Hi Delyse,
Really glad to hear from you. I did hear from another lady.
>
>Hello everyone,especially Dot (Ohio) who like me has only just joined the
group.
>I think we might be the only active members at the moment Dot !!!!
>A little about myself: I am a 53 year old female, diagnosed with emphysema
and
>asthma the day my first grandchild was born..(June 1996).

That is a terrible time to be told you have asthma and emphy.

My specialist said I was an excellent canditate for Lung Reduction surgery
and as part of the prerequisite I was enrolled into the 12week
rehabilitation programme.

I went through the 12 wk program, and you are right it made a
real big difference, and now I am in the 2 times a week
ongoing maintenance group. I can do most of my housework
too, and i can grocery shop.

Maybe when I am ready, more will be known about it and the success stories
will be more numerous.

I have a friend that just had the LVRS, and the statistics we had
heard hear about 50% survival rate through the surgery. Paul
had his done, and 3 other people as well. 2 lived through the
surgery, and my friend was one of them. He so far, is looking
just great, and the most wonderful color. I can't possibly have that because
I have a second lung disease, Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis that
disqualifies me.

I tried to quit smoking several times, and failed, and finally I
made it.

I sent this to you personally because I didn't know if we were
allowed to send personal email to each other on the list. I am
on another Lung list, and they don't like to have that happen
too much.

Just keep on being positive and keep trying and eventually it will happen if
you really want it to. I also used the nicotine patches each time I tried to
quit and they definately helped me with the cravings.

We do definetely need to be positive in our attitudes. I don't
always succeed, but I sure try. And it would be nice to see
some activity on the list. Well, maybe I can think,.or you can
think of a question that may get the list going. That is a
good question about the LVRS.

Hope to hear from you again.
Dot of Ohio