[Teri Kerwin]

Hi Charlene,

I can certainly sympathize with your frequent headaches, they seem to come from nowhere for no reason.

My own remedy is to have a gel filled eye mask that I keep in the fridge so it’s cool and ready at a moments notice (got it from Amazon). I also try to make sure that I don’t “overdue it” all the time. That’s something I’m so bad at; I often push myself too far. Make sure you’re eating good quality food in small portions throughout the day. Keeping your blood sugar level helps.

I hope you get lots of ideas from all of us here, we understand just how frustrating and tiresome all these symptoms can be.

Take care, Teri

[Teri Kerwin]

Hi Saurahb,

I thought I had “Long COVID”, so I went to see my GP. He advised me to get checked by a Pulmonologist. One X-ray later, I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. This was in August, 2020.

[Teri Kerwin]

Hi Kathryn,

I was a prolific quilter before my second exacerbation. That resulted in my O2 going up to 5L/min and a great reduction in my strength and stamina.

Now, I still try to quilt but on a smaller scale. I just can’t make full sized quilts anymore. I make placemats, table toppers and dog quilts. I’ve found these items are still manageable, not too heavy or bulky.

Like you, I find the math, the cutting of fabric and then piecing of the quilt very satisfying as well as distracting.

I’d love to see some of your work if you’d care to show?

Besides quilting, I also crochet, make jewelry and crystal sun catchers. Do you have any other hobbies you like?

Stay healthy, stay strong!   -Teri

[Teri Kerwin]

Gavin,

A hand held fan is fine, but not very effective. I use a larger fan, about 18 inches that oscillates in the room, it helps keep the air moving around and seems to help quite a bit.

Using the pursed-lip breathing is essential in my opinion. It makes you concentrate on how you’re breathing and not as much about the feeling of being breathless. Allow yourself to take a few minutes to recover when you feel out of breath. It takes time.

Before I was prescribed supplemental O2, I used canned oxygen which I found at Walgreens. At that time, a few pure oxygen breaths would be all I needed. When I told my pulmonologist I was using it, he then prescribed oxygen for me at 2L/min. I am currently using 5L/min and I’m getting along pretty well for the most part.  I have breathless episodes, I sit down and concentrate on my breathing. Calmly breath in through your nose for two seconds, then breathe out through your lips for four seconds (smell the roses, blow out the candle). This method enables more carbon dioxide to get out of your lungs, giving oxygen a chance to get in.

I hope you are able to get outside sometimes too, that always helps me breathe easier and calms my anxiety.

We’re all pulling for you and understand just what you’re feeling. Stay strong, stay positive!

Teri