Got a pulmonology appt next month

My doctors office called today. She has me scheduled with a pulmonologist for the 7th of nov. Somtime between now and than I have to have another lung function test done. Man I hate those things. Especially with the problems I have with the breathing already. So my rheumy appt is next week. I'm kind of going through a hope that I know I shouldn't get to hopful about. If it's COPD there is a chance of a transplant but if it's lupus lung it knocks me off the list. However if it's COPD there is no cure except possible transplant.  but if it's Lupus lung there is a chance they can help me and I can get off this breathing equipment. However I have heard some of the good stories here about your lung problems and successes and bad stories here about the downfalls of trying to heal the lungs. I guess I am just daring to dream that there is a chance that I can live without this oxygen all the time. It's terrible. I have to be so care if I go to somone house that they don't trip over more cordes so I lug a small tank with me instead of the big one. Than I have to make sure I have enough. and sleeping well there is a chore. If I roll around in bed to much the hose gets hung up in the blankets or wrapped around my legs. thank it gets tight and pulls against my face and hurts my ears. I can't even go camping anymore and it was one of the most enjoyable things I ever did. I want my lungs back! and I'm agry that the doctor just said I had asthma for 6 years just to find out I never had it. All this time wasted. They could have been doing somthing. It's my own fault for putting so much faith in my doctor. Now it's hard to beleive what any of them say. I want a 3rd 4th and 5th opinion before I beleive anything anymore.

ok well I didn't mean to rant but I guess I did anyway.

ahhhhhhhhhh I feel better now. Maybe I can get some sleep.

hopping down from my soapbox

love

carol 

Oh Carol . . . a whole month! While you have breathing issues????? I'm so glad you explained all the issues with the oxygen . . . I just really didn't know what a huge pain that is. I knew it was a pain, but WOW do I take lots of thins for granted . . . Coming here always makes me appreciate everything that DOES work right in my body. I pray that this new doc will get to the bottom of things fast and be able to help you sort it all out and make a treatment plan that heals you. I hope he is a caring, intelligent Dr. who you can trust right away. Keep us posted Pat and I'm sending you a whole pot of tea!! Blessings!

Thanks you guys, I really wasn't trying to grumble. It's just hard to be hooked up to a 100ft cord all the time. I am a little concerned right now. I took my last antibiotic yesterday and have felt reasonably well. This afternoon I started feeling pretty congested again. I don't want to call the doctor because she already told me if I get worse I have to go into the hospital. I don't feel bad enough for that but I think it might be good to do another round of antibiotics. It's been really windy today so maybe now that it's calmed down I'll do better. Plus I just can't miss this rheumy appt! As far as being sicker than others. I read some of the stuff people write on here and just cry. I would never want to go through what they go through. Plus those that work and have children plus kids that are sick. It just breaks my heart. Some how we all just seem to get through this one day at a time. Of course the moral support around here is what keeps me going.

love ya all

carol

Carol,

I"m sorry you're lungs seem to be in such crummy shape right now. But don't ever say it's your fault for having faith in your doctor for 6 years because he told you that you had asthma. What else were you supposed to believe. I can understand your anger at the 6 years gone without treatment, but it was NOT your fault! As far as having trouble believing what docs tell you now, if it is anything drastic a doc tells you, get a 2nd opinion.

Now, since you have finished your round of antibiotics and the dr. told you to call if you didn't feel better why are you going to be a noncompliant patient and not call? Just because they said you MIGHT have to go in the hospital? What if they say you can try another round of antibiotics at home because you are seeing your rheumie and a pulmonologist next month? You don't know what they are going to say. But you do have to call them. You owe that to YOURSELF!!!

My mom has severe COPD. She uses o2 24/7. So I know that it can be a real pain to use. But in my opinion, it's a bigger pain to not be able to breathe.

Please don't take this as a lecture. I just care about you too much. You are such a wonderful, caring, uplifting member of our "loopy" community that I really want you to take care of your self. ((((((hugs))))))

xoxo emmie

Carol,

Big hugs coming attcha. Sorry I have not been around much, got overwhelmed.

Hope you have taken Rosies' and Emmies' excellent advice and called your doctor. Let us know how that goes. Good luck and hang in there. So sorry you had to give up the camping. The list of "had to give ups" around here is very long but it does make the things we can do all the more precious.

Stay Strong,
Sue

Hi Carol!  Did you call your doc?  I sure hope you aren't in the hospital.  I sleep with my CPAP mask strapped on my face all night or I'd be an SOB night and day! Let us know how you're doing. ((Hugs))

Love, Donna

Carol,

I'm so relieved that you called your doctor and that you're going to continue with the antibiotics for a few more days and I know you're so relieved that she didn't put you right in the hospital. I hope, hope, hope that you can sleep tonight! That not being able to sleep (who could guess that I was NOT and English major) is the absolute pits and it just makes you feel worse than you already do.

Get some rest this weekend and enjoy lounging around and watching OU beat Texas. And stay inside! The pollen/mold count is awful.

Take care,

Pat

Hey Patty, when are they playing and on what channel? I wanted to watch the cubbies play the dbacks but but I can't find it anywhere. I know the mold is just aweful with all this rain and stuff. Are you getting any better at all yet?
love ya
carol

Great Carol!!!! So glad you won't have a gap in the antibiotics AND you'll be able to see your new rheumy. Make sure and start a new topic on that and update us!! Blessings!