Goin to the doc

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone! Hope everyone is having a pleasant evening. I'd just like to ask for prayers and positive energy as I go to see my pulmo tomorrow at 11:30. I've noticed the cough is gradually getting worse over the last couple of weeks since he started decreasing the prednisone. It's not horrible but it's very worrisome to me to feel it coming back again. I've also been feeling like a need more oxygen the last couple of weeks and I get winded more easily. I can't bend over without getting short of breath and carrying something, for instance a laundry basket, also makes me s.o.b. and it didn't say 4 weeks ago before he decreased the pred. I'm also just really tired all the time . After reading all the posts about sleep apnea, you've all got me wondering. Since I sleep alone, I think one night, I'll have my brother in law stop by and set up his digital camcorder and record myself sleeping to see if I'm snoring. At least I'd get an idea that way. And I'll talk to Dr. M about it tomorrow.

The exception to the not great stuff is rehab. That continues to go well. I'm up to 54 minutes on the treadmill at 2.4 mph which thrills me. The flip side of that is that in order to allow me to do that they have me on a venti mask instead of cannula and the oxygen up to 12 lpm. The problem is I can only exercise at that rate at rehab because I can't duplicate the 12 lpm at home. The other thing is after doing that time on the treadmill and then the upper body weight training that we do, I'm wiped out not just for the rest of that day but most of the following day too. I'm working really hard so I can lose the weight I need to lose and be healthy enough for a transplant down the line. I'm only 47 and I'd like to live awhile.

Oh Lordy, I'm stressed and overwhelmed, frustrated and sad. I know I need to see my counselor again, fortunately I have an appointment on Friday. I'm starting to think an anti-depressant might be helpful for me. I mean the stress isn't going to go away, I need to figure out a way to function and be as happy as I can be.

Sorry to dump this out all at once. Can you tell I'm not dealing with this very well at the moment? This disease just really stinks. I know I'll get agreement there. I just have to practice more letting go so that God can take care of it all. Not easy for a major control freak liek me. LOL

Thank you all for being patient enough to read all this mumbo jumbo of mine. You are all in my prayers.

Beth IPF 06/06Draw close. Hold hands. Life is short. God is good.