Re: Breathing techniques...

[Guest guest]

Stefi,

your always a breath of fresh air. How do you control your diabetes with this disease? I'm only on oral meds, and follow somewhat of a diet........My readings are always high now a days. PF 01/05 diabetis forever, pagents disease 1975 68yo Atlanta.

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Mon, December 21, 2009 5:26:23 PMSubject: Breathing techniques...

I happened to catch an old National Geographic special this weekend that featured Alan Alda and free diving. I have maintained that some of my breathing techniques (natural tendencies) are directly attributed to my being part fish. As a youth in Minnesota, you could not keep me out of the water during the summer months. I have kept swimming, though never competitively. I am not a speed swimmer, but do enjoy surface diving and the solitude of being under water. In order to stay down longer (even if not in deep water), one has to pump the lungs to hold more air. Basically, three-four "gulp air" breaths to expand the lung capacity. If I do that before I dive, the last breath is more effective and I can stay down slightly longer because it forces more oxygen into the blood. The principle was discussed and demonstrated on the special. I tried it after the show and it works... albeit only temporarily, but it does work. Kinda adds another level of control if

you know how to do it and how to bring up your sat more quickly. You need to know it and know how it works (practice in a control environment with your oximeter). You are not going to hold your breath, you are going to pump up your lungs to temporarily increase your lung capacity. Note of caution... I may just be blowing smoke for some of you as there are so many permutations of this disease amongst us. ALWAYS practice caution.Oh yeah, I am currently not receiving my digests, but check the site to catch up. I am working the problem with the yahoo groups. I miss the ease of the digests.Stefani 61 year old UtahnILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Sleep Apnea 4/2009

[Guest guest]

I too am on oral meds. Glucophage/Metformin 500 twice a day. My A1c was at 6.2

last October. I have gotten it down to 5.7, but that was last year. At one

point it was at 9.6 (when first discovered, my initial dose of prednisone). I

have a lot of tuna fish sandwiches, oatmeal for breakfast (6 out of 7 mornings),

and a Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers or Healthy Choice TV dinner in the evenings.

I still go out for lunch once every 3-4 weeks and will go out to dinner on

special occasions. I keep fruit, nuts (unsalted almonds and walnuts) and

vegetables in the house for snacking (more vegetable snacks than fruit). The

original doctor who put me on prednisone never checked any of my previous blood

workups or he would have seen I was borderline (I didn't have a clue at that

time because it was within normal range, but my GP said I had always been on the

high side of normal). I was never given any warning by the pulmonologist and

after putting me on 60 mg of prednisone a day, he left the country (went home to

India for a month) and my GP picked up the pieces. Fortunately, I have a pretty

good handle on it now, but it doesn't help to have another ball to keep up in

the air while doing the PF survival quest. I have been fairly lucky not to have

any other problems (well, I guess finding the sleep apnea was another surprise,

but with my CPAP, that is well managed as well). I just keep looking at

teaching myself the best way to cope with this disease and try to keep an open

mind. I haven't read any reports on anything promising yet, but I keep

searching. I try to share all of the little tidbits I find (as do most of the

members of our board).

Take care... and have a great Holiday,

Stefani 61 year old Utahn (originally from MN)

ILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Sleep Apnea 4/2009

>

> Stefi,

> your always a breath of fresh air.   How do you control your diabetes with

this disease?  I'm only on oral meds, and follow somewhat of a diet........My

readings are always high now a days.

>  PF 01/05 diabetis forever, pagents disease 1975 68yo Atlanta.

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: Breathe-Support

> Sent: Mon, December 21, 2009 5:26:23 PM

> Subject: Breathing techniques...

>

>  

> I happened to catch an old National Geographic special this weekend that

featured Alan Alda and free diving. I have maintained that some of my breathing

techniques (natural tendencies) are directly attributed to my being part fish.

As a youth in Minnesota, you could not keep me out of the water during the

summer months. I have kept swimming, though never competitively. I am not a

speed swimmer, but do enjoy surface diving and the solitude of being under

water. In order to stay down longer (even if not in deep water), one has to pump

the lungs to hold more air. Basically, three-four " gulp air " breaths to expand

the lung capacity. If I do that before I dive, the last breath is more effective

and I can stay down slightly longer because it forces more oxygen into the

blood. The principle was discussed and demonstrated on the special. I tried it

after the show and it works... albeit only temporarily, but it does work. Kinda

adds another level of control if

> you know how to do it and how to bring up your sat more quickly. You need to

know it and know how it works (practice in a control environment with your

oximeter). You are not going to hold your breath, you are going to pump up your

lungs to temporarily increase your lung capacity. Note of caution... I may just

be blowing smoke for some of you as there are so many permutations of this

disease amongst us. ALWAYS practice caution.

>

> Oh yeah, I am currently not receiving my digests, but check the site to catch

up. I am working the problem with the yahoo groups. I miss the ease of the

digests.

>

> Stefani 61 year old Utahn

> ILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Sleep Apnea 4/2009

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the responce Stef........I always dismissed my diabetes thought the meds would take care of it. I need to think better now with the PF> thanks again and have a Merry Christmas PF 01/05 diabetis forever, pagents disease 1975 68yo Atlanta.

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Tue, December 22, 2009 6:41:47 AMSubject: Re: Breathing techniques...

I too am on oral meds. Glucophage/Metformi n 500 twice a day. My A1c was at 6.2 last October. I have gotten it down to 5.7, but that was last year. At one point it was at 9.6 (when first discovered, my initial dose of prednisone). I have a lot of tuna fish sandwiches, oatmeal for breakfast (6 out of 7 mornings), and a Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers or Healthy Choice TV dinner in the evenings. I still go out for lunch once every 3-4 weeks and will go out to dinner on special occasions. I keep fruit, nuts (unsalted almonds and walnuts) and vegetables in the house for snacking (more vegetable snacks than fruit). The original doctor who put me on prednisone never checked any of my previous blood workups or he would have seen I was borderline (I didn't have a clue at that time because it was within normal range, but my GP said I had always been on the high side of normal). I was never given any warning by the pulmonologist and after putting me on 60

mg of prednisone a day, he left the country (went home to India for a month) and my GP picked up the pieces. Fortunately, I have a pretty good handle on it now, but it doesn't help to have another ball to keep up in the air while doing the PF survival quest. I have been fairly lucky not to have any other problems (well, I guess finding the sleep apnea was another surprise, but with my CPAP, that is well managed as well). I just keep looking at teaching myself the best way to cope with this disease and try to keep an open mind. I haven't read any reports on anything promising yet, but I keep searching. I try to share all of the little tidbits I find (as do most of the members of our board).Take care... and have a great Holiday, Stefani 61 year old Utahn (originally from MN)ILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Sleep Apnea 4/2009>> Stefi,> your always a breath of fresh air.  How do you control your diabetes with this disease? I'm only on oral meds, and follow somewhat of a diet........ My readings are always high now a days.>  PF 01/05 diabetis forever, pagents disease 1975 68yo Atlanta. > > > > > ____________ _________ _________ __> From: sfshaner <sfshaner@.. .>> To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. com> Sent: Mon, December 21, 2009 5:26:23 PM> Subject: Breathing techniques.. .> >  > I happened to catch an old National Geographic

special this weekend that featured Alan Alda and free diving. I have maintained that some of my breathing techniques (natural tendencies) are directly attributed to my being part fish. As a youth in Minnesota, you could not keep me out of the water during the summer months. I have kept swimming, though never competitively. I am not a speed swimmer, but do enjoy surface diving and the solitude of being under water. In order to stay down longer (even if not in deep water), one has to pump the lungs to hold more air. Basically, three-four "gulp air" breaths to expand the lung capacity. If I do that before I dive, the last breath is more effective and I can stay down slightly longer because it forces more oxygen into the blood. The principle was discussed and demonstrated on the special. I tried it after the show and it works... albeit only temporarily, but it does work. Kinda adds another level of control if> you know how to do it and how to bring

up your sat more quickly. You need to know it and know how it works (practice in a control environment with your oximeter). You are not going to hold your breath, you are going to pump up your lungs to temporarily increase your lung capacity. Note of caution... I may just be blowing smoke for some of you as there are so many permutations of this disease amongst us. ALWAYS practice caution.> > Oh yeah, I am currently not receiving my digests, but check the site to catch up. I am working the problem with the yahoo groups. I miss the ease of the digests.> > Stefani 61 year old Utahn> ILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Sleep Apnea 4/2009>