new person, new diagnosis

[Guest guest]

Hi folks,

I'm new here, so be nice. How I got here is an amazing story in

itself.

About 6 weeks ago I found myself in ER with an attack of kidney

stones. Not so unusual, given that I've had kidney stones before and

I've had kindeys all my life. When I followed up with my regular

osteopath a week later she mentioned that the CT of my abdomen showed

some swollen lymph glands. She sent me to an oncologist. Part of

his work up for lymphoma was to do a CT with contrast of my chest and

abdomen, as well as a PET scan. Just yesterday I found out that the

scans were negative for lymphoma, but that the CT of the chest showed

" moderate to severe pulmonary fibrosis " . The oncologist called my

DO, and this Friday I have an appointment with a good pulmonologist.

I'm 49. I smoked from the time I was 16 until 1987. I quit for

many years, and started again in March of 2006, and quit in July of

2007. There was a lot of stress in my life during 2006...perhaps

smoking again was something I should not have done.

Symptoms? Dry cough and some annoying breathlessness when I do

heavy lifting or running up a few flights of stairs. I'm 6-1, 270

pounds, have a few controlled medical broblems and otherwise feel

simply wonderful.

I've been a critical care RN for over 25 years and am also an

ordained Episcopal deacon. I'm a newlywed; Dawn and I have been

married for 3 months. She's a social worker and student working on

her PhD in Neuropsychological Traumatology. (Talk about your obscure

field of study!) Between us we have four adult children. We live

with four cats and two Shelties.

I'm also in recovery. Been clean and sober for 2-1/2 years. I'm

a survivor and an optimist with an outrageous and irreverent sense of

humor; I have been through crap I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy (if

I had any) and through it all have learned that I am made of things I

never dreamed of.

I look forward to learning here. Be good to each other.

jon+