Biography

I will be 74 years old this coming February and was diagnosed with IPF this past October. I started the Ofev yesterday.   I am having a hard time wrapping my head around this diagnosis and what it really means .   I was diagnosed with very severe Aplastic Anemia

in Spring of 2011.  After selecting not to have a bone marrow transplant, ……( I have 4 brothers and one was a match)….I had the ATG treatment in a hospital here in Connecticut.  (Anti  Thymosite Globulin )  Since Aplastic Anemia

is thought to be an autoimmune disease, this treatment tries to destroy the immune system in hope that the immune system will ‘ re-boot ‘ and stop attacking itself and thereby

allowing the bone marrow to start producing again all the blood cells…..Red, White and Platelets .     I am very fortunate to be in remission with no need for any medication or blood transfusions……although I still have AA.  ……I am happy to have this forum to share information and thoughts on this latest diagnosis.   I do wonder if my Aplastic Anemia played a role in my development of IPF.    I can not imagine anyone out there has any experience with this possibility since AA is very rare.   If so, I would sincerely love to hear from you.     Thank you to everyone ahead of time…..and my best wishes and hopes for everyone.