Re: Irene/crohn's

[Guest guest]

Irene, I would strongly suggest using the probiotics as they are the

" good " bugs for your intestines. You can buy Activia yogurt, or you

can purchase the pills (I use both) and see if they help you.

Fully 70% of our immune system is in our intestinal tract, and that's

where we need to start protecting ourselves.

The probiotics have helped me immensely, and my poor hubby has IBS and

has been feeling great for the past year that he's been using the

probiotics. Really an amazing change in his life after suffering for

20 years.

You can buy them online, but the best of the best is to have them

formulated at a pharmacy or through a naturopath doctor. We bought

ours online at Swanson Vitamins until we began using the naturopath

doc close to home.

I really, really do feel your pain, and I'm hoping that you'll try

these for a month or two and see if they give you any relief.

Keeping you in my prayers, as always!

Hugs!

Babs in Texas

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi All,

> > > > >

> > > > > Sorry I haven't posted in a few days again, but I am back from

> > > > > Birmingham. Still don't know anything definite other than the

> > > > > diagnosis I already have of UIP. First when I got there,

they did

> > > > > ABGs (OMG!! It hurt so bad!! I had it done once before and I

> didn't

> > > > > even feel it, but not this time. She had to pry (her

words)). Then

> > > > > I had to do PFTs, which showed 57% lung function, compared

to the

> > > 68%

> > > > > I had in December. Next, I visited with the doc. Actually there

> > > > > were 2 docs. The first one was a fellow of Dr. de Andrade

(who was

> > > > > the Assistant Professor). His name was Dr. , very nice

guy.

> > > > > He took down all my history and said he thinks I may have

> pulmonary

> > > > > hypertension (which would explain the rapid heart rate). He

> did exam

> > > > > and then goes to discuss with Dr. de Andrade, who comes back

> in and

> > > > > again, very nice guy. He explains that it is very rare in a

woman

> > > > > under the age of 50 to have pulmonary fibrosis and since I

> have been

> > > > > sick for 6 years already, even more rare, not unheard of, just

> rare.

> > > > > So I am a model case!! Anyhoo, due to this fact that I AM so

rare,

> > > > > he thinks there is an underlying disease causing the PF, so

I get

> > > > > blood work (10 tubes of blood) for various autoimmune

diseases. He

> > > > > is leaning towards Sjogren's or scleroderma (mostly

> scleroderma for

> > > > > which also there is no cure). Dr.. did a heart exam and

> > looked

> > > > > at the veins in my neck before talking to Dr. de Andrade who

> decided

> > > > > I needed another chest CT (my last one was in February

2008), so I

> > > > > had that done (without contrast thank God!!) and also that I

> needed

> > > > > an ultrasound of my heart to check for blood flow to the

heart and

> > > > > for any blockages to the valves. All in all, he said if I

> don't hear

> > > > > from them in a week, to call them to get the results. Other than

> > > > > that, he didn't change any of my medications, except to

> decrease the

> > > > > prednisone even further to 10 mg a day. He said he wants me

to get

> > > > > off the prednisone completely, so NO MORE STEROIDS!! YEAH!!!! I

> > > > > told him I had gained 20 pounds since being on them starting in

> > > > > January, and told him I have moon faces and he agreed.. He

> said they

> > > > > want me lean and healthy and I did not need to be on that for

> sure.

> > > > > Any weight gain is out of the question, he said. He told me

I have

> > > > > to keep moving. He told me to eat lean proteins, fruits, and

> veggies

> > > > > and no snacks. He PROMISED me the weight will come off. He

said he

> > > > > expects me to lose 10 pounds rather quickly. I sure hope he is

> > > > > right, because I am miserable and I told him so, too!! He said

> there

> > > > > are no real medications to treat PF, and I knew that, but he

said

> > > > > when I come back, I can decide either to go with the Imuran

and N-

> > > > > Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), which is all the best they know at this

> point

> > > > > to give patients with PF, or I can try an experimental drug

> > > (clinical

> > > > > trial), which I don't know what the side effects will be,

but I am

> > > > > kinda leaning towards doing anyway, because I feel like even

if it

> > > > > doesn't help me, it may help some other person with this stupid

> > > > > disease on down the road and it would be worth it. As for lung

> > > > > transplant, I don't yet qualify because my sats are not low

enough

> > > > > and I am not on oxygen yet. Note that I said " YET. " He said

> the key

> > > > > to prolonging oxygen use as long as possible is to stay as

active

> > > and

> > > > > healthy as possible and that is what I am going to try and do.

> > > > > (my grandson) is here with me this summer, and he really

> > > > > helps to keep me motivated and I think I need that right

now. Also

> > > > > the docs were really glad to know that I am in pulmonary

rehab and

> > > > > that I am going to stay in the Wellness Program when I get

> done with

> > > > > the rehab program. All in all, even though I did get some not so

> > > > > good news, I feel like I got some good news, also, so until next

> > > week

> > > > > or whenever I get the results, I am just trying to keep my

self in

> > > > > exercise and health mode the best I can and keep going.

> > > > >

> > > > > So that was my Birmingham visit. My parents went with me and we

> > > > > really had a nice trip. I don't know what I would do without

them.

> > > > > They have been my rock through all of this. Thank God for my

Mama

> > > > > and Daddy!!

> > > > >

> > > > > I hope you all have a great week and now that I am back I hope

> to be

> > > > > able to keep up with posts better and write more than I have

> been. I

> > > > > do reads all the posts and think of each and every one of you

> > > > > everyday. You are my air family and you are my rock, as well.

> Don't

> > > > > know what I would do without you guys, either!! I love you all!!

> > > > >

> > > > > Have a great day!!

> > > > >

> > > > > Caro

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

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>

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