You can make a difference! Presently, the Deficit Reduction Act calls for Medicare beneficiaries to take over ownership of their oxygen concentrators after 36 months of rental. It is then up to the oxygen user to determine if their equipment is work- ing properly. This leaves many unanswered questions as to travel needs, emergency equipment…
Respiratory News The Spanish pharmaceutical company, Almirall, is developing an inhaled dry powder medication for those with COPD they call aclidinium bromide. Brand names As an alternative to Lung Volume Reduction Surgery, several companies have been developing stents or valves that are placed in your airway during bronchoscopy to will be Eklira®/Bretaris. They…
Fibrosis File Pulmonary Fibrosis has been in the news recently. Ironically, we just lost death-defying Evel Knieval and also singer Robert Goulet to the disease. Dr. Steven Idell of Tyler, TX, has discovered an enzyme that carefully eliminates scar tissue and blood clots that inhibit lung function. It’s called single-chain urokinase plasmogen activator,…
Poetry Corner I was adjusting to being on O2 and had trouble learn- ing how to attach and detach the conserving device to my portable tanks. My daughter knew I like poems, so she wrote the directions in verse. Now I’m doing just fine! Conserving device … Green key-silver dome This is how…
Respiratory News London researchers have successfully implanted lung cells grown from embryonic stem cells into the lungs of mice. Stem cell therapy holds the hope of repairing diseased organs, such as the lung, with laboratory-grown tissue or cells. The British team had already cultivated lung cells and were testing to see if the cells…
Product Corner New POC! The portable oxygen concentrator (POC) selection will soon be increased to six. Invacare is introducing their XPO2 Portable Concentrator that weighs only six pounds. The unit is currently awaiting FDA approval and will offer pulse-dose- only settings from 1 to 5. The XPO2 measures ten inches high and has…
Sharing the Health For those of you who have access to the Internet, try visiting www.youtube.com and searching for COPD. There are several videos to watch – you might even want to try making one of your own to share with others! To save battery life when using a portable oxygen con- centrator, travelers…
Traveling Tales Some Airlines Not Helpful to Oxygen Users Jeri Mondloch of Minnesota is a frequent traveler de- spite being on oxygen. She has tried every form of oxy- gen known to man and flown on many, many airlines. Despite her small stature, she has scrapped with airline attendants, pilots and representatives about her…
EFFORTS member, Meryl, recently asked Mark about anesthesia for COPD people. Her recentpulmonary function test revealed an FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second) of 25% to 30% of normal. Mark replies: “While a FEV1 25% to 30% is low in…
Dear Dr. Bauer, I am wondering why my physician has not prescribed oxygen when I have such a hard time breathing! Sincerely, Sharon O’Brien of Colorado Many of my patients with lung disease ask “How can I be so short of breath, when my oxygen levels are still OK?” For those with emphysema or COPD,…