My mom was diagnosed 5 years ago with severe emphysma. She had been a smoker for 30 years. (she is only 59) Although she quit smoking there has been a steady decline in her health. She is not currently on oxygen but does have a couple inhalers that she uses daily. We live in different states so it is hard to know what is going on. For the past couple of weeks it seems like all she does is sleep (this is new) and it is difficult to even walk across the room. She is very stubborn about going to the doctor but did try to get an appt and they had none until end of April and told her to go to the ER if she needed to be seen. (They are retired military) She says she is not sick, no fever, just can't do anything for lack of being able to breathe and does not want to sit in ER for hours. Help, should I be as worried as I am?

My mom was diagnosed 5 years ago with severe emphysma. She had been a smoker for 30 years. (she is only 59) Although she quit smoking there has been a steady decline in her health. She is not currently on oxygen but does have a couple inhalers that she uses daily. We live in different states so it is hard to know what is going on. For the past couple of weeks it seems like all she does is sleep (this is new) and it is difficult to even walk across the room. She is very stubborn about going to the doctor but did try to get an appt and they had none until end of April and told her to go to the ER if she needed to be seen. (They are retired military) She says she is not sick, no fever, just can't do anything for lack of being able to breathe and does not want to sit in ER for hours. Help, should I be as worried as I am?

It's normal to be worried about her. It sounds like she's going through a rough time.
She sees a pulmonologist, right? Their appointments are very hard to make, I know. But if she keeps calling to see if there are any cancellations, she can most likely get another appointment.
If her pulse oximetry is within certain limits, the doctor will prescribe her oxygen as needed for shortness of breath. From the way you described it, it sounds like she will qualify for oxygen.
I agree with you on one part - if her shortness of breath gets worse or if her hands and feet begin swelling, or if she develops a fever or chest pain, she needs to go to the ER, no matter how much she doesn't like it. Has she lost any weight lately?
After she goes to the doctor, and if he okays it, she should begin a light exercise program. And if she's prescribed oxygen, she could use the oxygen during exercise. Many people with COPD do that. It will help her stamina, get rid of lung secretions that have built up, and help her lungs get stronger.

There's as such things as 'pulmonary rehabilitation' groups where a physical therapist and respiratory therapist and usually a pulmonologist will oversee a bunch of people with severe chronic lung diseases exercising. See if there's something like that going on in her city -- she might need a referral from her doc to get in though.