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[Guest guest]

Hi all that responded to Squeaky. Here is my response to . Hit the wrong button and it might be of interest to all. Keep on that mold idea as it is pretty easy to figure out over time. If it is mold and you haven't done the work to get it out of your environment you will never improve. If you need any help that I can give, please let me know. It is a serious learning curve. I also use a silk comfort mask when in groceries or near anything that might bother me. If I'm having a hard time then the mask is too difficult to get air through although it is a wonderful item.

Mike

Hi ,

On open biopsy the results came back for PF. On looking at the report my Dr. Hassan in ville TN, noted that they also showed some "granulation" I think he called it. My first attack in 1997, had been following or during a bad URI in California during the rainy season when I was diagnosed with Interstitial Pneumonitis.

Anyhow, Dr. Hassan sent the biopsies to Duke, Mayo or both for second opinion. It came back that they thought it was PF with an aspect of HP. He put me on a 6 month regimine of pred and when it worked very well, said I should move west to dry climate b/c most HP was due to mold. We lived in a very damp environment at the edge of Smoky Mountain National Park.

To make it short, after 5 years, I am certain mold was the culprit and the PF is secondary due to it going untreated. I went to ER tonight with awful SOB b/c I had attended an art show that was in a grassy field. By the time I realized the situation it was too late. Damage done. The reaction will take a day and then build each day without prednisone. This time pred didn't work. IV depomedrol did.

Here are the things that are sure to put me into arrest. Grass, rainy days or even cloudy ones, plants in the house, anywhere there is refrigeration such as grocery stores, produce areas etc. Windy days as dust from watered lawns etc flies everywhere. You will learn to smell mold if there is a pin size piece anywhere. When you have a reaction 100% of the time to these things you know what you have! Mine is severe but was not always. It gets worse with time and exposure. My Dr. here says it's PF. I don't even think he has spent 5 minutes trying to figure it out. Only one more lung guy here so I'm likely out of luck for a second opinion.

If I can be of any help at all we can compare more notes and I'd like to hear about your reactions, how, when etc... How does pred work for you?

Mike

Hi Mike Ferguson, My name is and I would like to welcome both you and Stefani to the group. Sorry I didn"t respond earlier with a welcome, but I have been over whelmed with company the last two weeks. I did notice in the posts you have made that you seem to attribute your PF to mold. I have the same feelings, but have not been able to verify it, so I am wondering if you have a Dr. that has confirmed your assumption and if so, I live in Arizona and am willing to travel anywhere to find the Dr that can confirm my suspicions. Thank you and I hope (know) that you have found the best site for the answers you will need for this disease, I will be talking with you later, good luck!!!! G. UIP/IPF 5/07 AZ.