[Kathy]

I just read your post – – diarrhea UGH .  I had a real struggle with it too.  Doctor reduced me the 100 mg and it was a little better but I also only felt comfortable going somewhere by taking one Imodium.  After over a year living this way my family doctor said for me to try taking a daily fiber tablet.  I take just one but you can take more  –  it has helped soooooooo much !!  My diarrhea is  not the explosive horror anymore – usually have a fairly normal soft bowel movement with only some occasional diarrhea usually from eating something greasy or spicy.  I just bought the store brand fiber pills that says daily on the bottle.  Give it a try – – I hope it helps !

[Kathy]

Thanks Charlene – – I had my appt with my Pulmotologist is March – I had just started having joint pain in my shoulders and fingers and showed him the swelling but he quickly looked at my blood work 3 yrs earlier when I first saw him and said that I was RA negative therefore couldn’t have it and to see my family doctor.  It was at this time I was put on Ofev and was terrified because in past apts. he had always said something negative about the earlier med not being beneficial and I did not know that Ofev and Esbriet even existed – so therefore thought why bother taking it.  My counselor that contacted me to guide me was wonderful – and when I said but if this med is not beneficial why even take it – – I will always remember her explosive response – – THAT’S NOT TRUE – and went on to explain how others were responding.  I know it only slows things down – but I have been holding steady without the drug for 3 yrs so hope that having only been on it for 3 months it is going to give me even more time. Time enough for a new drug or additive like some that are in trials that are very promising.  I am 69 – my husband just retired when I was diagnosed – we have built our beautiful new home on our farm that we share with horses, dogs, cats, and cows.  Unfortunately I now know that breathing all the dust from the barn cleaning stalls without a mask – dust from feed & hay – insecticides are all probably what caused my lung damage.  Now I am aware and EXTREMELY careful – always wearing a mask.  When I see people working in dusty places – the granite installers in our house – the wood mill cutting timber – the wood shaving company that bags shavings for betting – I tell them – – YOU HAVE GOT TO PROTECT YOUR LUNGS and explain why.  Well got off course here lol – but no problem with the Ofev  – Prednisone – Plaqunil but I do stagger them which gets tiring seems like I’m always taking a pill – the specialty pharmacy said I could take Ofev & Plaqunil together but that’s when I had some diarrhea so just to avoid any problem I take them seperately with a little food.  The pharmacist said plain greek yogurt was a go to food to take with med but I think it was part of the diarrhea problem.  Because my meds are every 12 hours I have found just having part of a can of soup and putting the rest in the fridge for later has worked really well – something warm not cold – and not a lot of liquid like a glass of milk.  For me anyhow.  Hope this helps someone.

[Kathy]

Anger – OH YES – – I can be concentrating on some task and can suddenly feel this aggravation building which is like tender on a fire which suddenly just explodes and I don’t know what I am sooooo angry at – but I am.  My doctor asked me if I was coping with anxiety – anger – depression and that it was very important for me to recognize what I was feeling and to find a Tranquil Place through meditation – quiet/calm – spirituality – whatever allows me to decompress.  One day my husband & I were working on something outside and he was just NOT DOING IT RIGHT – MY WAY – THE RIGHT WAY (lol) and I said to him – I am so angry I can feel myself vibrating so I’m going into the house and find my tranquility – – He said – – HURRY – HURRY – GO FIND IT !!  It made me laugh – I went inside – thought things through – prayed – calmed down.  But when I think about it I sometimes feel deep inside that I just want someone to UNDERSTAND what I am going through – – not try to fix it – – but let me know they are beside me – – hug me – – and like Hannity of Fox News ends his show with – – LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED !!!

[Kathy]

Always have to be careful about foods like pineapple that can react with med’s before you start them.