husband is currently enrolled in the NETT (National Emphysema
Treatment Trial) at Ohio State University. Medicare is participating in
this program and pays lung reduction costs only for those from this program
who have been chosen (by computer) to receive the surgery. (half of the
participants)
He's been in the program for 6 weeks during which he's been receiving
pulmonary therapy--exercises and learning controlled breathing (all
monitored) along with information about his disease. He's made great
progress but still needs oxygen full time. He's hoping when his strength is
up to what is required, to be chosen to receive the lung reduction surgery
as that seems to be his only hope of not having to lug around an oxygen tank
for the rest of his life.
He's talked to a couple of people who have had this surgery recently,
and all agreed that it was the best thing they ever did--one lady started
off in a wheel chair and a year after her surgery, can walk three city
blocks and no longer needs an oxygen supply.
It's not know how long the effects of this surgery will last. This
program is offered by a number of participating universities throughout the
country. (To get the lung reduction surgery done on your own, I've heard,
is somewhere in the neighborhood of 50,000 dollars.) Hope this helps.
Contact me if there's any other way I can help you. Marian