Peggy and Bruce

[Guest guest]

Peggy/Bruce

Between the two of you, you've managed to make me cry and laugh at the same time

Peggy - you continue to be an example to us all on being gracious and

loving. I wish so much I could make it to Florida to meet you.

Bruce - I will print and post your post in large letters on my

refrigerator and at work. You continue to astound me with your ability

to put what we want to express in such clear and rich language. Your

peace is palpable even through a computer. Dyane,

54, Phoenix, IIP 02 now UIP? 09, Breast Cancer, Psoriasis,

Lipodermatosclerosis, Diabetes, and now a RA like autoimmune component,

yadda yadda yadda."Life is not a journey to the grave with

intentions of arriving is a pretty, well-preserved body, but rather to

skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, chocolate in

one hand, Margaritas in the other, loudly proclaiming "Holy **** What a

ride!"."

[Guest guest]

Dyane

I struggled through the mental and emotional challenges before being

diagnosed with PF. I've experienced the downs and the anger and the

desperation. It's one thing that makes the disease easier for me because

I can honestly say I've been through worse. The thing I do know is that

no physical illness can rival mental illness and no physical suffering

will ever equal the depression or anxiety or hopelessness we can feel.

Thats why I'm so firm when I talk about managing the mental and

emotional aspects of this disease. Ultimately, if we do that, we live

and find happiness within it all.

I'm also fortunate that as soon as I was diagnosed I hit the internet

and I found support groups here. I visited and I read and I absorbed and

learned. I saw people so much further advanced than I was but still

living life to its fullest. When you're on 2 to 3 lpm but a friend gets

up, dresses, drives and meets you for lunch and is beautiful and

charming even though she's on 10 lpm or even 15 lpm ultimately when

walking, it makes an impression. When you know she's going home in time

for her physical rehab (therapist to here home) then its hard to make

excuses for why I can't exercise or can't get out and walk.

I've gotten so much practical advice here. Yes, I came here before my

VATS and I've read about diagnoses and prednisone and all the other

options. But, I've also learned far more about life and living with a

disease like this. Yes, friends have been lost but I do rejoice far more

in their lives than any mourning. I smile when I think of them, even

laugh sometimes. Ultimately, the ones I feel sorry for are all those who

haven't found an online or local support group and are wading around in

a deep pool of confusion and ignorance, not understanding the disease or

the life they can have with it. I have an uncle who got COPD and spent

the last 30 years of his life in his recliner or in bed. No one told him

he had a choice. I know there are so many diagnosed with PF every day

and being told basically to go home and sit on the sofa and wait to die.

Those are the ones I hurt for. We're a very small percentage of those

with PF. We're the lucky ones.

>

> Peggy/Bruce

>

> Between the two of you, you've managed to make me cry and laugh at the

> same time

>

> Peggy - you continue to be an example to us all on being gracious and

> loving. I wish so much I could make it to Florida to meet you.

>

> Bruce - I will print and post your post in large letters on my

> refrigerator and at work. You continue to astound me with your

ability

> to put what we want to express in such clear and rich language. Your

> peace is palpable even through a computer.

> Dyane, 54, Phoenix, IIP 02 now UIP? 09, Breast Cancer, Psoriasis,

> Lipodermatosclerosis, Diabetes, and now a RA like autoimmune

component,

> yadda yadda yadda.

>

>

> " Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving is a

> pretty, well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside,

thoroughly

> used up, totally worn out, chocolate in one hand, Margaritas in the

> other, loudly proclaiming " Holy **** What a ride! " . "

>