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How Long Does A Person With Diabetes, Congestive Heart Failure And COPD Have To Live?
Question: My sister is 55 years old and suffers from type 2 diabetes, congestive heart failure, copd and is about 300lbs. She can not stand for more than 20 seconds without her oxygen level going into the 80's with 2 liters of oxygen. Is she nearing the end? We don't want to put her in a home if we can avoid it.
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Good day.
Sorry to hear about your sister. She seems to be in Cor Pulmonale due to COPD. Sorry to say, but looking at her oxygen saturation, she seems very unwell.
. An ABG ( arterial blood gas) would give an idea about her blood gases. If she is acidotic, the end is not very far.She would need continuous oxygen and comfort care.
regards
Binu
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Good day.
Sorry to hear about your sister. She seems to be in Cor Pulmonale due to COPD. Sorry to say, but looking at her oxygen saturation, she seems very unwell.
. An ABG ( arterial blood gas) would give an idea about her blood gases. If she is acidotic, the end is not very far.She would need continuous oxygen and comfort care.
regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your response. Can you give me an idea of timeframe?? Could it be days or years? I ask because we'd like to move her home if possible, but might consider assisted living. She does need continuous oxygen and she's been in and out of the hospital for the past year. Does she need to take a test? Who would perform that? Her Pulmonalogist (sp?) She has so many doctors now and not sure who to ask?
Thanks in advance,
XXXX
Thanks in advance,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to accurately predict it. Having seen her for years, the pulmonologist would be the best person to assess her functional status and he may be able to give you a more realistic time frame. However, from the description, it is months not years.
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to accurately predict it. Having seen her for years, the pulmonologist would be the best person to assess her functional status and he may be able to give you a more realistic time frame. However, from the description, it is months not years.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
They have now taken her off her steroids and they are having trouble keeping her to 90 oxygen saturation when resting. They have added to additional nebulizer treatments just to keep her at 90. They said if they keep her on the steroids her bones with break, but I know that's helping her breathing. Is there any chance her heart and lungs will recover with the physical therapy they are doing with her?
Best,
XXXX
Best,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Good morning,
COPD changes are chronic ( unlike Asthma) and the lung and heart changes are often irreversible. If the worsening of her codition is due to an infection, then there ca be a partial improvement on treatin the infection and by using steroids. Otherwise the changes of Corpulmonale is irreversible. If she require steroids, they can use it and taper over a period. The concern of bone problems are genuine. They can use calcium, vitamin D and bisphosphonates to protect her bone ( atleast partially). Ofcourse we have to avoid a fall.
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Good morning,
COPD changes are chronic ( unlike Asthma) and the lung and heart changes are often irreversible. If the worsening of her codition is due to an infection, then there ca be a partial improvement on treatin the infection and by using steroids. Otherwise the changes of Corpulmonale is irreversible. If she require steroids, they can use it and taper over a period. The concern of bone problems are genuine. They can use calcium, vitamin D and bisphosphonates to protect her bone ( atleast partially). Ofcourse we have to avoid a fall.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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