Biography

Name

Donald Otis

Nickname

donald-otis

Short Bio

I am a Colorado native, 2 kids, 2 dogs, 1 wife, 1 mortgage. Poet, music lover, weirdo.

Type of Diagnosis

IPF

Treatment / Medical Facility

Kaiser Permanente

Current medication regimen

Pirfenidone

Lung transplantation status

to be determined

Supplemental Oxygen

yes

Best advice for PF symptom management

Stay active, learn to breath, eat your dinner. It sounds dumb, I know. But, moving around – even just like me, with an active job – keeping your weight in the right bracket – too high, there’s too much to oxygenate, too low, you are malnourished – and learning to actively breath – slooooowly in, slooooowly out –  these are the things that you can do. There are sometimes that there’s nothing you can do; so having actions you can take empower you.

Be bold fighting side-effects. Pirfenidone made me really sick, until they got me off the capsules and on the pills. But I waited to complain for way too long. Get some Zofran Odt  (the generic is fine), take your meds with meals (kefir was a godsend), stay regular and timely with dosage.

Medical marijuana (edible) really helps. I do live in Colorado, where it is legal, and it has helped me keep appetite, and to relax. Really, it does work. Not CBD, get the THC; I prefer hybrids.

Are you currently taking an anti-fibrotic medication?

yes