Re: Re: , for Don

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Thank you for such great words that make me feel stronger. I can do this. I'm not really a strong person, but I have a feeling that before this is over I'm going to be a whole lot stronger. You are terrific. K IllinoisBruce Moreland wrote: Please let him know he isn't alone. We can't know exactly how he feelsbut we all hate this horrible disease. Some of us aren't as bad as him,some are worse. Some have had the same horrors with

prednisone whileothers haven't. I took a poll and 71% of those responding from heresuffered from depression. Some did before the disease, some did beforeand it got worse, some didn't until the after the disease. I suspect ofthose on prednisone the percentage would be even higher.We all cry. We all feel sorry for ourselves. We all suffer from such anunfair and undeserved disease. There isn't one person here who hasn't atleast for a fleeting moment wondered if it was worth battling or if theywere strong enough. Evel Kneival broke trillions of bones and did everyinsane and daring thing known to man, but PF brought him to his kneesand ultimately led to his death. However, he also found strength to livetill the end and served on the Board of Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundationwhile making public service announcements.We all have searched and continue to search for answers. There are noabsolutes with this disease. What

works for one doesn't for another. Wedisagree on things. Doctors disagree. We struggle with decisions. If youtell me you have most diseases, I can go look up and tell you what totake to treat it and even cure it. No one can tell you how to treat thisone and there is no cure.But, most of us still find we have lives to live. Oh, some days we maynot feel it. But, we find what gives our live value and quality andpleasure. Life isn't as we imagined or dreamed it would be. But, wefollow others before us and find a way to make the most of it. I mayappear strong sometimes, but by myself I'm not. I'm fragile. I came hereand got strength in addition to that from my counselor. I have rolemodels here. I can name dozens of them. They give me courage. They don'tmake me happy about the hand I've been dealt. But, they do help me learnhow to play the cards. Personally, I know far worse is to come for me.However, I've seen how

others have endured and thrived. And, most ofall, I know when I get there, I have a place to come where I can becompletely honest and get the support I need.He's not the first person to say here (even indirectly) that they wishthey were dead or were ready for it to end. It's allowed. It's honest.It's real. We cry when we read it but we also understand how one canfeel that way. Then we see the one who felt that way a few weeks ago butnow is smiling through her typed words again. We know that we probablywill not experience the miracle of a cure. But, we do get miracles ofgood days and a little joy and some happiness along the way and weappreciate those more than we ever imagined we could.> > > > > > >> > > > > > > Sher,> > > > > > >

I'm happy to hear the doctors have switched yourdiagnosis.> NSIP> > > > > > is definitely preferable to IPF, the life expectancy is much> longer> > > > > > and as a bonus, it does not always progress. As a matter of> fact,> > > > > > Dr. on at Duke just told me last month that he's seen> > > > patients> > > > > > with NSIP who have been "stable for decades." I mean I know> that my> > > > > > experience may be different but anything that gives us hopeis> > > > > > helpful!> > > > > > > Have they switched your dx based on the behavior of the> > > > disease or> > > > > > also on the ct scan results? NSIP is usually veryidentifiable> > > > by CT> > > > > > scan. To identify the type of

NSIP (fibrotic, cellular or> mixed)> > > > you> > > > > > would need a biopsy. But at this point it probably doesn't> > > > matter as> > > > > > long as your stable. I understand why you wouldn't put> yourself> > > > > > through that. I don't regret my biopsy but I totally get why> you've> > > > > > chosen not to go down that road.> > > > > > > In the meantime, celebrate stability!! Stable is my happy> word!!> > > > > > > Beth> > > > > > > Age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06> > > > > > >> > > > > > > Change everything. Love and Forgive> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >>

> > >> > > > Caro> > > > ASTHMA 1976,OSTEOARTHRITIS 2002, COPD 02/06, IPF 08/07, UIP01/08,> > > > RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS 03/08> > > > Mississippi> > > > ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __> > > >