It all started between 1962 and 1978. \u00a0My husband was a machinist but did many different tasks in his job in the mineralogy department. \u00a0It was never mentioned to me, but my husband machined asbestos sheets one third of an inch thick. \u00a0He would bring his dirty clothes home, shake them out and add them to the laundry basket with the rest of our clothes.<\/p>\n
I often visited him for lunch as anyone was allowed into the workshop. \u00a0With no mask on, I would wait in a brick room whilst he finished his job.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In 2003, we moved house as the other place was becoming too much for my husband to look after. \u00a0In 2004, my husband went for a CT scan which diagnosed him with asbestosis. \u00a0He unfortunately passed away in 2006, not from asbestosis but from other complications.<\/p>\n
In 2005, whilst my husband was alive but not well, I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).\u00a0 Of course I didn\u2019t know what this was and I was too preoccupied caring for my husband to worry at the time. \u00a0I was also diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD).<\/p>\n
For many years I was seeing a lung specialist and having many different tests. \u00a0At the end of 2010, I was diagnosed with asbestosis, which was a big shock to me.<\/p>\n
In 2011, my son took me to America to see my eldest son and grandchildren whom I had not seen for about eight or nine years. \u00a0A few weeks after this trip, I was rushed to hospital where they found I had four clots in my lungs. \u00a0This hit me very hard, especially when in November that same year I was rushed to hospital again and was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension in my lungs.\u00a0 I thought I was going to die.<\/p>\n
After this incident, the doctors recommended joining an exercise program. \u00a0Of course I said yes, anything to try and help me carry on. \u00a0It\u2019s good to know you are not the only one with lung problems. \u00a0I was able to learn from others on how they cope with their problems and we tried to help each other. \u00a0I attended Easy Breathers twice a week for six weeks, but because of my many lung problems they wanted me to do a further six weeks. \u00a0I was then relocated to an exercise class closer to home.<\/p>\n
I now attend these exercise classes once a week. \u00a0Sometimes I really don\u2019t want to go, but after I have been, I feel better mentally and know that I have achieved something and certainly believe it has helped to keep me out of hospital. \u00a0Exercise, so I believe, is the best thing to keep you going.\u00a0 Even just walking a little every day, otherwise the muscles get very weak.<\/p>\n
I now have Pulmonary Fibrosis, ILD, bronchiectasis, Asbestosis, Pulmonary Hypertension and remnants of the old clots left. \u00a0I also had pneumonia in 2015.\u00a0 My Pulmonary Fibrosis is no longer idiopathic because they know the cause as to why I have it \u2013 the asbestosis caused the fibrosis.<\/p>\n
Sharing your personal experience with lung disease is a compelling and inspiring way for others to learn about and cope with their diagnosis. Your story may also encourage people to identify and act on symptoms they are experiencing, which may otherwise have been ignored.<\/h4>\n
Share your story, here<\/a>.<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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