Don Kauffman
Forum Replies Created
-
@christie-patient
Hi Christie, In response to your inquiry of different breathing exercises. I had a therapist that offered a unique approach along with physical workouts and that was the HARMONICA ! I also received a song book with a variety of songs ;I.E Marines Hymn; Christmas songs …and Mary Had A Little Lamb, to mention a few. Each note had a BLOW or DRAW indicator(each hole has a # mark..) I have to admit it was fun practicing as she expected a NEW song learned every training day. I’ll never make it on Americas Got Talent but it took my mind off the reason I was there.
Best wishes, Don Kauffman
-
One common problem that appears in these posts is that some, or maybe many of us are exhausted thinking about, during , and after taking a shower or bath.
I am on 3 liters of oxygen for activity, and have a portable concentrator that I pretty much take every where I go now. My supplier offers me ,along with the regular 7 ft. cannula, a 25ft. and a 50ft. extension which allows me a little more latitude . I’ve found the 25ft. ext. to be a “great friend” allowing me to throw it over the shower curtain rack or in the tub; work from one end to the other of my workbench; and run around the kitchen like Stanley Tucci.
Now, If I can get Boehringer Ingelheim to include coupons for Cottenelle and Charmin when they ship the OFEV, I’ll be really happy!
Don Kauffman
-
Hi Mark, Thank you for your welcoming message when I signed up for the forum. I was finally, and I feel correctly, diagnosed in November with IPF .After nearly 2 years of seeing one Doctor after another, and hearing several possible diagnosis of what it could be , I was steered to a pulmonary surgeon at the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was straight forward, no guessing, this is what you have . If you do nothing, this is about how long you have,this is what you have , and…tell your family.
Not that I have to be hit alongside the head with a 2×4, but she had my full attention! Thanks to this website,I finally got my 1st shipment of OFEV in January of this year .The 1st day was spent paying homage at the porcelain throne.When my wife came home from work, she set me up with a better protein diet and schedule for the meds(and the BRAT diet). I have not noticed any improvement yet, nor do I expect this soon,but having adhered to the Covid restrictions and with the cold, snowy winters in Wisconsin, I had to find an outlet to prevent the self pity I felt sneaking in. I found a small town clinic(Sparta, Wis.) that still was offering a pulmonary Rehab. They allow me in 2 times a week and and though they suggest the right equipment, they are not pushy. They maintain a standard of cleanliness (and distance) that really impressed me.
With 79 right around the corner, I don’t know what the future holds, But I found so much support in your tag: KEEP THE FAITH ! Thanks Mark, Don Kauffman