I was hospitalized in 2015 for being unable to walk for more than a few feet without having to stop and catch my breath. I was immediately placed in the cardiac critical care ward with a heart monitor attached 24/7 for 8 days. The final diagnosis was COPD.
My lungs had become so inflamed/enlarged that they were squeezing my heart and caused damage to my heart muscle. Once I started dealing with my COPD and finding there was no real treatment for the disease, I decided to enroll in every clinical study I could.
This story is about the Gala Airway Treatment System study. They burn away some of the diseased tissue in both lungs to see if the tissue that grows back is still diseased or not. Two years after the procedure, my improvement is nothing short of incredible. Before, I was on supplemental oxygen most of the time. Currently, I haven't had the need for supplemental oxygen for weeks. My FEV1 score has gone from 31% to 39%. My pulmonologist said that the other participants in the study were experiencing the same results and that the procedure is expected to be approved for use within a year or two.
My COPD is still active and I am easily out of breath on bad days doing something as simple as climbing a flight of stairs. But why lungs recover quickly now. My emphysema continues unabated, but I'll happily take whatever relief I can find for however long it lasts!
While I credit the GALA study procedure for the majority of my improvement, I feel part of that improvement also stems from losing 45 pounds and keeping active. My blood oxygen levels climb substantially for hours after activities like mowing the lawn. For years I've felt lucky just to reach a new year. Now I no longer measure my life expectancy in one year increments. I don't know how long I have but I'm more willing to make long-range plans for the first time since my diagnosis. I'm a happy camper!
