A newbie with questions

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone: I just found this group and I’m

hoping to get some answers to questions.

I

am 62 and was diagnosed in 9/07 with NSIP – a form

of pulmonary fibrosis. I ignored my shortness of breath

symptoms until I had 2 really bad respiratory infections and then one test led

to another. I had a lung biopsy in Sept. and since that

time have become dependent on oxygen—in short I am convinced this

biopsy made my condition worse.

I

am currently on 3 L of O2 sitting and 6 exerting. I am

about 100 lbs overweight and I’ve been told that I

need to lose weight in order to be eligible for a lung transplant

and also losing weight would help my breathing. Having always

been overweight to varying degrees all my life, in my wildest dreams, I

will never be able to lose that amount of wt. I have been put on Prednisone

(20 mg to start and now at 5) and Cellcept, both are immunosuppressants.

I

was “approved” for a banding procedure or gastric bypass

before this diagnosis and that is probably the only way I can lose that

amout of weight. My pulmonary doc says to try to lose

the wt first and then if that doesn’t work go for the least

invasive surgery. Has anyone else faced this?

Can

someone tell me the logistics of using oxygen on a road trip.

If I have to carry enough oxygen E-tanks to get m through a week road

trip, not only would I not have enough room for luggage, but we would be

a “rolling bomb “if we got in an accident. I can use a

portable oxygen concentrator riding in the car, eating or sitting in a

motel room. I still need the 6 liters on exertion

and I’m not sure how to get this. Has anyone had

experience with this logistical nightmare.

Thanks for listening and any help you can give me.

Sue