Hi Mary,
Gee, I hope my message didn't put me in "bad-standing" with
the list.
My friend in Rehab, had been turned down 4 or 5 times for
consideration, mostly by his Dr, and told of this 50% rate, 2
other guy in Rehab had the same experience. Finally my friend
was accepted, I think it was into the NETT program, and he
went through examinations etc to qualify, and at the very end
was told he had been chosen to receive the LVRS instead of
the ongoing Rehab exercise. I believe that the other rejected
guys might have been too ill, or "how to say" it to qualify for the
LVRD. Their Drs had also told them of this high rate. My friend
was in a group of 4 guys that went through all this together, and
as I said, 2 guys passed on, 1 is doing fair, but my friend is
doing extremely well, It's like a miracle for him really. (He is also
married to my cousin) I did a little checking and it looks to me
as though the rates they give now are higher that a few years
ago. Of course, if someone is too ill, they would not be a good
risk for the surgery, and that's how the surgery gets the bad
figures. I was told in Rehab, that is why Medicare is considering
this to be experimental, I don't feel that way myself.
Here is a web site is good for info:
http://noairtogo.tripod.com/links.htm#LVRS
They seem to be much more encouraging on their rates.
I was diagonosed in 1994, and told(because of IPF) that I would
not make it more than 4 more years. I've made 5, and I think I
have a few more left. But, they do change their minds on these
things as Rehabs are more prevalent and there are better
meds and therapies.

I am sorry for the length and hope that you and anyone else
that wants the LVRS the very best of success with it.

My friend lives, as I do, 50 miles east of the Cleveland Clinic
where his LVRS was done. He was lucky enough not to have
to be in hosp until the actual day of surgery, in less than 1 week.

Dot of Ohio

From: MARY L BRANSFORD <bransf@...>
To: emphysema@onelist.com <emphysema@onelist.com>
Date: Sunday, November 21, 1999 10:29 AM
Subject: Re: [emphysema]


>From: MARY L BRANSFORD <bransf@...>
>
>Hi Dot,
> This is the first I've heard nearly 50 percent of people who have the
>surgery done, don't make it. I thought the average was a lot higher than
>that. I talked to one of the people promoting the NETT program at St.
>Louis on the phone not long ago. I am very interested in the surgery, but
>just don't see how I can do this program and be away from home for the
>lenght of time necessary, even if I qualified. I did ask what the costs
>would be if I decided to have the surgery done on my own. The answer to
>that was somewhere between $30,000.00 and $35,000.00.
> I have heard of the COPD list too. Just don't have time to read any
>more mail.
>Mary Bransford
>Makami's Chins
>