Monday, April 25, 2011

Humidity, Altitude and Lung Disease

Photo of beautiful Charleston, South Carolina

I now understand why Dr. K. told me to not move from in our little coastside town. No altitude, no humidity and a Mediterranean climate, which are all perfect for a person with an Interstitial Lung Disease. This point was driven home many times during our almost 7000 mile road trip.

In Charleston, South Carolina, I really struggled with the heat and humidity. I noticed my breathing was loud and I really couldn’t move as easily or quickly as usual. In Golden, Colorado, it was nearly impossible to even walk a short distance to the restaurant for dinner. I was very short of breath in the mile-high city.

We walked the beautiful gardens at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and I found myself having to stop often to catch my breath. It was hot, humid and hilly. I was very disappointed with their lack of trails for the disabled and they even charged for parking even with a disabled sticker on our car. Not a disabled friendly place.

We definitely noticed when we were in Flagstaff, Arizona or with my brother and his wife in New Mexico or Las Vegas or southern Utah, that the altitude really affected me much more this trip than even two years ago. I was surprised. I was disappointed.

This morning, I will return to my beloved rehab and work out for the first time in 24 days. We did walk a lot during our adventure and I did some heavy yard work on Saturday but it is just not the same as sweating in a gym. It will feel good to get back to some routines.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where is your coastal town with Medditereanean (sp) climate?

Anonymous said...

The San Francisco Peninsula. We are around 62 degrees right now while the rest of the country is suffering with high heat. It is never too hot. It is never too cold.

Anonymous said...

Which town do you live in? I am from Sunnyvale, CA, but retired in Colorado Springs to be near my family and grandkids. One year ago I got the diagnosis of ILD (mild, so far, using night oxygen only here at 6,400ft elevation). I am thinking of buying a condo as a 2nd home in Dana Point, a southern Ca beach. How long have you had yur diagnose?

Anonymous said...

We live along the ocean on the Peninsula south of San Francisco. We love Colorado Springs! Great place. I have been banned from being in altitude. We ILD people can never adjust to altitude. We even asked Dr. K. if we could have a house built in a less expensive area (Sonora) which was 1,200 ft and she said no. We also love Dana Point and have spend many weeks there. You will find it easier to breathe, not as hot in the summer as it is along the ocean and at sea level.
The docs think I got the disease in late 2002, I knew there was something wrong in 2003, saw primary the summer of 2004, saw the specialist in Oct 2004, lung biopsy January 2005.
Great to hear from you. Good luck. Exercise, eat well and enjoy life.

Anonymous said...

Hi again,
Rita from Colorado Springs here, I'm on a new drug called azathioprine, which seems to be working well. At least I have more energy. the only problem is I have to have bi-weekly CBC blood tests. My white count came out low last time so my Dr, lowered the dose. Hope I get back to normal soon. what drug(s) are you on? HOpe you are doing fine. Anonymous, now Rita

Anonymous said...

Hi Rita! I too am on azathioprine and it has worked well in my body. I did have a larger dosage which caused thrush and shingles but now I take 1.5 pills 2x a day.

For the full list of medications, go to the left side of the blog and open April 22, 2012. It's a long list!

I am feeling so much calmer - less manic - with the small deduction of prednisone. Gives my poor liver a bit of a break, too!

Thanks for writing!