My mom has COPD, how long does a person live with just half of their lungs working?

I have COPD and am 56. I have had asthma all of my life, and my son has it also. It has increased for me with age, but the one thing you need to know is that it CAN be controlled to a certain extent and there should be a plan in place for when your mom gets a cough or a slight sniffle. I have a very full and busy life although I know there are times when I need to start medications or just go to bed. There is not a time limit on my life. Your mother's main issue is the smoking. Just being around smokers can send my son or me to the ER. Your mother can have a life, but no one can tell you how long. The first thing that has to be addressed is the choice to smoke. Only you and your mom can decide if she wants to use the resources that are available to help her quit. I know it is so hard. I have watched family members struggle, and you both have my concern and prayers. Start asking for all of the help and resources the hospital can give you. I have a respiratory therapist I use, I have a peak flow meter that I use to warn me of upcoming possible problems, and I have a list of steps I take to reduce the need for hospital stays. Suggestions: 1. Ask for a peak flow meter from the hospital or doctors and ask for help with learning how to use it. 2. Ask for a plan from the doctor when certain symptoms are present with your mom. 3.Search the computer for COPD and print out articles to read if you can. Highlight the encouraging phrases as well as the basic information. I am so sorry you have been afraid about this. Write to me anytime. I can assure that there are things I can no longer do like hike the Appalachian Trail, but I can walk and enjoy the beauty of my family's farm. I have to rest more often, but I read, write, and stay in contact with friends. Don't give up. Please stay in touch. I promise I am praying. Rebecca

I too have COPD and as it's been said, smoking IS the very first issue that needs to be addressed! I smoked for close to 50 years before quitting. My husband and I had tried many methods over the years to no avail. I've always believed in God but just never went to church regularly nor even prayed regularly! About a year after my husband passed, I was drinking my coffee, and smoking, when I felt compelled to ask God to please take the desire for cigarettes from me. Quitting a habit like this is never really easy, no matter what, but the first thing you need to do is get serious about it! I really don't remember exactly when it was, but I got up one day, lit my cigarette and suddenly I just didn't want it. That was back in 2007 and I haven't smoked since! My main point is, for me, the best "patch" was God Himself. He saw in my heart that I was serious....THIS time; apparently I wasn't as serious as I had thought all those times I had tried in the past (with patches and pills). I was diagnosed with COPD in 2004, but kept smoking. I was a "die-hard" smoker and that's putting it mildly! There was a time when I'd give up eating before I'd quit smoking. When my adult sons suddenly realized one day that I wasn't smoking, they even quit! Actually, they just quit...no pills, no patches and not even any "divine intervention" to my knowledge, even though I'd been praying they'd quit as well! As it's been said, there are many resources out there to help with smoking cessation; prayer worked for me, but I'm not claiming it will for everyone, especially given the fact that not everyone has a belief in God. However, no matter quit smoking, the main thing is quitting! A large part of smoking is a mind set, after all. Some say people gain weight if they stop smoking; I'm here to say that's an old wives' tale...I never did and neither did either of my sons! IF you're convinced in your mind that it will...then it will! Simple as that. I'm sure the suggestion of weight gain has stopped many people from quitting. If you really want to help your mother, quit smoking and help her to do the same. No one lives forever, but I believe life with COPD can be lengthened a little once that "habit" is broken. Actually, I doubt that I'd still be here had I chose to keep smoking and I thank God all the time for saving my life!

am i been selfish i an 60 years old saved all my life for my wife and i to enjoy our pension days 5 years ago she was told that she has copd she is one of thoes ladys that always looked after herself i am mad becouse we will not be able to emjoy our last days together and i dont see a life without her but i cannot tell her it breakes my hart we were married she 16 and i 19 i dont know how i will go on without her guys please dont think i am feeling sorry for myself i just dont have any one to talk to and am so scared

I'm so sorry, and the first thing you should do is not panic! When you are calmer, it's easier to listen to your doctor and learn exactly what you need to do. Also, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York has a video on living with COPD that can help you make some quick changes around the house that could make a world of difference to your mom.
Stav

If she doesn't quit smoking she will further damage her lungs and die sooner than if she stops smoking. Is she on oxygen? Has anyone suggest an electronic cigarette gadget in lieu of real cigarettes? Wellbutrin helps ease the nervous side effects of withdrawal.

50% capacity in neuromusclar diseases is pretty good, most people will not even have symptoms, but some preventive care is in order like always getting flu shots and maybe doing a chest PT program, and reacting more promptly and with more likelhood of getting antibiotc treatment to any infections. It may be a little different with COPD but I do not think 50% is approaching a terminal condition. E cigs or at least the patches are covered under some plans, and some heatlh depts or other resources are available to help with the quitting, which yes, you both ought to do. We lost my daugther's Nana's hubby, sort of a surrogate grandfather to her, to COPD due to smoking...he unfortunately stayed addicted and caring for him while he was on oxygen for the last years of his life put Nana in the hosital with asthma too at leawt once. (Don't get me wrong, kicking smoking is one of the hardest addictions to beat, physiologically speaking) and it really is hard on them and also on others around them who can be made quite ill with smoke as well.

No, not at all selfish - but don't give up on enjoying life despite COPD. I will be praying she is not taken away from you any time soon, and I hope she gets the best medical care, equipment, and management for it and does well and feels good for a long time to come. Hugs...

Widow44, I had the same problem when I signed up. I received 13 notifications of the same answer! I discontinued all the notifications, waited a few days, then resigned up. Now I just get one notification per post. I did e-mail the Admins but haven't had a response yet.

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thanks guys its good to know that there are poeple that under stand blees you all