MY LIFE WITH PULMONARY FIBROSIS
About two years ago, and following two years of dealing with a local doctor, I decided to seek another opinion from a Dr. Cho in an adjacent city. I was then diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. I was devastated to learn that I had a lung capacity of only 80% and that this was the reason that I was winded and had a cough. Dr. Cho prescribed a high level of predisone. My husband and I decided to seek out a "super" specialist in the field and were referred by Dr. Cho to a Dr. Raghu at the University of Washington in Seattle. He accepted me as one of his "regular patients" which means I will be with him as long as my condition continues; which means a very long time as the lungs will not repair themselves! Dr. Raghu confirmed the level of predizone that Dr. Cho had prescribed and encouraged me to exercise.
I took his exercise suggestion and immediately joined a gym and hooked up with a personal trainer. I was, and am, highly motivated and visit the gym at least five times a week. As of this date the level of my predizone intake has be greatly deminished and it appears that at my next visit I may be taken off the predisone and begin using an inhaler. I truly attribute my current success in dealing with the pulmonary fibrosis to the medication but more importantly to my commitment to an exercise program set up by my personal trainer. I can truly say that I feel very good and actually enjoy my visits to the gym and meeting with my personal trainer as we continue to adapt my "program" to best suit my goals.
At this time we have also became aware of a friend who is currently in critical condition in the local hospital with pulmonary fibrosis which he apparently incurred from a heart medication he had been taking. I have talked with him often and although he had this condition he never sought out a specialist or made any attempt to engage and exercise program.
We leave for Seattle in about six months for another appointment. I currently feel great and realize that I will be dealing with the cards that have been dealt me but I am very encourage with each appointment and truly enjoy the gym and the programs my personal trainer has assigned to me. I know that the combination of the medication and the exercise program I am on has produced for me a much healthier condition than if had I not embraced the program I am pursuing.
LLM, 65 yrs @ 9/15/10
No comments:
Post a Comment