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Sharing my one year history with IPF
My name is Joe and I was diagnosed with IPF one year ago at age 74. The pulmonary Doctor said I had lost 49% of my lung capacity. He has only prescribed Albuterol Sulfate in a nebulizer twice a day. Although I experience shortness of breath and low stamina, my most persistent problem has been uncontrollable coughing. My primary care doctor has been prescribing various allergy medicines and nose sprays which do not help much. In November he prescribed a low dosage (10 mg) of prednisone and I had the best month since the start of the year. I stayed off of prednisone for the next 3 months, and the coughing conditions came back. I am now on a regular 10mg dosage once a day, and my persistent coughing has been reduced by around 80%. I feel much better because of it although I am not naïve enough to think it is curing anything. Everyone I see now remarks on my improved condition so it is not my imagination. I am not on oxygen and have not been prescribed either of the two IPF medicines. Although prednisone has kind of a bad rap for maybe long term effects, I currently experience no negative effects from it. This may not be for everyone, but my quality of life has improved greatly.
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