Kellie, I think you are concentrating way too much on the life expectancy part of your diagnosis. I don't really think there is a life expectancy. You could just as easily walk out to your mailbox and get hit by a hit and run driver as die from your emphysema in 40 years from now. My mom was diagnosed with emphysema at least 20 years ago. I don't think it was severe when she was first diagnosed, and I don't think she really understood what it was: I still don't think she does, because when I talk about it, she doesn't seem to worry about it. Or, maybe it's just that she doesn't worry about it. I do know she doesn't know much about it because when I was diagnosed, I asked her about it and she didn't have any answers.
Anyway, what I'm getting at, is she was diagnosed at least 20 years ago. She has severe emphysema to the point that she was put on 24/7 oxygen about 4 years ago. She quit smoking about 5 years ago, and she doesn't get any exercise what so ever. But about 6 months ago, after being quit from cigarettes for almost 5 years, she was able to wean herself off the oxygen. By not smoking, her lungs were able to do some healing and she was able to breathe better.
Just because we are diagnosed with emphysema, it doesn't mean we are going to die from it. It doesn't mean we have 5-10-15-20 years left to live. We could live 30-40-50 years or more with this disease as long as we do what we can to stay smoke free, try to eat foods that are lung healthy, and try to get at least a minimum amount of exercising. Walking is one of the best exercises we could do. And it's something we could do at all times of the year too. Most major malls have special hours just for walkers before the stores open. So we can't use the excuse that's it's too hot or too cold outside, or that we don't have a treadmill.
As far as the side effects you are having, I would either call your doctor, or if your doctor is not available, or even if he/she is, ask your pharmacist about the side effects you are having. Often times a pharmacist knows more of the side effects than the doctors do. I don't take any of the meds you do. I'm on Proventil (albuterol) for my rescue inhaler, and Serevent for my powdered inhaler. I couldn't take the Advair because it made my body ache too bad. And I don't take Spiriva. Maybe because I'm still at the moderate stage, I don't know. The tingling in your extremeties, I would ask your Doc or Pharmacist about soon too. It could be nothing, because of the exercise, or it could be another side effect from the meds. Either way, because it is new since starting these meds, they need to know about it.
I have never had my oxygen saturation level checked like that so I don't know what is normal. Did he say why he was checking your oxygen level at night like that?
For better answers to these questions, you might want to write down your questions and take that list with you the next time you go to the doctor. And add to it when something else pops up that you would like to know. I'm sure you won't be the first person with a list of questions, or the last. The best patients, are the well-informed ones. Because when you don't know, you panic, and that's not good for you either.
Sorry I couldn't help you more, maybe somebody else can help you better. Please take care of yourself.
