Biography

I am a retired teacher of English language and literature, currently living in Charleston, South Carolina. For the least two years, I have been confined at home with my wife, largely because of COVID, which, thankfully, neither of us contracted since we are both vaccinated. We had been traveling quite a bit until the pandemic hit but the most important development with my health is being diagnosed with IPF but the diagnosis was not made by a pulmonologist but rather, my family doctor so I have many questions about this condition.

I think the long term prognosis looks grim but I also know that each person’s experience with the disease is bound to be different. Actually, I have been experiencing breathlessness when going up stairs or on an incline for quite some time—for a few years, in fact—so the diagnosis for my own particular case seems uncertain. I suspect that in my case, the disease is not progressing rapidly, although I can see certain incremental changes in my pulmonary health. That much is obvious.

This forum seems like a good place to investigate more about this condition and it seems helpful to know that other people are coping with this disease.