[71] [FEMALE] [CAUCASIAN] [5'2] [129 LBS]
My grandmother is currently in the hospital, she has COPD. When she was diagnosed about 9 years ago, her fev1 was 76. She stopped smoking (switched to vape) and has had little trouble since.
However, a couple weeks back I noticed that her o2 sats were dropping into the 73-88 range when moving around. She suddenly started coughing up green mucus yesterday (she usually never coughs) Turns out, she developed pneumonia. Yesterday, the doctor at the hospital gave her a test and said her lung function is 32%. She also possibly developed a partially collapsed lung (Atelactasis). My question is: will her o2/lung function return to normal after the pneumonia goes away, and after the partially collapsed lung reinflates? Please note that I don't know exactly what test was used yesterday to determine her lung function, she told me about it over the phone. Last month she was perfectly fine, rarely had to use o2, and her idle o2 was usually 91-94, going down into the 85-89 range sometimes during exertion. I'm very worried, please help. Thank you.
Also, are "severe emphysemous changes" on a CT something to really be concerned about? She's had COPD for at least 15 years now.