General Howdy's & update

[Guest guest]

I've been at the Medical University for parts of the past 2 weeks so haven't been reading posts, am trying to catch up. Glad those of you who went to Chattanooga had a good time, great pictures. I've been reading the recipes posted since. Oh, I almost ate the computer; they sounded so good. I'd be in a diabetic coma so fast off that eggnog & sour cream pound cake, but they were both really good recipes! I wish I could make them and eat them. Welcome to the new folks! The disease stats indicate that an increasing number of folks are being dx'ed with this disease and at earlier ages. That's good in that more research will happen and drug companies will realize that there's goal in them there hills. It's bad in that there are more of us. Don't let the statistics scare you; they're old stats and only mildly relative to us. I fully expect to live past the 3-5 year mark. I am sure

that I had this disease years before I was officially dx'ed. While we all experience emotional ups and downs, periods of depression, anxiety and general angst, there are things that remain constant. We are all going to die at some point of something; that's been true since the day you were born. Attitude counts, positive attitude counts more. Push yourself "a little" everyday, not necessarily physically if it's one of those days your body needs rest, but stretch something. Live dangerously, however you might define that term. Enjoy yourself, your family, your friends, your pets, your life. Have a spiritual context, whether its Christianity, Judaism, Muslim, Budahism, Paganism, Druidism, whatever. The meaning of life is to find the meaning of life. Amen. My life goes on very much as before. I still hate social security and they still say I'm not disabled and should find

a job. Money is still tight; my spouse still works 2 jobs. Our relationship has improved because of this disease; we talk to each other more and are honest about our feelings. We've talked about life and death. I experience gratitude, as does he. He has been forced to reach out to others, people I do not know, and that is good for him. I have begun to exercise most days and am surprised at how much better I feel overall. I recently had pft's, basically stable, change is "not statistically significant"; however, volume & forced air have decreased some but diffusion is way better. Go figure. If the pirfenidone study continues, I will go to an "open label" study probably sometime next summer. That means, that even if I am not getting the drug now, I will then. I think I've got the drug. The really good news is that my pulmonologist evaluated my spouse.

Dexter has a significant bout of pneumonia, infected lungs, bronchitis, whatever, every year. These bouts have gotten much worse in the last 3-4 years. Last spring, he was on prednisone and antibiotics for approximately 6 weeks. His GP initially dx'ed asthma & Dex benefited from inhalers at first. When he went on so long, she dx'ed possible COPD & referred him out. The pulmonologist's conclusion was that "here was a man who had significantly abused his lungs over the years and still managed to be basically ok." Dex has chronic bronchitis. Of all the options, this was the best. I'd love to meet some of you folks; it seems that I'm the only one in SC. Until I get disability I can't travel. But I think that the next unofficial meeting should be in NAPA valley in California. We'll travel by bus from vinyard to vineyard and have happy days! Or 's idea of an extended

train trip might be nice. Canada sounds good! Until next time, peace be with you Bonnie Faulkner/IPF 1-06/SC

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