What exactly is Pulmonary Rehab? Is this something that must be prescribed by your pulmonary doctor? Is it covered by insurance?

Thanks for any information....I'm gathering data before my next appointment which is on Monday:}

Have any of you who are in Pulmonary rehabilitation (or have already been) participated in harmonica therapy as part of your program? If you did do you think it was helpful?

Oxygen is not being considered by public health respiroligist because it can be addictive but morphine is to trick brain that I am not feeling very short of breath. I can walk comfortably for 4- 5 minutes, blood oxygen is usually 95- 96 at rest, but drops into mid to low 80's when walk further or doing housework.

I was diagnosed almost 2 years ago. I am not having a lot of problems breathing yet but some days are worse than others. When I was told I had COPD the Dr told me it was very mild and as long as I quit smoking it would not create much of a problem for many, many years. But she never mentioned any kind of rehab or advice other than quitting smoking. I guess she figured since I didn't have insurance that it wouldn't matter because I would never be able to afford it. I certainly feel better since… read more

Hello: I've been getting CT scans for about 6 years to rule out hereditary lung cancer (paternal side of family). All scans have come back no issues annually. This week however, my ct scan results showed this "background emphysematous change"; then my doctor added the note "CT Scan shows emphysema". I'm a bit freaked out right now as my knowledge of this illness is that it's a death sentence. I do have a lot of wheezing and have had this for about the last year. However, I can walk a couple of… read more

I just never thought I would go from 02 overnight to 24/7 in a few months, and I am struggling with knowing what I can expect, without a crystal ball. I am nearly 74 and not overweight but I missed the opportunity to do the pulmonology rehab when I was released from the hospital last year from an abscess in my right lung that didn't have anything to do with my COPD. Over the years I just did less and less, especially in the heat, and my main struggle was walking uphill at all. A huge part of… read more

After being diagnosed with COPD 2 years ago, I went to the emergency room last week and the dr. said that the xrays showed what he thought was lung cancer. A CT scan was done and the results he said didn’t show cancer, but definitely something concerned him enough that he said I needed to see a critical care lung dr. immediately. He said it wasn’t pneumonia but some type of bacteria showed up.