Re: Introduction

[Guest guest]

Thanks Bruce...I'm going to tell my dad.CyndiSent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryFrom: "Bruce Moreland" Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:22:10 -0000To: <Breathe-Support >Subject: Re: Introduction Cyndi As you can get liquid portables to go as high as 15 lpm the liter flow shouldn't be a problem with liquid. > > > From: Jane Roush janieann54 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> > Subject: Introduction > To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. com > Date: Sunday, July 19, 2009, 4:06 PM > > > > > > > > > > Hi All, > I recently joined the group and have found it to be very helpful. My name is Jane (Janie), I am 55 years old and live in northern Wisconsin. I was diagnosed with IPF in October of 2004--the year I turned 50. What a wake up call that was! > The first pulmonologist I saw diagnosed it immediately but said there was nothing they could do for me at their facility and referred me to Mayo Clinic in MN. Luckily, I had a friend that was able to pull some strings and I was seen at Mayo in 12/04. At that time, I was put on massive doses of prednisone (60 mg at first) and Imuran. I was not able to tolerate Imuran--it made me violently ill--so I was put on CellCept (2 grams/day). > Doctors there thought I was a good transplant candidate since I was healthy except, of > course, for my lungs. After going through the evaluation in August of 2005, I was accepted as a candidate and continued with my 3 month evaluations and signed up for every study group that wanted me. In June of 2006, in a routine CT scan for one of the research groups, they discovered a lump in my thyroid. A biopsy revealed that it was " suspicious " so I had part of my thyroid removed in 7/06.. It turned out to be malignant but had not spread so I needed no further treatment. I was inactivated on the list for 6 months to be sure I remained cancer free. After the 6 months, I was #1 on the list and told to have transportation arrangements in order and my bags packed for when I " got the call " . > Then in Spring of 2008, I started feeling very fatigued, weak and the shortness of breath increased to the point that I could hardly get out of bed. Blood tests revealed that I was anemic so I again was inactivated on the > list and scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy. The colonoscopy revealed a baseball-sized tumor and surgery was scheduled in 5/08. The tumor was malignant but encapsulated so, once again, I needed no chemo or radiation. Best case scenario if you have to have cancer. The bad news is I was taken off the list for 5 years (4 years now) to be sure the cancer doesn't reoccur. > Whew. .. . are you still with me? So now I am taking the best possible care I can of myself with wonderful support and love of family and friends. This disease has been a blessing to me in many ways, as strange as that sounds. I've learned to take one day at a time, look for the beauty and good in each day, and to count my blessings. > Thanks for listening and I look forward to chatting with all of > you. > Janie >