Biography

Retired Firefighter/Paramedic. I’ve suspected I have had something for awhile but, in the last few  years I had been focused on a Hiatal Hernia. I had a bad bout of Bronchitis / Pneumonia in Dec 2019, and never could get over the congestion/ shortness of breath after recovery. Even in my last few years of the Fire Service. I was increasingly short of breath on performing consumption drills ( a course performed while wearing SCBA). Of course, I figured it was my aging  (I was 55 when I retired). I should have pursued a more thorough diagnosis. It didn’t add up (I didn’t smoke and was in good shape), so I finally pressed my MD.  After evaluation by a Pulmonary Specialist, and evaluation again by Washington University Physicians, I now know what is going on. Although it’s still referred as Idiopathic by Wash U…