Emphysema

[Janet]

Rick has been diagnosed with emphysema. He has been feeling bad for quite some time, but really bad this past weekend. His symptoms were chest tightness, loss of breath, dizziness, numbness in his arms some, so today while at work I guess he got really frightened by his shortness of breath thinking maybe he was having a heart attack. He called me asking if he should go to the ER. You all know me so I said "well duh Rick, what do you think?" Anyway, I met him at the IU Hospital (same one I was always at with Mom and where she passed). They did an EKG, blood draw and something else and then did a stress type test where he was all hooked up and on a treadmill. It also took pictures of his heart lungs, etc. Well, he only lasted 90 seconds on the treadmill and his blood pressure when over 200. He has been referred to a pulmonary specialist and has to call them first thing in the morning.

His dad also had emphysema.

Not sure how I feel about this. I hope they can help him. This will sound bad, but I don't want to be his nurse. I have compassion for him, but no love. Guess time will tell.