depression, dogs, & shampoo

[Guest guest]

Mama-Sher,

Thank you for the hug. Lola is a super-cutie,

and I totally get how much you love her. Misha's

my fuzzy baby. I read once that codependency is

okay as long as one of you has four legs )

I'm glad your medication has made a big

difference in your life. It's a minor miracle isn't

it? Depression isn't for sissies, and I really

can't imagine anyone with PF not having

experienced it. Even with good friends, when I'm

really struggling I have to work VERY hard not to

isolate myself. Friday my doctor reminded me:

if it's going to bed or being on the computer,

stay on the computer. I thank God for this group.

Bruce,

Ditto everything you said about pets. I do think

people who don't get it are missing out on a very

rich, rewarding, fun, and unique experience. Our

beloved pets also teach us about unselfishness,

unconditional love, and that loss is a part of life.

It's just that I happen to hate that part!!

My friends delivered meals to me after I lost my

last dog. ugh.

Do you realize how many SHORT posts you have

made lately? Must be the pneumonia.

,

I do sincerely hope this season's cyclones will be

piddlers only (love that term), and that in short

order you'll be able to repair the funky roof.

You're so right about the difference between now

and when we were kids - the same is true for me.

We used to roam free and unaccompanied on summer

evenings in our neighborhoods and no one worried

about us. I used to walk to school through a park

that was partially thick with trees. That was in the

1950's. It's a different world today, but OH did we

have fun. We got to use our imaginations, and we

had to relate to other people instead of machines!

Judy,

I firmly believe that attitude continues to help us

regardless of what stage of illness we find ourselves.

Often the sicker we are, the more important it

is to dig deep and find the joy and hopefulness.

If you've found a good attitude helpful in the past,

believe me, it'll continue to serve you well.

To everyone else,

Bruce isn't kidding - the no-rinse shampoo IS

good stuff. When I was laid up in 1999 with broken

bones (femur, etc.) I discovered it. I wouldn't have

believed how well it works. This could be helpful

for people having problems with showering or

expending energy. I got mine at Sally's too.

,

I am terribly sorry you battle depression and

other issues. I can't even imagine the struggles

with medication you potentially have. You are

obviously determined to work on helping yourself

in various ways, as is evidenced by your coming here.

I'm glad you did. Take care. Good luck at the doc Monday.

Oh yes, and if you've got an infection or any other

health issue, even if it warrants another specialist for

treatment, your pulmonologist ought to know about

it. Pulmos need to know everything to stay in the loop.

Vicky,

I'm thinking of you and hoping that you are still

on an upswing. Consider yourself hugged.

Joyce,

I'm happy that you obviously have true friends who

care deeply about you (I mean, besides us).

What a sweet and helpful gesture they made. Tell

them that we appreciate the loving care they show

you.

Hey, how does a guy who " dismissed you as a

patient " sleep at night?! I too have encountered

SO many techs, nurses, etc. who never heard of

PF. Boggles the mind.

To Beth, Joyce, Babs, Zena, Irene, and SO many

others of you who suffer from the whole spectrum of

auto-immune diseases, I admire you so much for

the courage you show in facing such painful, scary,

chronic illnesses through the years. I HATE IPF,

but I also hate it that many of you have such a

rough time with the rest of your bodies as well.

My heart also goes out to those of you facing

these brutal battles every day without insurance,

or while working several jobs, who can't get disability,

who don't have understanding bosses, who've had

to face early retirement, who need to quit work but

can't, whose kids are in trouble, whose marriages are

on the rocks, whose parents are sick, or any of the

million other situations which must be endured in

addition to having terminal illnesses. This is one strong,

persistent, and courageous bunch of people, and I'm

blown away by you. My prayers are for your strength,

peace, and comfort.

Hugs and blessings,

Gwynne IPF 7/04 listed for transplant 3/07 Texas

[Guest guest]

Gwynne....

Would you have expected me to be the one with the shampoo advice? All

these women and the guy is advising on shampoo.....lol

Short posts....oh, I've still gotten my long ones in. Pneumonia gives

even more time to make them long. Or maybe its the super long emails

I've written. But next week you will all get relief while I'm

traveling....lol...I'll be sure to make up for it on Friday or over

the weekend.

Although today I got out and if the weather is the same tomorrow I

plan on doing so again. Although really need to get ready for Monday.

Maybe some of both.

Going to bed or on computer. I can't imagine having this disease

before internet and computers were so widespread. No where to learn

anything. On those days you couldn't get out no way to have social

interaction. No support forums.

>

> Mama-Sher,

> Thank you for the hug. Lola is a super-cutie,

> and I totally get how much you love her. Misha's

> my fuzzy baby. I read once that codependency is

> okay as long as one of you has four legs )

> I'm glad your medication has made a big

> difference in your life. It's a minor miracle isn't

> it? Depression isn't for sissies, and I really

> can't imagine anyone with PF not having

> experienced it. Even with good friends, when I'm

> really struggling I have to work VERY hard not to

> isolate myself. Friday my doctor reminded me:

> if it's going to bed or being on the computer,

> stay on the computer. I thank God for this group.

>

> Bruce,

> Ditto everything you said about pets. I do think

> people who don't get it are missing out on a very

> rich, rewarding, fun, and unique experience. Our

> beloved pets also teach us about unselfishness,

> unconditional love, and that loss is a part of life.

> It's just that I happen to hate that part!!

> My friends delivered meals to me after I lost my

> last dog. ugh.

> Do you realize how many SHORT posts you have

> made lately? Must be the pneumonia.

>

> ,

> I do sincerely hope this season's cyclones will be

> piddlers only (love that term), and that in short

> order you'll be able to repair the funky roof.

> You're so right about the difference between now

> and when we were kids - the same is true for me.

> We used to roam free and unaccompanied on summer

> evenings in our neighborhoods and no one worried

> about us. I used to walk to school through a park

> that was partially thick with trees. That was in the

> 1950's. It's a different world today, but OH did we

> have fun. We got to use our imaginations, and we

> had to relate to other people instead of machines!

>

> Judy,

> I firmly believe that attitude continues to help us

> regardless of what stage of illness we find ourselves.

> Often the sicker we are, the more important it

> is to dig deep and find the joy and hopefulness.

> If you've found a good attitude helpful in the past,

> believe me, it'll continue to serve you well.

>

> To everyone else,

> Bruce isn't kidding - the no-rinse shampoo IS

> good stuff. When I was laid up in 1999 with broken

> bones (femur, etc.) I discovered it. I wouldn't have

> believed how well it works. This could be helpful

> for people having problems with showering or

> expending energy. I got mine at Sally's too.

>

> ,

> I am terribly sorry you battle depression and

> other issues. I can't even imagine the struggles

> with medication you potentially have. You are

> obviously determined to work on helping yourself

> in various ways, as is evidenced by your coming here.

> I'm glad you did. Take care. Good luck at the doc Monday.

> Oh yes, and if you've got an infection or any other

> health issue, even if it warrants another specialist for

> treatment, your pulmonologist ought to know about

> it. Pulmos need to know everything to stay in the loop.

>

> Vicky,

> I'm thinking of you and hoping that you are still

> on an upswing. Consider yourself hugged.

>

> Joyce,

> I'm happy that you obviously have true friends who

> care deeply about you (I mean, besides us).

> What a sweet and helpful gesture they made. Tell

> them that we appreciate the loving care they show

> you.

> Hey, how does a guy who " dismissed you as a

> patient " sleep at night?! I too have encountered

> SO many techs, nurses, etc. who never heard of

> PF. Boggles the mind.

>

> To Beth, Joyce, Babs, Zena, Irene, and SO many

> others of you who suffer from the whole spectrum of

> auto-immune diseases, I admire you so much for

> the courage you show in facing such painful, scary,

> chronic illnesses through the years. I HATE IPF,

> but I also hate it that many of you have such a

> rough time with the rest of your bodies as well.

>

> My heart also goes out to those of you facing

> these brutal battles every day without insurance,

> or while working several jobs, who can't get disability,

> who don't have understanding bosses, who've had

> to face early retirement, who need to quit work but

> can't, whose kids are in trouble, whose marriages are

> on the rocks, whose parents are sick, or any of the

> million other situations which must be endured in

> addition to having terminal illnesses. This is one strong,

> persistent, and courageous bunch of people, and I'm

> blown away by you. My prayers are for your strength,

> peace, and comfort.

>

> Hugs and blessings,

> Gwynne IPF 7/04 listed for transplant 3/07 Texas

>