Greetings fellow IPF people ! I was diagnosed in 2007. Have never smoked a cigarette in my life, always worked in good clean environments ,

[puffingbob]

And never had neumonia or infected by mould. - nor kept birds. - all the usual things asked by Doctors . So why - I ask myself ?? Now aged 71 and past the usual limit I am more at ease with the situation . Having been given excellent advice and tuition from the staff of St .Francis Hospice ( day unit ) Havering , I've learnt to PACE MYSELF and TAKE MY TIME and just learnt to accept it. I am currently enjoying a holiday in Singapore where my brother and sister are resident , having paid the £900+ air fare , and upon mentioning I was carrying a small portable oxygen cylinder I had to pick myself off the ground when they asked for 50% of the fare so I could put the cylinder on a seat ! Thank goodness for a very caring and efficient Consultant who adviced me about a portable concentrator (INOGENONE ) which could be taken on a plane with no problem ! Battery operated I am using it whiile away and all is well . The moral of the story is. - while it's damned awful to live with, short of having a transplant and all the risks that it envolves. - learn to live with it and JUST TAKE YOUR TIME ! Good luck all.