Greetings Everyone,
I just joined the join an I am eager to learn more. Please bear with me as I become more acclimated.
My wife was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency about 10 - 12 years ago. (We believe she has had it for Dark longer than that ). About 5 years ago, she was placed on an Oxygen Concentrator. About 6 weeks ago, she had to go to the ER and she was placed on 24/7 Oxygen.
She currently has E-cylinders, but this has tremendously circumscribed her activity. As most of you know, the E-cylinders are cumbersome and only last for 5 hours. The provider of the cylinders has limited the number of cylinders she can get and the frequency of delivery. (Now they are saying 1 delivery per month.)
We are novices and would appreciate any advice you can give us re:
1. Alternatives to E-cyinders I e , types of devices, eligibility requirements, cost, Medicare coverage, etc.)
2. Implanting Stents. Requirements for eligibility. Pros and Cons. Costs. Pain? Medicare coverage
3. Medicare. Best ways to deal with them. How to minimize bureaucracy? Etc.
4. How to avoid/minimize depression and frustration resulting from our new circumstances ?
I would like to thank the gentleman who wad kind enough to give me some initial advice and made me aware of this website
Any information you can give me with respect to any of the questions I have posed will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much