Hi Delyse and Dot,
You are not alone on this list but there never seems to be much
activity on it. Everyone has joined a more active Emphysema list called
Efforts, including me because I was looking for information on the lung
reduction surgery too. There is a big volumn of mail (almost too much)
and also some people on it who have had the surgery or are waiting for it
or have had transplants and are waiting on that too.
I am a 66 year old female who was a heavy smoker for years but
thankfully kicked the habit several years ago. I am on oxygen at night
and during the day when needed and 4 nebulizer treatments every day. I
can still function reasonable well if I take things easy and stop to
catch my breath every so often. I would have liked to get into one of the
NETT programs but the closest hospital to me that is doing them would be
St. Louis. I have too many responsibilities here to be away from home for
the amount of time it would take. Keep hoping maybe in the next year or
two it will be a more common procedure and not only will local hospitals
be doing them but also insurance and medicare will cover the costs. I
have talked to people who have had it done and most were very happy with
it.
Mary Bransford
Makami's Chins