I'm new at all this.

[Guest guest]

Pat,

Welcome!! I'm sorry you had reason to look for us but since you did I'm glad you found the group. It sounds like you've been through the mill already. Keep reading and feel free to ask whatever questions come to mind.

You are not alone in this. You've landed among friends who understand!

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Thu, December 17, 2009 6:53:33 PMSubject: I'm new at all this.

I just joined this support group and boy do I need you. I was diagnosed (finally) with IPF in March of this year. I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and was down in San Diego waiting to go on a Mexican cruise. Instead I ended up in the hospital for 25 days, most of the time in intensive care. I basically went into respiratory failure and it took a long time before I got a diagnosis. And it wasn't for lack of trying - I think I had most tests ever done to man or beast.This year has been a year of firsts. First time ever on oxygen, first time I've ever been told that I was going to die a lot earlier than anticipated (I found out 3 days after my 55 birthday that they figured I have 5 years to live. I told them they were wrong because I have worked to dang hard to get my pension and I wanted a chance to spend it when I turn 65.)It gets cold up here in the winter and it's pretty tough to breath when I'm outside. Don't like that but it does

give me a pretty good excuse to not go outside in this weather.I've been on dextamethasone (spelling is wrong) and now I'm on prednisone,and azothiaprine. I'm an insulin dependent diabetic and the prednisone is causing my blood sugars to sky rocket. It hasn't been easy to say the least.So here I am. Thrilled to read some of the posts because I dont feel so alone anymore.Pat

[Guest guest]

Welcome Pat,Sorry you need us, Glad you found us.Boy you sound like me. I too am an insulin dependent diabetic who went from fine to ICU intubation in 3.5 days. And yes the pred does screw up our sugar royally doesn't it. I'm fairly brittle anyway and my A1c numbers do not make my doc a happy camper, but my PFT score were almost identical to the one last year when I went back on the pred and the azothiaprine...Have you been to one of the centers of excellence such as National Jewish in Denver? They must think you have an inflammitory type since you are on the pred and azothiaprine. I'm going on my 8th year and someone whose name excapes me just now was diagnosed in 98 I think so we have many who have or are going past that 5 year mark. Remember that is an average. Welcome to the best group of friends who 'get" you.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!".">> I just joined this support group and boy do I need you. I was diagnosed (finally) with IPF in March of this year. I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and was down in San Diego waiting to go on a Mexican cruise. Instead I ended up in the hospital for 25 days, most of the time in intensive care. I basically went into respiratory failure and it took a long time before I got a diagnosis. And it wasn't for lack of trying - I think I had most tests ever done to man or beast.> > This year has been a year of firsts. First time ever on oxygen, first time I've ever been told that I was going to die a lot earlier than anticipated (I found out 3 days after my 55 birthday that they figured I have 5 years to live. I told them they were wrong because I have worked to dang hard to get my pension and I wanted a chance to spend it when I turn 65.)> > It gets cold up here in the winter and it's pretty tough to breath when I'm outside. Don't like that but it does give me a pretty good excuse to not go outside in this weather.> > I've been on dextamethasone (spelling is wrong) and now I'm on prednisone,and azothiaprine. I'm an insulin dependent diabetic and the prednisone is causing my blood sugars to sky rocket. It hasn't been easy to say the least.> > So here I am. Thrilled to read some of the posts because I dont feel so alone anymore.> > Pat>

[Guest guest]

Pat.......welcome to the group. I too am a newbie here and these people are just amazing. You will find comfort as well as very educated answers to your questions.

Patti IPF 2007 Indianapolis

[Guest guest]

Pat. So sorry to hear you had to go through all that. You will get lots of help

and support here. Like they say, 5 yrs. is not stamped on your butt anywhere. I

am coming to my 5 yr. mark and plan to stick around for quite awhile. Stay

strong.

Merf 62 IPF 05

>

> I just joined this support group and boy do I need you. I was diagnosed

(finally) with IPF in March of this year. I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

and was down in San Diego waiting to go on a Mexican cruise. Instead I ended up

in the hospital for 25 days, most of the time in intensive care. I basically

went into respiratory failure and it took a long time before I got a diagnosis.

And it wasn't for lack of trying - I think I had most tests ever done to man or

beast.

>

> This year has been a year of firsts. First time ever on oxygen, first time

I've ever been told that I was going to die a lot earlier than anticipated (I

found out 3 days after my 55 birthday that they figured I have 5 years to live.

I told them they were wrong because I have worked to dang hard to get my pension

and I wanted a chance to spend it when I turn 65.)

>

> It gets cold up here in the winter and it's pretty tough to breath when I'm

outside. Don't like that but it does give me a pretty good excuse to not go

outside in this weather.

>

> I've been on dextamethasone (spelling is wrong) and now I'm on prednisone,and

azothiaprine. I'm an insulin dependent diabetic and the prednisone is causing

my blood sugars to sky rocket. It hasn't been easy to say the least.

>

> So here I am. Thrilled to read some of the posts because I dont feel so alone

anymore.

>

> Pat

>

[Guest guest]

Pat stick with us.....lots of caring folks in here with a lot of knowledge............sorry you have to be here

<FONT face="comic sans ms" color=#40007f size=3> Soulliere & nbsp; <IMG src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/50.gif"></FONT>

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Thu, December 17, 2009 6:53:33 PMSubject: I'm new at all this.

I just joined this support group and boy do I need you. I was diagnosed (finally) with IPF in March of this year. I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and was down in San Diego waiting to go on a Mexican cruise. Instead I ended up in the hospital for 25 days, most of the time in intensive care. I basically went into respiratory failure and it took a long time before I got a diagnosis. And it wasn't for lack of trying - I think I had most tests ever done to man or beast.This year has been a year of firsts. First time ever on oxygen, first time I've ever been told that I was going to die a lot earlier than anticipated (I found out 3 days after my 55 birthday that they figured I have 5 years to live. I told them they were wrong because I have worked to dang hard to get my pension and I wanted a chance to spend it when I turn 65.)It gets cold up here in the winter and it's pretty tough to breath when I'm outside. Don't like that but it does

give me a pretty good excuse to not go outside in this weather.I've been on dextamethasone (spelling is wrong) and now I'm on prednisone,and azothiaprine. I'm an insulin dependent diabetic and the prednisone is causing my blood sugars to sky rocket. It hasn't been easy to say the least.So here I am. Thrilled to read some of the posts because I dont feel so alone anymore.Pat