Re: Re: Birmingham visit this week

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Thanks Bruce and Sher!! I am glad it is over, but am glad, as you say, to know the reason why I got stuck with this UIP!!! Am a little scared though after I went to the Sjogren's.org website and saw what all the symptoms can be. I feel I have an even tougher road ahead now than before, but I can deal with it. Have been having lots of heartburn today. I thought the Prevacid was taking care of that. Hasn't bothered me in forever. I ran out of the Prevacid but only for 2 days. Didn't think it would bother me that much but it did. Guess I had better not run out again.CaroASTHMA 1976,OSTEOARTHRITIS 2002, COPD 02/06, IPF 08/07, UIP 01/08, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS 03/08Mississippi

Subject: Re: Re: Birmingham visit this weekTo: Breathe-Support Date: Thursday, July 17, 2008, 8:40 PM

Caro... with all the things that keep you busy you don't have time to be sick!

Sorry to hear about the Sjogren's and I know you will be diligent about using the eyedrops.

I'm with you on financial ruin! I just fell into the "donut hole" with my Rx and now have to pay full price for Rx until the first of the year. My last Rx was 119.00. One I take will now be over 300. Ye gads. I will have to find some solution or simply not take my meds. What a worry.

Take care.

MamaSher, age 69. IPF 3-06, OR. NasturtiumsDon't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

Re: Birmingham visit this week

CaroI know it feels like just another burden as if you didn't already haveenough. However, I also know that ultimately the knowledge will helpyou. Just something as simple as knowing why your eyes are dry and touse eye drops is good. Recognizing other symptoms if they occur andknowing the cause. A huge percentage of us have an autoimmune disease. Ihave symptoms today that I wouldn't understand if I didn't know whatit's likely to be proven I have. I, like you, would prefer not to haveit just as I would PF but I can still deal better with that iunderstand.Can't believe he didn't give you those funky shades.I know the testing and biopsy and trips have been a lot. Hope you'reable to rest a bit now.>>

Hi all,>> I just got back from the big B city again late yesterday. Had> appointment with oral surgeon Tuesday and eye doctor yesterday.> Well,to make a long story short, salivary gland bx definitely came> back positive for Sjogren's and so did eye exam. Definite dry eyes.> Now I have to use eyedrops every time my eyes feel dry, itchy, or> burning (which is most of the time). Thought I would die after he> dilated my eyes when I hit the sunlight. He failed to give me any of> those funky looking glasses to wear. I had to ride half the way back> home with my right eye totally closed and my hand halfway over the> left eye. No sunglasses anywhere in my dad's truck and my tinted> eyeglasses were not helping, either, until we got about 20 minutes> from being back home!! I went on the website for Sjogren's.org and> OMG!! At least UIP only affects the lungs. This

disease can nearly> affect your whole body from head to toe!! I think it only gets worse> from here!! But not to worry, I am keeping my spirits up as best I> can. Just that I had to fork out $700 out of pocket on the biopsy> and now I am more concerned with financial ruin than the diseases!!>> I have 2000 emails since Sunday so I am not going to be able to read> them all. I am trying to scan through and get the highlights, but am> falling really short, and I am still exhausted from the trip and I> had to work 10 hours today. I will just say I hope everyone is doing> well this week and no one has gotten worse. Hopefully everyone is> having a great week. I saw something about b-days, so whoever has a> B-day this week, I hope you have/had a happy one!!>> Have a good night all and I will be caught back up tomorrow. Have to> go to pulmo rehab tomorrow

after being out since last Friday. That> is going to be TUFF!!>> Caro>