How I Cope with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Lately my chest has such a discomfort and my coughing is out of control. I know exactly what is going on, but today I just decided to see what my life expectancy is with the disease that seems to want to take over my life.

So with this instant information technology that we live in I just typed in some key words and this is what came up......

"Before you read the following please realize that the mental state of the way you look at this disease is extremely important. The mind is a wonderful thing and you can actually get well by believing you will. Scientist have no doubt in their minds that in the future people with diseases will be able to heal themselves on their own." (Yeah right). We as humans do not and will not ever have full control over our lives.

Getting exercise, eating right, keeping busy and acting as if everything is okay, is what scientist believe will stop a person from being sick. I do agree positive thinking helps any situation but it does not take the problem away. Scientist believe by doing this you can trick the mind. They also say that the immune system is the essential part of your body (I agree) and to start taking homeopathic forms of the immune system booster, BUT BE SURE AND PASS THIS BY YOUR DOCTOR AND SPECIALIST AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY AGREE with what you are doing because some herbal medications can cause problems with some conventional treatments.

Well I am sure that you already know what I am talking about because of the title of my piece: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. It is a disease that develops when the alveoli; tiny air sacs that transfer oxygen to the blood, become damaged and inflamed. This is a progressive disease, meaning it does not improve on its own or with treatment. In some cases the lung tissue becomes thick and stiff, while with others the process is much longer. The body tries to heal the damage with scars, but these scars collapse the alveoli and make the lungs less elastic.

This disease can result from many different diseases including sacroidosis (which I have been told I have that also), drug reactions, autoimmune diseases (which I have...Lupus but that's for another time) environmental allergies such as Farmer's lung, and exposure to toxic dusts and gases. This disease is not biased and is equally common in men and women, it is usually diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60 ( I was diagnosed at the age of 45).

The first symptom of pulmonary fibrosis is usually shortness of breath - at first during exercise, but later also while resting. I first noticed it when I could no longer stay on the dance floor as long as I used to, but I thought it was just old age. Patients may also have a dry cough, rapid heartbeat or enlargement of the fingertips and ends of toes (well there goes my manicured nails and toes, or sandals worn in the summertime). The hacking cough is a pain because sometimes I feel as if I am going to cough up a lung and explaining to people that I am not sick with a contagious disease can sometimes be annoying, not only to me but from the looks to them also.

I am now under a lung specialist which I haven't visited in about eight months. I figure why give him my money when he can't change the situation. I am taking the ADVAIR Diskus which is primarily used for COPD. I am not sure it is working but still I figure why not.

The good thing is the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the longer life expectancy can be and even more positive is life expectancy is longer in females. So I try to think positive, enjoy my life and keep my feet busy talking to people about the future and I surround myself with people I love and who love me. Regardless of how long I live, I will make the best of it.

Well I hope I have educated you a little bit on Pulmonary Fibrosis and if I didn't.....do what I did....look it up on the internet.