Interview 1

Q: How long have you been affected with emphysema?

A: “I was diagnosed about ten years ago.  I’ve probably had it for longer but it was not diagnosed.  Over the years it has gotten worse, though.”

Q: How does emphysema affect your daily activities?

A: “It makes it very hard to walk.  I get out of breath very easily and have to stop in between to take breaks to catch my breath.”

Q: What treatments (if any) have doctors given you to help you during the day time?

A: I take Spiriva, it is a capsule with an inhaler, once per day.  Another medication I use is Xopenex, which is an inhalation aerosol that comes with the inhaler already attached to the medicine.  It is one piece, and I take 2 puffs as need every 8 hours.”

Q: Do you experience any side effects from these medications?

A: Nothing visible

Q: How does emphysema affect your sleeping habits?

A: “Well I can’t lie down flat, and I’m not supposed to lie on my back.”

Q: How do you deal with these problems?

A: “I sleep sitting upright on my couch and I sleep when I can.  I get up and walk around during the night, maybe play on the computer, and then go back to sleep.  Watching TV is always the best sleep medicine for me.”

Q: What treatments (if any) have doctors given you to help you sleep at night?

A: “The doctors have not given me any treatments for the night-time.”

Q: Do you feel like you feel well rested and like you get a good night’s sleep?

A: “Sometimes yes, sometimes no.  It is definitely not as good as how I used to be able to sleep before the emphysema.”

Q: Do you feel like your sleeping habits negatively affect you during the day time, and if so, how?

A: “That’s a hard question, since the medications help during the day.  Sometimes I will take a nap during the day, but I’m not sure if that is a result of the COPD, the medications, or a combination of the two.”

Q: What would you like to see in a night-time solution?

A: “Well I don’t need oxygen tank like I know some people have to use.  I do have a wedge to keep me upright, but I find that it is not as comfortable as the couch.  I’d like to see someone come up with some sort of upright cubicle bed to keep me upright at night.”