TAMESIDE PULMONARY FIBROSIS SUPPORT GROUP NEWSLETTER

On 8th and 25th May, we went to the Donneybrook Medical Centre in Hyde to promote the group at their Patient Awareness Days. We had several people coming to ask us about PF, and as happened at the event we went to in Denton, in April, people were telling us that they were going to go back to their GP to ask them some questions about their own diagnosis of COPD and whether it was the right one.

These Patient Awareness Days are just one way of getting the word out to people who might have PF, and need some support for themselves or their families/carers. Clive has also been on Tameside Radio (again) , and our thanks go to the lovely Joshua Littlehales for inviting him to go in and talk about PF, the group, and of course hedgehogs (that’s another story which I am sure Clive will tell you about).

Manchester 10k Run

20th May 2018

There were 48 people running for Action For Pulmonary Fibrosis in the Manchester 10k run in the hope of raising awareness of the disease. The latest info we have is that they have raised over £11,000 so far. People were running for loved ones they had lost, or loved ones who are suffering with PF. Well done to all who took part, and to the people who provided support at the event.

While we`re on the subject of exercise . . this article is in one of the BLF booklets and explains why it is good to try to keep active, even with a lung condition. Being physically active brings benefits, especially if you move more and sit less. If you exercise as well, you can achieve bigger improvements to your fitness and strength, which will improve your breathing and your general well-being. You will get most benefit by gradually increasing the time you are active and you exercise,

Managing Exhaustion and Improving Sleep with Pulmonary Fibrosis.

A common symptom of any lung disease is fatigue, and pure exhaustion. Regardless of having a restful night`s sleep, which very few patients with PF get on a regular basis: the chronic under-oxygenation caused by this disease can leave not only our bodies feeling fatigued, but also our minds. It is very difficult to function when you`re left feeling so tired on a regular basis, and some days it seems almost impossible to carry out daily tasks such as working, socialising or even running errands.

As a PF patient, do you have any tips and tricks to ensure you are receiving quality sleep each night? If so, please feel free to share them with other members in the group.

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And now for some good news!

We were talking to a doctor at Wythenshawe Hospital at the end of April and when talking about the life expectancy of someone

with PF, he said that the figures of 3 – 5 years that are usually given, are about 20 years out of date, because research

and treatments have improved so much, that now, life expectancy can be at least double that.

And Finally . . . Don’t forget, laughter is the best medicine

A sandwich walks into a bar. The barman says `We don’t serve food in here`.

I met a Dutch girl with inflatable shoes last week. Phoned her up to arrange a date,

but unfortunately she`d popped her clogs.

Don’t forget next month`s meeting is on4th July 2 – 4pm

The speaker will be Ian Kenworthy

How do you make a duck sound like a soul singer?

Put it in the microwave `til its Bill Withers.

What`s white and runs through the desert with a bed pan?

Florence of Arabia!

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From Breathe Easy