just want you to know that duke University does NOT have an age limit..it depends on your basic health. My husband is 69 and the doctor said he would make a good candidate.

Thank you for that information....one wonders about all avenues. Please convey my best wishes to your husband.

Thanks, Unfortunately, my husband is in ICU with terrible breathing problems. He was only diagnosed in February and has gone downhill very very fast. Looks like we might investigate the lung transplant at Duke.

I'm sorry to hear he is in hospital.....I understand how he feels......you have my sincere best wishes....perhaps the transplant is the answer..I hope it is and that it is obtainable in the near future. Please convey to him my best wishes...

my husband passed away last saturday...a word to the wise, if you are looking for a lung transplant, get the evaluation while your still pretty healthy because once your sick they won't take you. Also, a big thing, wear a mask everywhere...pneumonia is what ultimately killed him. I miss him every day.

I'm sorry to hear the sad news. Please accept my condolences and best wishes.

My husband has had PF for 4 1/2 years and is at present awaiting a lung transplant. Every center is slightly different, but transplant is the only option for PF right now. Do you have insurance coverage?

my husband passed away aug 22. Duke would not accept him becuase he was too sick...he had pneumonia Good luck with your transplant..I hope he's been evaluated.

I don't have insurance , nor have I had any evaluation. I guess I was just wondering about possibilities "down the road:.....t'm really very sorry to hear the sad news...............why must there be so much illness in the world???.

Never wait for down the road if you have any ability to pursue diagnosis and treatment, you must ensure your own future if you want to live. I trusted uninterested dr's, getting incorrect diagnosis for two years while I got so bad that I couldn't breathe and by the time my husband took me to Natl Jewish Hosp. in Denver, CO, I was too frail to even go under minimally invasive testing. Told have incurable lung disease and at age 65 won't qualify for lung transplant, and am currently being treated for "quality of life" measures. I finally have insisted on being part of my own decision making in treatment and research of answers ... my shelf life may be shorter than most (no idea how long), but I won't sit by and let others decide how important my life and treatment is ... you have to push through the systems if you want to live. My prayers are with all those suffering from chronic and life threatening diseases, as for me each day is a gift, and I'm happy (despite meds side effects) to feel somewhat normal and be able to breathe and spend time with my family.

Alleneirb,Your right it's up to You to make the decisions about Your health,check out any and every thing You can about IPF,Dr. do make mistakes ,and it is You that suffer.I Have had IPF now for 21/2 Yrs.Had pneumonia 3 times this year,it is the pneumonia that They worry the most about.Take one day at a time and fight for every breath that You take.Take care and stay well.

allenerib, my heart goes out to you but please check Duke University. They told mye husband at 70 he was a candidate and they had operated on people up to 77. however, my husband passed away 2 weeks ago, it was pneumonia. He was only diagnosed for 6 months and was really very healthy. This is a terrible disease that most people do not even know about. BUT again, try every avenue. Good Luck and God Bless.

Oxford, what exactly do they do in Canada? We did have insurance and it does cost alot, a whole lot, and you have to get approved by the insurance co. first. However, as you know, my husband passed away before he could get evaluated. Try to stay healthy.

Good (Saturday) evening...I certainly do understand and appreciate all your comments....doctors DO make mistakes, no matter what country you live in. This is a dreadful disease (as are most, I suppose). But as the saying goes..."if you can't breathe, nothing else matters......
In Canada I am somewhat restricted as per switching doctors; I live in a relatively small populated area and there are very few respirologists available and one must be referred in order to get to see eone. We have Medicare in this country so, from that perspective, a transplant would be covered if deemed useful and necessary. There would be a waiting period I suppose, as there are for most transplants...in the sense until a useful orgam beciomes available . Anyone who might need a new lung, liver etc would go on a waitin g list.................
Lewts hope they find a cure for this damn disease and to all you who have commented, may God bless you ....................

There are waiting lists in USA too. I have a friend that's been waiting for some time now, and she's in really bad shape. I'm on meds that help me to breathe and walk so feel really blessed to have found a local doctor in Florida that conferred with Natl. Jewish Hosp. in Denver in order to give me back some of my quality of life. Every day is a gift, and I keep researching and pressing on to extend my days. I haven't had pneumonia thank goodness, but it must be terrible. My research indicates that respitory failure can be eminent and happen multiple times, so that's what I'm trying to prepare myself for mentally and make sure I am prepared and perhaps if it should happen my family will be prepared. I have deep faith and talking with others facing similar challenges is very comforting. Take care, all who suffer and your loved ones, and don't give up.