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The Best Pulmonary Care Doctor in the world!!

Eleanor driving us to the doctor appointments.

Roxanne, Carolina Respiratory Specialist

Dr. Peter L. Loper of Carolina Respiratory Specialists

Palliative Care Nurse Cathy

Palliative Care Nurse Karen

Dr. John Barkley Hospice/Palliative Care Charlotte Region

Carolina Respiratory Specialists, Medical Technician Pam

Going for doctor's appointments!

I first became aware that something was different in my life and health around the summer of l997. It was not a big difference-just "something." I still seemed as physically fit and able as before, but at the same time there was a little more effort involved. Of course much of that seemed perfectly natural because, after all, I was by that time 56 years old. So, mostly, I attributed those feelings and thoughts to old age and being somewhat physically out of shape. As is a normal response for most people, I would push myself just a little harder in order to prove that nothing was very wrong and that I could still function just the same. By October and November of l997, I knew my body was undergoing a dramatic change. Unbeknown to me the change had actually begun many years before but I was unaware of it until a certain physical limit had been reached.

By November l997, around Thanksgiving, I had a very terrible lung infection. I had already been to the doctors several times but things kept getting worse instead of better. Finally the doctors at Shiland Medical Clinic realized something more than they could handle was going on. I thank the Lord those doctors were ready to refer me to a specialist. If they had not, I am sure I would have died that year.

Dr. Rutledge at Shiland Medical decided I should see Dr. Peter Loper, at Carolina Respiratory Specialists in Charlotte, NC. At the hand and guidance of God, I truly credit Dr. Loper with saving my life and making it possible to live with considerable quality for those next 10 years. Dr. Loper informed me of the extreme seriousness of my condition. It was a disease classified as COPD, which is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This disease is composed of several conditions, most notably being emphysema and chronic bronchitis. However, in addition I also suffered from very chronic asthma and a condition known as bronchiectases.

A Little Bit of History

In bronchiectases the bronchi actually produce extreme amounts of mucus and phlegm in the bronchial tubes and fill the lungs with sticky fluid. It is very similar in its' effect on the body to the symptoms of cystic fibrosis, producing excess amounts of a fibrous mucus and "choking" or "drowning" a person in their own body fluids. Dr. Loper explained to me that this disease was incurable, but could be to some degree "treated and managed."

He was careful to explain that his goal was not healing, but extending my life as long as possible with the greatest degree of quality of life we could attain. He was always very upfront and straight forward with me. I was told that I would possibly be able to live about 5 or 6 more years with some serious effort, but that Dr. Loper could only make an estimate and encourage and support me - but the end result would be greatly influenced and dependent on my own efforts to be medically compliant and my willingness to stick to a difficult regimen and lifestyle changes.You can rest assured that Dr. Loper will certainly give all he can and be very willing to go the extra mile in effort. He has certainly earned my greatest confidence and admiration as a doctor.

Anyway, at the age of 56 or 57, I was looking forward to years of suffering with COPD, only to make it until maybe age 61 years or so. Even though there have been many serious incidents and battles over these past years, I am now 66 years old and have already exceeded original goals and life expectancy by about 5 years. Now that kind of time line (end of life) is hard upon me again and brings me to this point of reflections on life and death.