I live in the Willamette Valley, which is beautiful, green, and temperate almost all year long. But the valley also has it's own little demon that shows its face every year, in late Spring, grass pollen. We grow somewhere around 90% of the grass seed for the WORLD here... and when you have a grass allergy and lung disease, that can be quite the challenge.
My allergies are not as severe as they were when I was younger, but it's always a challenge. My local paper did an article today that out lies how our "pollen soup" could effect the lung function of the elite athletes coming to town for the Olympic Trials. Imagine what that could do to little old me!
So lung function being up... a blessing indeed!
Showing posts with label lung function. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lung function. Show all posts
Friday, June 20, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Swimming and Big CF Drug News
I went again today :D I was going to go yesterday, but my day ended up being a show of errors and nothing going as expected, although my dinner that I invented the recipe for turned out great! 4 Cheese Stuffed Shells with Alfredo Sauce and Breaded Chicken.
I did some more just movement in the water, than I swam 3 laps in back stroke. I know it's not much, but it's something. My lungs fought me, as they are still weak from my latest cold, but I did it. I plan to try and go again on Thursday and add one more lap. I may go tomorrow, but tomorrow is also bowling night... and I want to be on my game. Bowling is probably my favorite form of exercise, but it really does not work the lungs, so swimming it is for that.
This past week there has been news about a new drug that has really helped CF patients in the trial for it. Marked improvement over 2 weeks time, VX770 a pill, targeted the sodium channels that is the basis for why CF is what it is. While this news was great, it wasn't so much for me. See VX770 is targeted to a specific mutation of the gene that causes CF. CF can be caused by several gene mutations... this drug was targeted for people with a mutation from the G group, while my mutations are both Delta F-508, the most common mutation. However, from reading Carla's Blog I learned that right behind VX770 is VX809 in the pipeline... and it's targeted right at my mutation. It's still being tested for safety, and not even out for trial for CF patients yet, but if it's anything like VX770, this could be huge news!
I did some more just movement in the water, than I swam 3 laps in back stroke. I know it's not much, but it's something. My lungs fought me, as they are still weak from my latest cold, but I did it. I plan to try and go again on Thursday and add one more lap. I may go tomorrow, but tomorrow is also bowling night... and I want to be on my game. Bowling is probably my favorite form of exercise, but it really does not work the lungs, so swimming it is for that.
This past week there has been news about a new drug that has really helped CF patients in the trial for it. Marked improvement over 2 weeks time, VX770 a pill, targeted the sodium channels that is the basis for why CF is what it is. While this news was great, it wasn't so much for me. See VX770 is targeted to a specific mutation of the gene that causes CF. CF can be caused by several gene mutations... this drug was targeted for people with a mutation from the G group, while my mutations are both Delta F-508, the most common mutation. However, from reading Carla's Blog I learned that right behind VX770 is VX809 in the pipeline... and it's targeted right at my mutation. It's still being tested for safety, and not even out for trial for CF patients yet, but if it's anything like VX770, this could be huge news!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Swimming
So I know I have not posted in a bit... as Matt keeps reminding me! I don't know, just haven't had much new to say!
Today however, I took an important step in trying to maintain what lung function that I have. I went down to our community recreation center down the road and bought a 3 month pass to the pool/fitness center. Then I went "swimming" today. Okay, I really don't lap swim, but I did move around in the water, made my lungs and muscles work, and got a very productive cough. I'm going to try to go often, as I like moving in water, it's great for improving lung function, and I paid for it so I should use it!
Today however, I took an important step in trying to maintain what lung function that I have. I went down to our community recreation center down the road and bought a 3 month pass to the pool/fitness center. Then I went "swimming" today. Okay, I really don't lap swim, but I did move around in the water, made my lungs and muscles work, and got a very productive cough. I'm going to try to go often, as I like moving in water, it's great for improving lung function, and I paid for it so I should use it!
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