I'm new at all this.

[Guest guest]

I just joined this support group and boy do I need you. I was diagnosed

(finally) with IPF in March of this year. I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

and was down in San Diego waiting to go on a Mexican cruise. Instead I ended up

in the hospital for 25 days, most of the time in intensive care. I basically

went into respiratory failure and it took a long time before I got a diagnosis.

And it wasn't for lack of trying - I think I had most tests ever done to man or

beast.

This year has been a year of firsts. First time ever on oxygen, first time I've

ever been told that I was going to die a lot earlier than anticipated (I found

out 3 days after my 55 birthday that they figured I have 5 years to live. I

told them they were wrong because I have worked to dang hard to get my pension

and I wanted a chance to spend it when I turn 65.)

It gets cold up here in the winter and it's pretty tough to breath when I'm

outside. Don't like that but it does give me a pretty good excuse to not go

outside in this weather.

I've been on dextamethasone (spelling is wrong) and now I'm on prednisone,and

azothiaprine. I'm an insulin dependent diabetic and the prednisone is causing

my blood sugars to sky rocket. It hasn't been easy to say the least.

So here I am. Thrilled to read some of the posts because I dont feel so alone

anymore.

Pat