I was a heavy smoker, diagnosed with COPD in 2015, finally succeeded quitting smoking in 2017, now have severe lung damage (a lot of scarring / emphysema damage) and moderate to severe COPD test numbers. (I've attached the latest test scores.) Pulmonologist this week put my test numbers into a predictive tool that said 60% of people with my breathing scores die within 5 years. But he added that most people with my breathing scores are a lot older (I'm 65), many in their 80s, so they are more likely to die. Despite my scores, I work out using my Portable Oxygen Concentrator on the stair stepper up to 30 minutes (25 of those minutes at the lowest level, with POC on level 4-5), treadmill, bicycling, outdoor walks with hills (the hills requires frequent stopping due to O2 dropping). The pulmonologist said he never has had a patient with breathing scores like mine who was exercising like this.
I know there's no crystal ball. I know damage from emphysema is irreversible, and I understand that it's all downhill from here, at a faster rate than it is for people with healthy lungs. I also understand that if I get an infection like pneumonia, it will speed the decline. I'm exercising 4-6 days a week to slow the progression.
I'm guessing there are others out there in a similar situation, and just wonder what your experiences have been over time. Thank you in advance! (Tried to make the image smaller, but no success.)
