Some of you already know the latest update, some don’t; this is the easiest way . . .

Sitting down in the pulmonary lab’s chair for my pulmonary function test (PFT), I didn’t have the best feeling about it.

I take a couple normal breaths, I inhale as fast I can, then I blow-out as much and as fast and hard as I can. Sheila says that my face becomes beat red traveling down to my neck. My heart beats like I just sprinted down the street and sometimes I feel as if I am going to fall off the chair and pass out. But then I inhale fast and hard nano-seconds before I do.

I did this a minimum of 3 times on Monday, I did it 6 times total, pre and post albuterol – which does nothing for me. I usually refuse it because it actually decreases or does absolutely nothing to increase my lung scores. I agreed that day because they were lower than normal.

I did a special lung test on top of that, in which I inhaled fast and blew out fast a few more times as well. It is all very tiring because my heart really does feel like it’s going to come out of my chest sometimes.

I am hoping I learned something extremely valuable this last time and able to carry it with me from this moment forth.

I did some research about this possible problem that I was pondering about regarding the combination/correlation of acid reflux and lung disease the night before I went into my doctor’s appointment. Sometimes “something” comes to me and I try to listen, I try to be open to new possibilities, to learn and grow,not limit myself. It is usually by re-thinking, understanding that there are always new things to learn even when you have had enough.

The cycle: The drug that I tried irritated my lungs extremely; so much so, it made me cough and hack endlessly. When someone has a chronic cough by nature, acid from your stomach makes its’ way up and spills into your lungs. The cup run-ith over! My lungs in turn became restricted; the body actually makes a protein in self-defense to try and not allow the acid into your little alveolus. The stricture then trapped bacteria inside and created my lung infection. The stricture plus my infection made me cough more, thus the whole cycle goes around and around! Hack, spill, aspirate, suffocate, restrict, infection, hack!

Cool.

I knew I was having horrible acid reflux and I increased the amount of pills, but not consistently because my prescription only lasts so long, etc. I popped in some OTC Zantac when the burning was too much, but popping extra pills is not a plan by no means. I actually vomited food 3 times because my whole body spasmed.

My doctor said when I was having a coughing spasm it was almost like as asthma attack. Sometimes asthma patients aren’t having an asthma attack but irritation from acid, the stricture, and so on.

Plan: We changed my acid reflux pill to a stronger, Brand name drug 2x/daily vs. 1x/daily. My doctor also prescribed a natural cough suppressant if needed. If my cough doesn’t calm down – it already has tremendously! – he prescribed a steroid as well to relax the inflammation in my alveolus.

My hope: I hope that this may have been a turning point for other bumps in the road. I have been on a various acid reflux medications all my life, some prescription, OTC, Brand, generic – depending on how I felt, cost, insurance coverage. But maybe the brand name is what I really should be on, as well as twice daily instead of once like I have been doing for years. And acid reflux is a funny thing, because when you feel acid, more than likely it has already been brewing and tearing your esophagus for a while at that point.

A HUGE Bonus! The special test I had, it shows that my CF is NOT progressing – meaning my oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanging – and I am stable. This episode was an extremely unfortunate, but alas, I am stable! My doctor feels comfortable, as long as I have continued decreased cough that I won’t have to come back for 3-months! I thought he would want to see me in a month – whew time to heal!

Amazing how the body is; knows all, and is a constant learning, mobile machine. It has check-points, systems in place when the faucet leaks, explodes, and finds different paths to work. It warns you when things aren’t working and when you need rest. It is a matter of being open to that miracle and looking, searching for other avenues, solutions.

I would have been a doctor if it wasn’t for their residency program. I don’t think I would have had the endurance, but maybe the Universe has something else in mind for me. 😉

My cough seems to be on the mend, and while being open to new ideas – I am going to drink tea, specifically green tea daily – and I mean daily. I am also adding a couple new herbs that I have found in 3 different CF resources that have shown positive results. It is more money – but the body knows all, as I never and will never pretend to know more than it – as I am the forever student.