Yes they are worth having
Saved my life
Ask your dr or hospital about
Pulmonary therapy
That is where you learn how and when to breathe
Slow and steady we go
Never alone
Prayers go out for us all

I've been going for Pulmonary Therapy since April. I can't emphasize what a difference it has made in my life. Ask your doctor where you can go and write you an order.

Mark,,absolutely necessary you learn everything about your disease...Your RT is the single most important starting point.....Here is the link..

http://www.copdfoundation.org/What-is-COPD/Livi...

I agree it is well sort asking for one, I would certainly recommend having one.

Respiratory Therapists are health professional trained in specific treatments for lung diseases. They are often employed by a pulmonologist to do spirometry and Pulmonary Function Tests. They are the people who are usually in charge of Pulmonary Rehabilitation programs. They do breathing treatments in hospitals. They have to work under the supervision of a doc, so they're not people you would typically have an appointment with unless it was for a treatment or test. You wouldn't have an RT necessarily assigned to you, but they are the people who often have time to answer questions and do a lot of patient education. We do need them and need more and more good ones!