Two Month Update

[Howard]

Update

My PFT yesterday was a bit confusing. After the first two tests the operator reported the FEV1 results as 17, the third one dropped to 15 (understandable). After a couple of shots of Albuterol it shot up to 19. When we were leaving and got a copy of the results it only read the 15. I guess they "book" the lowest number. Anyway, August it was 14 so any improvment in an unimprovable disease is progress. Prior to this test I was losing a point a quarter, thus we are happy with the results. But, you should have seen Susan jumping up and down when she heard that 17, not only once, but twice. I'm happy.

 

[Jeannine]

Howard

Every little bit helps when it comes to your FEV1.

Mine had dropped to 27% by August 2006 but lately it is 30-31% where it was two years ago so I can't complain and that is before inhalers. Of course I would prefer a normal FEV1 but we need to be happy with what life hands us don't we?

 

[Howard]

30-31 was where I was when I was retired in 1990 with one Proventil (sp) inhaler. Told a friend the other day if I could get back there I would be ecstatic.

 

[barbara]

Howard is up!

I think we all have the potential to get our FEV1 numbers up. I am still feeling like I am improving and I am at the 8 month mark. I think this is good news for you Howard, but more importantly, to me is that I feel so much better. I think you are feeling better also. I am not too test oriented, so when I can just feel 25, then 50, then 75% better than I did, I consider that great progress. I am not by any means the way I was before any symptoms of COPD appeared, but I am now at the point where I can wake up everyday and not guess if I will be able to do anything but sit on the couch. I can go without O2 frequently and I never have that feeling like some huge weight is on my chest. I don't have much mucous problem and I have lots of energy to do what I want. I am still hopeful that someday I can reach 100 percent and it may be with complementary treatments besides just having stem cell therapy. I continue to explore such things as laser, HBOT, GenF20 product, and a few others.