Sandy‘s Story
“Even though it’s not a cure, I do feel that the Zephyr Valves saved my life. If my physician did not bring this option to me and connect me with the treating team, I was going to hospice and end-of-life care. I just thank God for this treatment.”
Procedure Details:
Age at Treatment: 70
Hospital: North Memorial Hospital, Minnesota
Date of Procedure: June 2021
Sandy’s Story
“Even though it’s not a cure, I do feel that the Zephyr Valves saved my life. If my physician did not bring this option to me and connect me with the treating team, I was going to hospice and end-of-life care. I just thank God for this treatment.”
Procedure Details:
Age at Treatment: 70
Doctor Name: Dr. Stoy
Hospital: North Memorial Hospital, Minnesota
Date of Procedure: June 2021
Life Before Zephyr® Valves:
In the early days after my COPD diagnosis, my symptoms were manageable, but as it progressed it was hard to keep up with my job as a house cleaner. I had to give that up by age 64. I was still able to take care of things at home, do small projects, and babysit for my grandchild a couple days a week.
I tried lots of different medications and they gave me some relief. I was on a low dose of oxygen for 2–3 years, just to help with exercise. It was around age 67–68 when I started having serious issues. One day I went to put fresh sheets on the bed and I simply couldn’t do it. I know the correct way to move and how to get rid of the CO2 but still, I just couldn’t do it. Eventually, I had to be sitting down just to chop celery. If my grandkids had the slightest symptom, my sons knew not to bring them over. They didn’t want to risk me catching anything. My husband Steve was a great help and my sister-in-law lives with us, so between the two of them, they were taking care of me and everything else.
I was hospitalized five times, twice by ambulance. Each time was a 2–5 day stay. In November 2020, I had a major flareup. I’ll never forget it. I tried to walk and almost passed out. It was very scary. This was a turning point. I needed oxygen 24/7 and had to use a walker to get around. Even with the walker and O2, I would need to stop and catch my breath. I began sleeping most of the day. I used to love doing yardwork, planting flowers and digging in the dirt. I loved making things. My passion was knitting and crocheting, but as my disease worsened and I became homebound, I lost interest in all my hobbies.
It felt like there was nothing more they could do for me. Treatments only worked temporarily. The bottom line is emphysema is a terminal disease. One of my home nurses suggested I look into hospice. I resigned myself to the fact that “it is what it is” and that left me feeling very sad and depressed. I decided I would sign up for hospice and they were going to send out one of the nurses the following week for me to sign paperwork.
A couple days later my doctor, Dr. Madhu Kannapiran, called at what seemed ‘out of the blue’. One of the nurses in his office, Julie Dahl, APRN CNP, asked him if he told me about the Zephyr Valves. He said if I wanted to explore this further, he would contact Dr. Eric Stoy, who does the valve procedure at North Memorial Hospital. My thought was “I’ve got nothing to lose, and I am more than willing to try.” So, he said to “cancel hospice and let’s figure this out.” Dr. Stoy called me and we talked about the procedure, risks, etc., and we decided to go for it. They were fast about it because they knew I didn’t have much time. Within a month I was scheduled to have my valves.
The best part is that we now have three grandchildren and I can enjoy spending time with them again. Since having the valves, we are able to go to their sporting events. It’s so much fun! We just went to my granddaughter’s basketball game and I didn’t even bring my walker.
– Sandy
Life After Zephyr Valves:
I had my procedure with no complications. By the time we returned home from the hospital, I could feel the difference in my breathing. I could stand up on my own. I could walk from the bedroom to the kitchen without help. Eventually, I could take a bath and wash my hair. It is truly the basic things we take for granted that make the biggest difference. I feel as though I’m a human being again.
Dr. Stoy called to check on me and I said “I am so grateful for you and thank God for you.”
I am back doing household chores, like cooking and laundry. I still use oxygen, but I can do low impact cardio now. It was hard to go places because it took me so long to get ready, but now my husband takes me to anywhere I want to go. I can walk and don’t necessarily need my walker, but I take it just in case.
The best part is that we now have three grandchildren and I can enjoy spending time with them again. Since having the valves, we are able to go to their sporting events. It’s so much fun! We just went to my granddaughter’s basketball game and I didn’t even bring my walker.
I understand that it doesn’t work on everyone. We prayed about it, and for the doctor and the people who make the valves. What I would tell people thinking about the valves is to use your common sense and really educate yourself about the procedure, the benefits, and the side effects.
“Even though it’s not a cure, I do feel that the Zephyr Valves saved my life. If my physician did not bring this option to me and connect me with the treating team, I was going to hospice and end-of-life care. I just thank God for this treatment.”
Results may vary.
Caution: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.
¹Criner, G et al. Am J Resp Crit Care Med. 2018; 198(9):1151‒1164.
US-EN-1833-v1
What is the Zephyr Valve procedure?
The Zephyr Valve has been shown to help patients breathe easier, do more, and enjoy life.1
Despite taking the best available medications, many patients with severe COPD/emphysema suffer from hyperinflation of their lungs where air becomes trapped in the lungs, preventing fresh air from entering and thereby causing severe shortness of breath.
The Zephyr Valves reduce lung hyperinflation by allowing trapped air to escape and preventing new air from entering that diseased lobe. This allows the healthier parts of the lung to function better and results in patients being able to breathe more easily and experience less shortness of breath.
The valves are placed via bronchoscopy, with no incision or cutting, so these benefits are achieved without the risks of traditional surgical options. The procedure is usually complete in under an hour.
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.
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I had COPD for a while but was told it was the bronchitis type. Then, in 2014, after an exacerbation, a CT scan confirmed I actually had emphysema. I had smoked for 40 years and quit cold turkey after receiving that diagnosis.
Emphysema is life-changing. I learned to stop doing the things that caused exertion. I had to give up one of my favorite parts of my social life — dancing. I go on a cruise every year with my friends and had to start using wheelchair assistance to get on and off the ship and at airports. When walking around the ship I could stop and rest when I needed to, but I couldn’t participate in most of the fun activities anymore, like dancing. I missed out on some excursions, too, especially if they involved a lot of walking. Emphysema makes living hard.
As the disease progressed, it got to the point where I couldn’t do daily tasks like housework, going up stairs, and carrying out the trash. I needed help with almost everything that caused exertion. I could cook, take care of personal hygiene, and dress myself, but not without oxygen.
My disease was taking a physical toll, but I am not the kind of person to let it get me down. I was always determined to try to make my condition better. I received a lot of support through friends and Facebook groups. Pulmonary rehab is a very important component to being able to get my health to the best I could make it. I was able to wean myself off of oxygen by exercising to build stamina and strength but, even with that, I still kept the oxygen nearby and my lung function was still pretty low.
I had at least one hospitalization every year. The longest stay was 11 days in 2018, and that’s when my pulmonologist asked me if I would consider a lung transplant. My lung function was down to 31%. That’s when I spoke with a Dr. Michael Simoff at Henry Ford Hospital who said that I might be a candidate for treatment with the Zephyr Valve. After taking all the tests, I was very happy to learn that I qualified!
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The procedure went very well, and I had no complications. I had prepared myself by building strength at pulmonary rehab so that I had a better chance of the valves working for me to help increase my lung function. Forty-five days after the procedure, my lung function was up to 49%.
I didn’t expect the valves to work on their own. I knew I had to put in the work, so I went back to pulmonary rehab and I still go twice a week. My insurance coverage for visits is used up, but I pay out of pocket because it is worth it!
In March 2020, I had an exacerbation and was in the hospital for seven days which sent my lung function plummeting again. I had to go back on oxygen 24/7, but I felt I bounced back a lot faster than I would have before my valves. When pulmonary rehab was able to reopen in June, I went back and was able to wean off of oxygen faster than before the valves and my latest test showed that my lung function was back up to 46%.
It has taken about a year for my treated lobe to fully deflate. I can definitely do more, like stairs, taking out the trash, and light housework, and I don’t have to rush to get the oxygen. I can go shopping and now I can carry my own groceries into the house. I’ve also found that I am tolerating the cold weather much better this winter. I’m looking forward to travelling and going out dancing again once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
I am continuing at rehab, and I’ve been able to add weight to the machines as well as continue my cardio exercises. I’ve become the valve spokesperson at rehab. For me it has been all pros, no cons!
The valves have given me more hope. I knew I had inner strength, but this gave me the opportunity to get better and do more again. I am looking forward to dancing again!
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The Zephyr Valve is the first FDA-approved, minimally invasive device available in the U.S. for treating patients with severe emphysema. A physician uses a bronchoscope to place on average 4 tiny valves in the airways to block off the damaged areas of the lungs so air no longer gets trapped there. No cutting or incision is required and the procedure is usually completed in under an hour.
The valve placement allows the healthier parts of the lungs to expand and relieves the pressure on the diaphragm, which decreases shortness of breath and makes breathing easier. Patients report being able to take full breaths immediately after the procedure and within a few days are back to doing everyday tasks with ease.
Results may vary.
The best part is that we now have three grandchildren and I can enjoy spending time with them again. Since having the valves, we are able to go to their sporting events. It’s so much fun! We just went to my granddaughter’s basketball game and I didn’t even bring my walker.
– Sandy
