Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi! Looking for any info regarding the stem cell treatment for lungs. It is very pricey but well worth any price if it works! Thank you for any input. I have asthma, BX and pseudamonas
1 like, 4 replies
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elizabeth49611 debra64041
Posted
debra,
I had the stem cell treatment in Dec of 2015. I had it done at The Lung Institute in Nashville, TN.
I'm a 67 yr old female and have had lung issues for 30 yrs. Diagnosed with Bronchiectasis 5 yrs ago.
As you know it is pricey. I had the aggressive procedure, using my blood and bone marrow ($12,000).
My health has always gone like a roller coaster. There are weeks when I feel really good, when slowly health declines: more congested and coughing, pneumonias, hospital stays, bronchoscopies to clear the lungs. Then slowly I start to feel better. Up and down.
For the first few months after the stem cell treatment, I didn't notice any improvement or change. But, it's been a year and a half and I can say that I have not had a hospital stay, pneumonia or a bronchoscopy. A record for me.
I don't know if it's from having the treatment, or that I retired two years ago (less stress and I take better care of myself) or that we moved to an area that has better air quality. Or that I'm just taking better care of myself.
My roller coaster health has started to level out for the past several months and my pulmonary specialist says that my breathing tests are improving over the past year to the point that they are almost to the normal person range.
I've even managed to decrease my meds. Went from 40mg of prednisone a day to 10mg. I use my nebulizer twice a day for maintenance (was up to 4 times a day). And I exercise regularly.
My husband and I had to think long and hard in making the decision for the treatment. But, my thought is that even if it didn't work for me, I would be a part of the process of finding a cure.
Beth
sue00942 elizabeth49611
Posted
Did they give you any information about further treatment? ie whether u
may requie further treatment to continue to improve ?
elizabeth49611 sue00942
Posted
Sue,
For several months after the treatment, I took special 'vitamins' and nebulizer med to help boost the stem cells. It was recommendied that after a year or two, to go back for another treatment. They did call me a year later to see if I wanted another treatment, but I decline, I hadn't been feeling well for some time, so I felt it wouldn't do me any good. But as I stated the past few months, I have felt really good. So maybe it just took awhile longer for the stem cells to do their work.
I get the impression that you live in the UK. I live in the states. You may want to contact this website (British Lung Foundation) or local Universities that might have research studies/trials. It seems that Bx is better known in the UK than in the states.
Beth
terri24729 debra64041
Posted
Debra, My mom has bronchiecstasis and pulmonary fibrosis. April 2016 she had stem cell at the Pittsburgh Lung Institute (several locations now across the US). Her July 2016 breathing tests showed marked improvement, but unfortunately she became ill in Novermber 2016 after her second treatment in July 2016 (due to osteoporosis she could not do the marrow treatement) and that seemed to stop the improvement she was seeing. My dad and I both believe it did help both her conditions as the decline seems to have slowed. She is doing a new thing, 2 T of whiskey a day and both she and dad think it is helping her coughing and mucus! I am a strong believe in stem cell from all the reading that I have done and say do it ... one day the government will stop being hostage to the drug companies who sure as heck don't want stem cell to succeed. Praying for you!