Re: Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis

[Hatsy]

To anyone out there who has been diagnosed with IPF I can tell you what I have been through, perhaps I can help you make your mind up regarding treatment!  I am 58 years old, quit smoking 11 years ago, my Mom had IPF, it is a disease that is passed down in your genes!  Thanks Mom!  A year ago I had Asmatic Broncitis and it just wouldn't go away - then, after a horrible fall and winter, in the Spring they decided I should see a Pulmonologist.  My doc put me on 60 mgs a day, of Prednosone before I saw the Pulmonologist.  The Pulmonologist suggested that I have a lung biopsy!  Well, that scared the daylights out of me so I put it off -- Well now I am two weeks out of the Hospital from my biopsys, which confirmed the IPF, and my Pulmonologist has started decreasing the Prednosone (which I was down to 35 mgs prior to surgery) even more and has put me on Imuran, increasing by 25 mgs weekly.  As for right now, I am glad I had the biopsys done, and I am now working on getting stronger.  I have Physical Theropy coming here twice a week and am signing up for Lung Life for better Physical Theropy concentrated on people with lung disabilities.  One of my nurses had a patient who died at 101 with IPF, so we still have a good life ahead of us.  Think positively and believe in your own power to heal yourself.
Hatsy - Connecticut


This discussion is related to Interstitial Lung Disease.