Re: breathing and weakness

January 24, 2009

Joyce,

You are absolutely not making this up, it's not all in your mind. Your symptoms are not uncommon in my experience. Weakness and fatigue (along with shortness of breath and cough) are probably the most common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis. We have all had to learn to listen to our bodies and rest when we need to for as long as we need to.

Please don't compare yourself to your friend with COPD. It's an entirely different kind of lung disease. We have restrictive lung disease which at the risk of oversimplifying means we have trouble getting enough air into our lungs and processing the oxygen through our lungs because of scarring.

COPD is an obstructive lung disease characterized by thickening and inflammation of the airways and a loss of elasticity in the airways and air sacs in the lungs. One of the main differences is that COPD patients have more trouble getting old air out of the lungs than they do taking new air in. This means that their carbon dioxide levels can build up. Because they don't have the same kind of trouble taking air in that we do, very often supplemental oxygen is not useful for them and can sometimes even be dangerous. Some people have a mix of both kinds of lung disease which makes for a much more complicated situation

Please definitely mention the changes you are noticing to your doctor. Things that seem minor to us or don't seem connected to anything else can be very important. Let the doctor decide whether or not it's important. How about keeping a journal for a couple of days? Write down the activity, how much O2 you are using and how you felt. Write when you need to rest and how long you need to rest. This way you can be very specific instead of just telling the doctor you feel tired in general.

I'm sure someone else will chime in with some suggestions. Hope that helps!

Beth in North Carolina

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support <Breathe-Support >Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 12:58:04 PMSubject: breathing and weakness

Hi all, I feel so lucky and feel kind of stupid asking these things. There are so many here that are so sick and so far I just feel better having oxygen.

I am having such a hard time keeping my nose open to breathe. I am using an AYR nasel spay and it just doesn't do it. I just finished using some Nasonex and that has been helpful but the saline solution doesn't help at all. Any other ideas?

Also, I have noticed something strange. I think I have plenty of oxygen but I seem to be getting weaker. I don't understand it since I exercise vigorously 4 days a week for an hour each day. My portable seems almost too heavy to hold where last month it didn't and I am having a difficult time doing things. Is this part of IPF? I don't know if I should tell my doctor or if it is all in my mind and I want to shirk doing things. I am completely baffeled. I should be getting stronger but I have been getting weaker. Confused.

I have been busy and active and my spirits are high and I'm doing things like baking bread and having fun with my friends and my animals. Also do any of you know about COPD? I have a friend who has severe COPD but her doctor says oxygen won't help her it may make her more comfortable but it won't help her yet she doesn't lose her breath like I do going from the living room to the kitchen and I have a small house! I think my IPF is mild at the moment and don't understand why my symptoms seem to be worse then hers and she is severe. Am I just making this up in my mind that I get breathless if I don't have oxygen with such minimal exertion? I feel like I am a fraud and should just throw my oxygen out and get on with life. Also when doing tasks I seem to have to rest in between. I just can't zip thru my kitchen cleaning it. I take the dishes out of the dishwasher and then I need to rest. Then I rinse some dishes off and need to rest. Am I making this

up?

Blue Flyer Joyce 63 AZ IPF 11-08

January 24, 2009

Joyce,

You are absolutely not making this up, it's not all in your mind. Your symptoms are not uncommon in my experience. Weakness and fatigue (along with shortness of breath and cough) are probably the most common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis. We have all had to learn to listen to our bodies and rest when we need to for as long as we need to.

Please don't compare yourself to your friend with COPD. It's an entirely different kind of lung disease. We have restrictive lung disease which at the risk of oversimplifying means we have trouble getting enough air into our lungs and processing the oxygen through our lungs because of scarring.

COPD is an obstructive lung disease characterized by thickening and inflammation of the airways and a loss of elasticity in the airways and air sacs in the lungs. One of the main differences is that COPD patients have more trouble getting old air out of the lungs than they do taking new air in. This means that their carbon dioxide levels can build up. Because they don't have the same kind of trouble taking air in that we do, very often supplemental oxygen is not useful for them and can sometimes even be dangerous. Some people have a mix of both kinds of lung disease which makes for a much more complicated situation

Please definitely mention the changes you are noticing to your doctor. Things that seem minor to us or don't seem connected to anything else can be very important. Let the doctor decide whether or not it's important. How about keeping a journal for a couple of days? Write down the activity, how much O2 you are using and how you felt. Write when you need to rest and how long you need to rest. This way you can be very specific instead of just telling the doctor you feel tired in general.

I'm sure someone else will chime in with some suggestions. Hope that helps!

Beth in North Carolina

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support <Breathe-Support >Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 12:58:04 PMSubject: breathing and weakness

Hi all, I feel so lucky and feel kind of stupid asking these things. There are so many here that are so sick and so far I just feel better having oxygen.

I am having such a hard time keeping my nose open to breathe. I am using an AYR nasel spay and it just doesn't do it. I just finished using some Nasonex and that has been helpful but the saline solution doesn't help at all. Any other ideas?

Also, I have noticed something strange. I think I have plenty of oxygen but I seem to be getting weaker. I don't understand it since I exercise vigorously 4 days a week for an hour each day. My portable seems almost too heavy to hold where last month it didn't and I am having a difficult time doing things. Is this part of IPF? I don't know if I should tell my doctor or if it is all in my mind and I want to shirk doing things. I am completely baffeled. I should be getting stronger but I have been getting weaker. Confused.

I have been busy and active and my spirits are high and I'm doing things like baking bread and having fun with my friends and my animals. Also do any of you know about COPD? I have a friend who has severe COPD but her doctor says oxygen won't help her it may make her more comfortable but it won't help her yet she doesn't lose her breath like I do going from the living room to the kitchen and I have a small house! I think my IPF is mild at the moment and don't understand why my symptoms seem to be worse then hers and she is severe. Am I just making this up in my mind that I get breathless if I don't have oxygen with such minimal exertion? I feel like I am a fraud and should just throw my oxygen out and get on with life. Also when doing tasks I seem to have to rest in between. I just can't zip thru my kitchen cleaning it. I take the dishes out of the dishwasher and then I need to rest. Then I rinse some dishes off and need to rest. Am I making this

up?

Blue Flyer Joyce 63 AZ IPF 11-08

January 24, 2009

Joyce,

You are absolutely not making this up, it's not all in your mind. Your symptoms are not uncommon in my experience. Weakness and fatigue (along with shortness of breath and cough) are probably the most common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis. We have all had to learn to listen to our bodies and rest when we need to for as long as we need to.

Please don't compare yourself to your friend with COPD. It's an entirely different kind of lung disease. We have restrictive lung disease which at the risk of oversimplifying means we have trouble getting enough air into our lungs and processing the oxygen through our lungs because of scarring.

COPD is an obstructive lung disease characterized by thickening and inflammation of the airways and a loss of elasticity in the airways and air sacs in the lungs. One of the main differences is that COPD patients have more trouble getting old air out of the lungs than they do taking new air in. This means that their carbon dioxide levels can build up. Because they don't have the same kind of trouble taking air in that we do, very often supplemental oxygen is not useful for them and can sometimes even be dangerous. Some people have a mix of both kinds of lung disease which makes for a much more complicated situation

Please definitely mention the changes you are noticing to your doctor. Things that seem minor to us or don't seem connected to anything else can be very important. Let the doctor decide whether or not it's important. How about keeping a journal for a couple of days? Write down the activity, how much O2 you are using and how you felt. Write when you need to rest and how long you need to rest. This way you can be very specific instead of just telling the doctor you feel tired in general.

I'm sure someone else will chime in with some suggestions. Hope that helps!

Beth in North Carolina

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support <Breathe-Support >Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 12:58:04 PMSubject: breathing and weakness

Hi all, I feel so lucky and feel kind of stupid asking these things. There are so many here that are so sick and so far I just feel better having oxygen.

I am having such a hard time keeping my nose open to breathe. I am using an AYR nasel spay and it just doesn't do it. I just finished using some Nasonex and that has been helpful but the saline solution doesn't help at all. Any other ideas?

Also, I have noticed something strange. I think I have plenty of oxygen but I seem to be getting weaker. I don't understand it since I exercise vigorously 4 days a week for an hour each day. My portable seems almost too heavy to hold where last month it didn't and I am having a difficult time doing things. Is this part of IPF? I don't know if I should tell my doctor or if it is all in my mind and I want to shirk doing things. I am completely baffeled. I should be getting stronger but I have been getting weaker. Confused.

I have been busy and active and my spirits are high and I'm doing things like baking bread and having fun with my friends and my animals. Also do any of you know about COPD? I have a friend who has severe COPD but her doctor says oxygen won't help her it may make her more comfortable but it won't help her yet she doesn't lose her breath like I do going from the living room to the kitchen and I have a small house! I think my IPF is mild at the moment and don't understand why my symptoms seem to be worse then hers and she is severe. Am I just making this up in my mind that I get breathless if I don't have oxygen with such minimal exertion? I feel like I am a fraud and should just throw my oxygen out and get on with life. Also when doing tasks I seem to have to rest in between. I just can't zip thru my kitchen cleaning it. I take the dishes out of the dishwasher and then I need to rest. Then I rinse some dishes off and need to rest. Am I making this

up?

Blue Flyer Joyce 63 AZ IPF 11-08

January 24, 2009

Rudy ... can't improve on what MB says. However, one thing jumped out at me. You say you are vigorously exercising 4/days/wk for an hour each day.

Try cutting back on how MUCH you do and see if there is a difference. Maybe do 3 days a week for 1.5 hr and see what you see...you can always increase again.

Yes, always tell your dr if something changes. Getting weaker is certainly a change!

Are you turning your O2 up when you exercise?

Good luck.

MamaSher, age 70. IPF 3-06, OR. NasturtiumsDon't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

breathing and weakness

Hi all, I feel so lucky and feel kind of stupid asking these things. There are so many here that are so sick and so far I just feel better having oxygen.

I am having such a hard time keeping my nose open to breathe. I am using an AYR nasel spay and it just doesn't do it. I just finished using some Nasonex and that has been helpful but the saline solution doesn't help at all. Any other ideas?

Also, I have noticed something strange. I think I have plenty of oxygen but I seem to be getting weaker. I don't understand it since I exercise vigorously 4 days a week for an hour each day. My portable seems almost too heavy to hold where last month it didn't and I am having a difficult time doing things. Is this part of IPF? I don't know if I should tell my doctor or if it is all in my mind and I want to shirk doing things. I am completely baffeled. I should be getting stronger but I have been getting weaker. Confused.

I have been busy and active and my spirits are high and I'm doing things like baking bread and having fun with my friends and my animals. Also do any of you know about COPD? I have a friend who has severe COPD but her doctor says oxygen won't help her it may make her more comfortable but it won't help her yet she doesn't lose her breath like I do going from the living room to the kitchen and I have a small house! I think my IPF is mild at the moment and don't understand why my symptoms seem to be worse then hers and she is severe. Am I just making this up in my mind that I get breathless if I don't have oxygen with such minimal exertion? I feel like I am a fraud and should just throw my oxygen out and get on with life. Also when doing tasks I seem to have to rest in between. I just can't zip thru my kitchen cleaning it. I take the dishes out of the dishwasher and then I need to rest. Then I rinse some dishes off and need to rest. Am I making this up?

Blue Flyer Joyce 63 AZ IPF 11-08

January 24, 2009

Rudy ... can't improve on what MB says. However, one thing jumped out at me. You say you are vigorously exercising 4/days/wk for an hour each day.

Try cutting back on how MUCH you do and see if there is a difference. Maybe do 3 days a week for 1.5 hr and see what you see...you can always increase again.

Yes, always tell your dr if something changes. Getting weaker is certainly a change!

Are you turning your O2 up when you exercise?

Good luck.

MamaSher, age 70. IPF 3-06, OR. NasturtiumsDon't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

breathing and weakness

Hi all, I feel so lucky and feel kind of stupid asking these things. There are so many here that are so sick and so far I just feel better having oxygen.

I am having such a hard time keeping my nose open to breathe. I am using an AYR nasel spay and it just doesn't do it. I just finished using some Nasonex and that has been helpful but the saline solution doesn't help at all. Any other ideas?

Also, I have noticed something strange. I think I have plenty of oxygen but I seem to be getting weaker. I don't understand it since I exercise vigorously 4 days a week for an hour each day. My portable seems almost too heavy to hold where last month it didn't and I am having a difficult time doing things. Is this part of IPF? I don't know if I should tell my doctor or if it is all in my mind and I want to shirk doing things. I am completely baffeled. I should be getting stronger but I have been getting weaker. Confused.

I have been busy and active and my spirits are high and I'm doing things like baking bread and having fun with my friends and my animals. Also do any of you know about COPD? I have a friend who has severe COPD but her doctor says oxygen won't help her it may make her more comfortable but it won't help her yet she doesn't lose her breath like I do going from the living room to the kitchen and I have a small house! I think my IPF is mild at the moment and don't understand why my symptoms seem to be worse then hers and she is severe. Am I just making this up in my mind that I get breathless if I don't have oxygen with such minimal exertion? I feel like I am a fraud and should just throw my oxygen out and get on with life. Also when doing tasks I seem to have to rest in between. I just can't zip thru my kitchen cleaning it. I take the dishes out of the dishwasher and then I need to rest. Then I rinse some dishes off and need to rest. Am I making this up?

Blue Flyer Joyce 63 AZ IPF 11-08

January 24, 2009

Rudy ... can't improve on what MB says. However, one thing jumped out at me. You say you are vigorously exercising 4/days/wk for an hour each day.

Try cutting back on how MUCH you do and see if there is a difference. Maybe do 3 days a week for 1.5 hr and see what you see...you can always increase again.

Yes, always tell your dr if something changes. Getting weaker is certainly a change!

Are you turning your O2 up when you exercise?

Good luck.

MamaSher, age 70. IPF 3-06, OR. NasturtiumsDon't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

breathing and weakness

Hi all, I feel so lucky and feel kind of stupid asking these things. There are so many here that are so sick and so far I just feel better having oxygen.

I am having such a hard time keeping my nose open to breathe. I am using an AYR nasel spay and it just doesn't do it. I just finished using some Nasonex and that has been helpful but the saline solution doesn't help at all. Any other ideas?

Also, I have noticed something strange. I think I have plenty of oxygen but I seem to be getting weaker. I don't understand it since I exercise vigorously 4 days a week for an hour each day. My portable seems almost too heavy to hold where last month it didn't and I am having a difficult time doing things. Is this part of IPF? I don't know if I should tell my doctor or if it is all in my mind and I want to shirk doing things. I am completely baffeled. I should be getting stronger but I have been getting weaker. Confused.

I have been busy and active and my spirits are high and I'm doing things like baking bread and having fun with my friends and my animals. Also do any of you know about COPD? I have a friend who has severe COPD but her doctor says oxygen won't help her it may make her more comfortable but it won't help her yet she doesn't lose her breath like I do going from the living room to the kitchen and I have a small house! I think my IPF is mild at the moment and don't understand why my symptoms seem to be worse then hers and she is severe. Am I just making this up in my mind that I get breathless if I don't have oxygen with such minimal exertion? I feel like I am a fraud and should just throw my oxygen out and get on with life. Also when doing tasks I seem to have to rest in between. I just can't zip thru my kitchen cleaning it. I take the dishes out of the dishwasher and then I need to rest. Then I rinse some dishes off and need to rest. Am I making this up?

Blue Flyer Joyce 63 AZ IPF 11-08

January 24, 2009

Hi Joyce,

I totally agree with MB -- You are not making anything up and definitely tell your doctor any changes you feel at all. Sometimes we may not think the slightest difference is significant, but your doctor will know. Also, I have learned to listen to my body and if it says I am tired, you need to rest, then do it. I have even gotten to the point of taking naps most days just to make it through the day, which is something I have never done. There are many people on this board way more advanced in the disease than me (I don't have to use supplemental oxygen yet), but month that goes by, I can tell I am getting weaker and weaker, struggling more to breathe, especially with exertion. I can't even vacuum the floor without getting short of breath. Definitely tell your doc and don't wait -- you will be glad you did. Hang in there and rest whenever you need to. I have found there is nothing to be done that can't wait until

you have the energy!!

CaroASTHMA 1976,OSTEOARTHRITIS 2002, COPD 02/06, IPF 08/07, UIP 01/08, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS 03/08 SJOGREN SYNDROME 07/08Mississippi

Subject: Re: breathing and weaknessTo: Breathe-Support Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 12:19 PM

Joyce,

You are absolutely not making this up, it's not all in your mind. Your symptoms are not uncommon in my experience. Weakness and fatigue (along with shortness of breath and cough) are probably the most common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis. We have all had to learn to listen to our bodies and rest when we need to for as long as we need to.

Please don't compare yourself to your friend with COPD. It's an entirely different kind of lung disease. We have restrictive lung disease which at the risk of oversimplifying means we have trouble getting enough air into our lungs and processing the oxygen through our lungs because of scarring.

COPD is an obstructive lung disease characterized by thickening and inflammation of the airways and a loss of elasticity in the airways and air sacs in the lungs. One of the main differences is that COPD patients have more trouble getting old air out of the lungs than they do taking new air in. This means that their carbon dioxide levels can build up. Because they don't have the same kind of trouble taking air in that we do, very often supplemental oxygen is not useful for them and can sometimes even be dangerous. Some people have a mix of both kinds of lung disease which makes for a much more complicated situation

Please definitely mention the changes you are noticing to your doctor. Things that seem minor to us or don't seem connected to anything else can be very important. Let the doctor decide whether or not it's important. How about keeping a journal for a couple of days? Write down the activity, how much O2 you are using and how you felt. Write when you need to rest and how long you need to rest. This way you can be very specific instead of just telling the doctor you feel tired in general.

I'm sure someone else will chime in with some suggestions. Hope that helps!

Beth in North Carolina

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

From: JOYCE RUDY <greycharlie@ q.com>To: Breathe-Support <Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 12:58:04 PMSubject: breathing and weakness

Hi all, I feel so lucky and feel kind of stupid asking these things. There are so many here that are so sick and so far I just feel better having oxygen.

I am having such a hard time keeping my nose open to breathe. I am using an AYR nasel spay and it just doesn't do it. I just finished using some Nasonex and that has been helpful but the saline solution doesn't help at all. Any other ideas?

Also, I have noticed something strange. I think I have plenty of oxygen but I seem to be getting weaker. I don't understand it since I exercise vigorously 4 days a week for an hour each day. My portable seems almost too heavy to hold where last month it didn't and I am having a difficult time doing things. Is this part of IPF? I don't know if I should tell my doctor or if it is all in my mind and I want to shirk doing things. I am completely baffeled. I should be getting stronger but I have been getting weaker. Confused.

I have been busy and active and my spirits are high and I'm doing things like baking bread and having fun with my friends and my animals. Also do any of you know about COPD? I have a friend who has severe COPD but her doctor says oxygen won't help her it may make her more comfortable but it won't help her yet she doesn't lose her breath like I do going from the living room to the kitchen and I have a small house! I think my IPF is mild at the moment and don't understand why my symptoms seem to be worse then hers and she is severe. Am I just making this up in my mind that I get breathless if I don't have oxygen with such minimal exertion? I feel like I am a fraud and should just throw my oxygen out and get on with life. Also when doing tasks I seem to have to rest in between. I just can't zip thru my kitchen cleaning it. I take the dishes out of the dishwasher and then I need to rest. Then I rinse some dishes off and need to rest. Am I making this

up?

Blue Flyer Joyce 63 AZ IPF 11-08

January 24, 2009

Hi Joyce,

I totally agree with MB -- You are not making anything up and definitely tell your doctor any changes you feel at all. Sometimes we may not think the slightest difference is significant, but your doctor will know. Also, I have learned to listen to my body and if it says I am tired, you need to rest, then do it. I have even gotten to the point of taking naps most days just to make it through the day, which is something I have never done. There are many people on this board way more advanced in the disease than me (I don't have to use supplemental oxygen yet), but month that goes by, I can tell I am getting weaker and weaker, struggling more to breathe, especially with exertion. I can't even vacuum the floor without getting short of breath. Definitely tell your doc and don't wait -- you will be glad you did. Hang in there and rest whenever you need to. I have found there is nothing to be done that can't wait until

you have the energy!!

CaroASTHMA 1976,OSTEOARTHRITIS 2002, COPD 02/06, IPF 08/07, UIP 01/08, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS 03/08 SJOGREN SYNDROME 07/08Mississippi

Subject: Re: breathing and weaknessTo: Breathe-Support Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 12:19 PM

Joyce,

You are absolutely not making this up, it's not all in your mind. Your symptoms are not uncommon in my experience. Weakness and fatigue (along with shortness of breath and cough) are probably the most common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis. We have all had to learn to listen to our bodies and rest when we need to for as long as we need to.

Please don't compare yourself to your friend with COPD. It's an entirely different kind of lung disease. We have restrictive lung disease which at the risk of oversimplifying means we have trouble getting enough air into our lungs and processing the oxygen through our lungs because of scarring.

COPD is an obstructive lung disease characterized by thickening and inflammation of the airways and a loss of elasticity in the airways and air sacs in the lungs. One of the main differences is that COPD patients have more trouble getting old air out of the lungs than they do taking new air in. This means that their carbon dioxide levels can build up. Because they don't have the same kind of trouble taking air in that we do, very often supplemental oxygen is not useful for them and can sometimes even be dangerous. Some people have a mix of both kinds of lung disease which makes for a much more complicated situation

Please definitely mention the changes you are noticing to your doctor. Things that seem minor to us or don't seem connected to anything else can be very important. Let the doctor decide whether or not it's important. How about keeping a journal for a couple of days? Write down the activity, how much O2 you are using and how you felt. Write when you need to rest and how long you need to rest. This way you can be very specific instead of just telling the doctor you feel tired in general.

I'm sure someone else will chime in with some suggestions. Hope that helps!

Beth in North Carolina

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

From: JOYCE RUDY <greycharlie@ q.com>To: Breathe-Support <Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. com>Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 12:58:04 PMSubject: breathing and weakness

Hi all, I feel so lucky and feel kind of stupid asking these things. There are so many here that are so sick and so far I just feel better having oxygen.

I am having such a hard time keeping my nose open to breathe. I am using an AYR nasel spay and it just doesn't do it. I just finished using some Nasonex and that has been helpful but the saline solution doesn't help at all. Any other ideas?

Also, I have noticed something strange. I think I have plenty of oxygen but I seem to be getting weaker. I don't understand it since I exercise vigorously 4 days a week for an hour each day. My portable seems almost too heavy to hold where last month it didn't and I am having a difficult time doing things. Is this part of IPF? I don't know if I should tell my doctor or if it is all in my mind and I want to shirk doing things. I am completely baffeled. I should be getting stronger but I have been getting weaker. Confused.

I have been busy and active and my spirits are high and I'm doing things like baking bread and having fun with my friends and my animals. Also do any of you know about COPD? I have a friend who has severe COPD but her doctor says oxygen won't help her it may make her more comfortable but it won't help her yet she doesn't lose her breath like I do going from the living room to the kitchen and I have a small house! I think my IPF is mild at the moment and don't understand why my symptoms seem to be worse then hers and she is severe. Am I just making this up in my mind that I get breathless if I don't have oxygen with such minimal exertion? I feel like I am a fraud and should just throw my oxygen out and get on with life. Also when doing tasks I seem to have to rest in between. I just can't zip thru my kitchen cleaning it. I take the dishes out of the dishwasher and then I need to rest. Then I rinse some dishes off and need to rest. Am I making this

up?

Blue Flyer Joyce 63 AZ IPF 11-08

January 24, 2009

Joyce

First, PF and COPD are totally different diseases in so many ways. COPD

is obstructive, meaning the airways are blocked or filled. PF is

restrictive, meaning the lung is damaged. Therefore, you will feel much

different than your friend.

As to lifting, it is an anaerobic exercise where as treadmill is

aerobic. The difference is lifting normally looks to your muscles for

oxygen. They don't have it, then there is a weakness and shortness of

breath. I cannot lift and bend far over at all. Yet, I can get on the

treadmill and walk.

Now you should point out all sypmptoms to your doctor and muscle

weakness can also come from a connective tissue disease.

>

> Hi all, I feel so lucky and feel kind of stupid asking these things.

There are so many here that are so sick and so far I just feel better

having oxygen.

>

> I am having such a hard time keeping my nose open to breathe. I am

using an AYR nasel spay and it just doesn't do it. I just finished using

some Nasonex and that has been helpful but the saline solution doesn't

help at all. Any other ideas?

>

> Also, I have noticed something strange. I think I have plenty of

oxygen but I seem to be getting weaker. I don't understand it since I

exercise vigorously 4 days a week for an hour each day. My portable

seems almost too heavy to hold where last month it didn't and I am

having a difficult time doing things. Is this part of IPF? I don't know

if I should tell my doctor or if it is all in my mind and I want to

shirk doing things. I am completely baffeled. I should be getting

stronger but I have been getting weaker. Confused.

>

> I have been busy and active and my spirits are high and I'm doing

things like baking bread and having fun with my friends and my animals.

Also do any of you know about COPD? I have a friend who has severe COPD

but her doctor says oxygen won't help her it may make her more

comfortable but it won't help her yet she doesn't lose her breath like I

do going from the living room to the kitchen and I have a small house! I

think my IPF is mild at the moment and don't understand why my symptoms

seem to be worse then hers and she is severe. Am I just making this up

in my mind that I get breathless if I don't have oxygen with such

minimal exertion? I feel like I am a fraud and should just throw my

oxygen out and get on with life. Also when doing tasks I seem to have to

rest in between. I just can't zip thru my kitchen cleaning it. I take

the dishes out of the dishwasher and then I need to rest. Then I rinse

some dishes off and need to rest. Am I making this up?

>

> Blue Flyer Joyce 63 AZ IPF 11-08

>

January 24, 2009