any of you could explain to me?

[Guest guest]

In one of the pulmonary tests my doctor wreote this at the very bottom:

physician Review:

Severe restrictive disease indicated by total lung capacity reduced to 50% of predicted. marked decrease in pulmonary diffusing capacity to 17% of predicted indicates loss of functioning alveolar-capillary membrane units. After Broncodilator, values are esencially unchanged. (Note: a lack of response to broncodilators does not preclude their use). No significant change from May/09.

please explain to me!

From: Beth <mbmurtha (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>Subject: Re: new to the groupTo: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comDate: Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 8:26 AM

Patti,

Welcome to Breathe Support!! It's lousy that you have reason to look for a group like this but I hope that you find it as helpful as I have over the last 3 and a half years.

It sounds like you are doing all the right stuff. I'm so happy to hear you are going to the University of Chicago. They have a great reputation and I'm certain you will learn a ton regarding your own situation and how to approach the new realities.

Take things one step at a time and please don't panic about what you read on the internet. I was diagnosed 3 and a half years ago and I'm in EXACTLY the same condition I was at that time. I've been stable for 3 and a half years. We have a member who is I think ten or twelve years out from diagnosis and is stable. So the moral of the story is, there is no expiration date tatooed on your fanny!

Please continue to read and ask whatever questions you have. We're here to help!

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

From: emma0850 <napa73 (AT) comcast (DOT) net>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Tue, December 1, 2009 10:35:47 PMSubject: new to the group

Hello everyone.... .I just found this group today and I couldn't be happier to find all of you! My name is Patti.....I am 59 yrs old and was told three years ago that I had pulmonary fibrosis in my lung bases. I went through the entire ordeal of test after test and was told it was so mild that they thought it may have been there for years. I continued to do all the follow up tests each year and until now it had remained unchanged. This past month the tests showed it has now progressed to the entire lung area. My PFT had dropped from 79 to 60 in two years. I still feel just fine but the doctor says it is time for Prednisone. I have an appt in Chicago this month with a new doctor. I have read volumes of information on the internet and most of the info I read just scares me. They make it sound like a death sentence. Again I am so happy to find this

group!!