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Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.
Greg’s Story
Greg’s Story
Morrisville, Indiana
A husband, father, and retired Marine who is back to living his life to the fullest!
Procedure Details:
Age at Treatment: 64
Hospital: University of Louisville
Date of Procedure: June 2020
Life Before Zephyr® Valves:
Before COPD you couldn’t slow me down. I was in the Marine Corps, I played softball and basketball, did yardwork and building projects, and helped friends with their projects. Then in 2015 when I was in my late 50s, I had an episode where I lost my breath for about 30 seconds and my wife rushed me to the ER. We thought it was a heart attack, but they kept me overnight to run further tests including CT scans which showed the real problem was COPD/emphysema. Although I was a smoker, environmental factors contributed to my COPD too. I worked with heavy machinery and melded a lot of metal over the years.
When the emphysema hit, it destroyed me. I went from a very full life to a very limited existence quickly. I had to be on oxygen at night and while doing any activities around the house. My social life basically stopped. Even with an inhaler and oxygen, I still ran out of air when trying to hold a full conversation. I couldn’t walk 10 feet without being winded. I just kept wondering “what the heck is going to happen to me.” The disease affects your body and your mind. I would become very aggravated and frustrated about all the things I could no longer do. I don’t know how my wife Debbie put up with me.
We were originally told to think about a lung transplant, but we read the information on that and I just didn’t want to go through it. My sister also had emphysema and she found some information on the Zephyr Valves. We did our research and they were not doing Zephyr Valves in Indiana yet, so we went to Louisville, Kentucky. The nurse coordinator at University of Louisville, Crissie, explained everything in detail and I was all in — I had to try something.
Life After Zephyr Valves:
The procedure went very smooth. I went to sleep and next thing I know I’m waking up in my room. I stayed the required three days, had no complications, and was back home in Indiana the same week. From Saturday through Monday I didn’t feel like I had much life in me. Then on Tuesday morning, everything changed! I said to my wife “I am breathing!” and it has just gotten better and better every day. You can tell by looking at me that the hyperinflation in my lung is down.
I still use my inhalers, but I don’t need oxygen during the day and my oxygen stays around 95 without it. At night I use my CPAP machine. I’m back to getting things done around the house again and it feels great! Right now, I’m painting a big wooden deck that wraps around our house. We are also looking forward to my son getting married soon.
We would like you to thank Marcee at Pulmonx and, of course, Dr. Gauhar and Crissie at University of Louisville — they made my life and Debbie’s life a whole lot better.
“Before the valves I worried,” says Greg’s wife Debbie. “I still worked and hated to leave him home alone. Now I know he will be alright. I really am less worried, and life is just so much better for us both.”
Unfortunately, my sister, who first told me about the valves, passed away from the disease so it is important for me to share my story to let others know about this treatment option before it’s too late.
Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.
Complications of the Zephyr Endobronchial Valve treatment can include but are not limited to pneumothorax, worsening of COPD symptoms, hemoptysis, pneumonia, dyspnea and, in rare cases, death.
GLO-EN-746-v1
Jeffrey’s Story
Jeffrey’s Story
Concord, North Carolina
Paramedic who is back to enjoying his favorite hobby — fishing!
Procedure Details:
Age at Treatment: 61
Date of Procedure: June 2020
Life Before Zephyr® Valves:
I was diagnosed with COPD when I was about 50 years old. I have a busy job as a paramedic, and I am part of the opioid epidemic response team. I help patients by finding rehab facilities, passing out Narcan kits, and just letting them know our team is here for support. In my free time, I love to hunt and fish.
At first, my main COPD symptom was shortness of breath with exertion. I used three inhalers, but over the years I made some trips to the hospital due to some exacerbations and pneumonia. In the year before my valve procedure, I needed oxygen every night and had to keep it close by during the day.
Eventually, I had to give up my favorite hobbies including fishing. It was very difficult, and depressing. I got to the point where I was almost disabled. My wife became my caretaker and had to do so much for me. It was exhausting for her. This disease took a toll on both of us physically and mentally. I was desperate to find something to improve my condition, and our lives.
My pulmonologist had heard Dr. Zgoda speak at a seminar and thought I might be a candidate for the Zephyr Valves. I qualified in October 2019, but my insurance denied it. Marci, from the Pulmonx reimbursement team, was a godsend during the whole appeal process, and in June 2020 I got my Zephyr Valves!
Life After Zephyr Valves:
The procedure went great. When I woke up, I could feel the improvement right off the bat. I stayed in the hospital the required three days and then 30 minutes before being discharged, an x-ray showed signs of a pneumothorax so I ended up having a longer stay. Even though the collapse was small, it was stubborn. They put an additional valve in to alleviate it. I didn’t have any extreme pain though. I feel the team handled my care well.
I went back to work the day I got discharged! For the first four to five months after the procedure, I felt continued improvement. Now, that progress has leveled out, I feel great. I’ve had one flare up since my treatment, but I recouped faster, and I believe that is because of the valves.
I still take my regular medications, but rarely need the Ventolin®. I’m back to doing regular daily activities and my wife doesn’t need to be my caretaker anymore. I’ve been doing some yardwork and am very happy to be enjoying my favorite hobby again…fishing.
My wife is so much happier now. Life is looking up for us and I plan to retire next April. Another joy to look forward to — we are expecting our first grandchild in May 2021.
I had immediate relief and felt like I was a 40-year-old again. I’m enjoying things I haven’t been able to enjoy in a while. I would recommend the procedure for anyone who qualifies!
Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.
Complications of the Zephyr Endobronchial Valve treatment can include but are not limited to pneumothorax, worsening of COPD symptoms, hemoptysis, pneumonia, dyspnea and, in rare cases, death.
GLO-EN-780-v3
Gary’s Story
Gary’s Story
Monroe, Louisiana
Southern gentleman who is back to doing what he loves, spending time with family and a sweet dog.
Procedure Details:
Age at Treatment: 72
Hospital: Houston Methodist
Date of Procedure: September 2020
Life Before Zephyr® Valves:
There are many things I love about the life we’ve made in Louisiana — my wife, my daughter, my two grandchildren, and my dog, to name just a few. However, the one piece of my life that I didn’t love was a diagnosis I received nearly 20 years ago — COPD. Over the years, my breathing became worse, the list of medications I was taking kept growing, and my quality of life began to decline. Eventually I needed oxygen day and night and was forced to retire.
I lived an active lifestyle before my emphysema became severe. I loved keeping up with yard work, tasks around the house, and visiting with our beloved grandchildren and sweet dog, Chisel. But as my breathing began to worsen, those things became less and less. I am not a person who quits easily. Whenever they came out with a new inhaler, if it was covered by insurance, I would try it. But as it became nearly impossible to walk across a room, I knew I needed to get help.
When my pulmonologist, Dr. Ronald Hammett, brought up the Zephyr Valve procedure, I was all ears. Although I had only been seeing Dr. Hammett for a short time, I trusted him. It’s not often you find a doctor that truly cares like he does, and what I appreciated the most was that he prayed with me. After doing some research online, I decided I wanted to take the proper steps to see if I was a candidate for the valves, and when I got the call saying that I was, I hoped my prayers were answered.
The closest doctor that is trained in the Zephyr Valve procedure is in Houston — about eight hours away by car — but that wasn’t going to stop me! As soon as I met with Dr. Connolly at Houston Methodist, I knew he was going to take care of me. He didn’t promise me the moon, he kept it very honest and real.
Life After Zephyr Valves:
The procedure went well! Thankfully, I didn’t have any complications or complaints, except the lack of good Louisiana cooking on the hospital menu! I spent the standard three days for observation and to make sure the valves that were placed were working properly. After I got home, I was still a little weak. But about 10 days later, I woke up around 2 o’clock in the morning. It wasn’t me trying to catch my breath that woke me up, it was the fact that I was taking a full breath, and the best part was I kept doing it!
As the days, weeks, and months continued, I just kept improving and I spent much less time attached to my oxygen tank. I now only use one inhaler, oxygen, and a BiPAP machine at night.
The whole family notices a difference. When I talk to my daughter on the phone, she says she can hear how much better I am breathing. I no longer struggle to breathe and talk. When my daughter and grandchildren visit, I am able to enjoy telling them long tales of yore and am back doing some yard work and taking Chisel for long rides. I forget to pace myself sometimes because I am breathing so well now. My wife will tell me “now you’re running everywhere you go!”
When I hear about someone who has COPD or emphysema, I just pray for them and hope they are able to be a candidate for the Zephyr Valves. Yes, there are tests, pulmonary rehab, and other hoops to jump through, but in the end, it is all worth it. Even with a global pandemic, I would do it all again, and sooner!
These valves certainly changed my life for the better and I just want to help spread the word so others can have hope too.
Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.
Complications of the Zephyr Endobronchial Valve treatment can include but are not limited to pneumothorax, worsening of COPD symptoms, hemoptysis, pneumonia, dyspnea and, in rare cases, death.
US-EN-838-v2
