Diagnose early!

[Delbrooks]

Anyone with family starting to suffer a chronic cough and breathlessness MUST explore Pulmonary Fibrosis! This diagnosis came too late for my wife and earlier intervention might have saved her, or kept her with us longer!

[Hidden]

Hi delbrookes, welcome, but sorry for ur news and post. X Sonia xx

[i_am_iamnins_nin]

Very good advice Delbrooks. I'm very sorry to hear that diagnosis was too late for your wife, am sorry for your loss.

Nin x

[Jolyn]

So sorry delbrooks....Lyn xx

[butter-fly]

I'm so sorry Delbrooks that you lost your wife because of this vicious disease.

It is good of you to warn us to as to what to look out for, in others in our life.

[scorpiolass]

So sorry you lost your wife Delbrooks; thanks for taking the time to warn others of the dangers of not seeking medical help with chest problems, Love Margaret x

[Ladybell]

So true, we have 2 children and 10 grandchildren to worry about. One son will have nothing to do with us??! we are finding it hard to tell him. We found out yesterday that not only did dad die from it, but his brother also. But at a good age 83. How do you tell someone who will not listen? Ladybell

[Nanny1086]

Hi Delbrooks,,,,,so sad for your loss, yes early diagnoses is very important ,I was diagnosed back in 92 ( I'm 69 now ) ,and have been well looked after in my many many hospital stays including a spell in ICU, and now by copd specialist nurses/ physio's, who do everything they can to keep me well and out of hospital, ,,,,,I wish your dear wife had been able to benefit from the wonderful care I've received over the years,,,,,god bless ,

[Nanny1086]

Hi, not Pf ,flibertti,,,,,I was first told I had asthma in 1992 when I was blue lighted into hospital ,,,,touch and go for a while ,,,I was 46. I was told to stop smoking ,,,,,I did so immediately, ,,,,and coped quite well with maybe 3/4 admissions to hospital over next 10 years,then I gradulay developed ,emphasyma, copd ,and chronic Bronchietis ,that was 2004. More hospital stays, and did very little with my life,,,,,,as continuously breathless, ,,,then a very bad chest infection in 2008 led to septasyma and a spell in ICU over Xmas new year ,coming home in mid January, ,,,,and that's. Where things improved ,,,,,,I was asked if I would speak to the copd team of specialist nurses who would come to my house ,go through all my medication and come to see me if and when I needed them regarding a problem with my chest / breathing, they are marvelous, they said they were starting a pulmary rehab class at our local gym would I be there first patient to attend,they had so good to me ,,,,I couldn't refuse,,,,,me doing exersise,,,,,,who'd believe that,,,,,well I did the 8 week class ,and couldn't believe in the improvement in my capabilities ,,,,,I carried on into the gym with the Lycra loving people ,,,but didn't let it put me off,,,,,and by 2010 I was doing 3 mile on the tread mill ,3 mile on the bike and 1 mile on the rower,,,,,,sadly over the following couple of years,,,,,,I deteriated,,,,,my breathing got a lot worse,,,,,but I carried on seeing my nurses,,,,and they got me through each exasipation ,,,sometimes having to go back into hospital, and I still attended the gym twice a week ,,,,but not doing as much,,,,but at least as I was there doing my best ,,,not sitting watching tv ,

And built myself back up again, then in 2012 I was at the gym where I had a suspected heart attack,,,,so was blue lighted again to hospital, it turned out to be angina brought on by exersise ,,,,,I was trying to hard ,,,so once again no exersise for me for 4 months ,,but I lived to get back to my gym and nurses, ,,,,and was doing ok ,,,,,then last year ,,,,,we'll,,,,in January 2014 ,,I had a couple of falls and smashed my wrist ,that had to pinned and plated,then another fall in march , and broke two fingers,,,,,so it was physio twice a week not gym ,,,,,as they wouldn't take responsibility Incase I had another fall ,,,,to be honest I was sooooo fed up I didn't even want to go ,,,,,,,so then I developed a chest infection followed by a virus ,,,,,that wiped me out for the rest of the year,so 2014 was a stinking waste of a year for me,,,,,,I ended the year back with my nurses doing another 8 week class ,where I VERY SLOWLY improved,then Xmas came ,and I/ we had a wonderful time with family, and today I went back into the gym with the Lycra loving ladies,,,,,,and I did one and half mile on treadmill in 20 mins,and 3 mile in 10 mins on the hand bike,,,,,not a lot I know ,,,,but it's a start to getting back to fitness, I'm giving into this illness i will fight it to my last breath ,I have gone on rather a lot, but I felt it nesasary to clear up the misunderstanding of me saying I had PF ,,,,,,

Sorry about any missunderstanding and I hope I didn't give anyone false imformation ,this is just my story of breathing problems caused by smoking, I'm 69 in 10 days ,,,,,,and happy to be here,

[rubyred777 in reply to Nanny1086]

Hi Nanny,

I gotta say , you just fall off that bike and get right back on. Two steps forward, one step back. I gotta give you credit. How is your fev 1 and your sats? Are you on oxygen?

I know I ask alot of questions. I gotta get my inspiration where I can find it. You appear to be someone that stands out to me. Hope you accept that as the compliment it is!

Rubyxx

[Nanny1086 in reply to rubyred777]

Hi ,rubyred777, well my birthday came and went,,,,but it was lovely ,,,my daughter had got two tickets for strictly dancing at the NIA BIRMINGHAM ,for the Sunday afternoon,,,,she booked it in august ,,,,I didn't want to spoil her surprise for me,,,so I put on a big smoke ,,,along with a warm coat and scarf & gloves ,,,,and off we went,,,,we did have to cancel the meal that she booked as I was off my food ,,,,,we had great seats and it was a wonderful show,,,,,the parking was good as I used my blue badge ( a god send to me ) so we were right by the entrance ,20 yards and I was in ,a puff on inhaler and another 10 yards and we were in our our seats,,,,haha,I'm so glad I made the effort ( huge ) it brightened a dull month,

Well antibiotics finished ,and I've started eating again ( a bit ) after 2 weeks of actimil yogurt drink and j2 o drinks,,,,,that's all I could manage,,,,a suprise visit from the COPD nurse who said my blood pressure was slightly up !and my temperature!!!but my sats were low for me at rest!!!so no gym this week for me,,,,as they want my oxygen levels to improve first ,as they drop drastically on movement, thankfully I am not in need of home oxygen ,,,that's always been the driving force for me ,,,,NOT TO Need OXYGEN AT HOME ,,,,so far so good ,,,although I was beginning to think that this was the time I needed it ,,,but no I escaped it again ,,haha,,,but on the whole ,,,,things are on the up ,,,,slowly but surely. ,,I will get there, I do hope soooo much to go to the gym next week and just see what I can manage ,,,but that's up to the copd nurse,,,,I'll let you know ,,,and I thank you for the compliment,,, I hope to continue to inspire you and many others,take care,and keep well ,

[music in reply to Nanny1086]

hi nanny 1086 and wow you are a fighter at 69 really enjoyied reading your post and keep up the exercise has i think you are doing well with it

Best wishes

Music

[Nanny1086]

Thanks

[rubyred777]

Sorry for this late reply. Just want to say how truly sorry I am for your loss.

Rubyxx