Hi [@Mumof5girls]‍ Sorry to hear of your hubbys worries. 

I am similar, i was diagnosed with COPD just in March  there after i was having some long standing breathing problems which i have been ignoring but after being investigated for another problem, i flagged the same as your husband minus the finger clubbing and it was during the respitory clinic appointment that the doctor told me it was emphysema. Just remember that although emphysema is a progressive disease, you can slow it down, there is no cure but you can certainly stop it from getting any worse (so i've been told)

If you can try and take a positive from your husbands nurse/doctors visit then look at it like this, the nurse was on the ball when she noticed the clubbed fingers (my practise nurse is a bit shoddy to be honest, lol) and now that it has flagged up then your hubby is "in the system" so to speak and the investigations can start, if he hadn't had a sore thumb and not visited the doctor for that then it could have been 10/20 years down the line before he received any treatment or before it was even noticed so he now has people on his side who will do the best they can for him, you and i assume your 5 beautiful children.

The first few weeks can be a bit manic with all the appointments and then it seems to be on a go slow so please try not to worry inbetween those times as just remember that he will be just as worried if not more than you are so if you can support each other through this, that will help you both.

PJ