Introductions - Brought Down By a Bug

Hi, I'm new to this bike forum and I just purchased a TREK 7200. Prior to the TREK I was peddling a HUFFY which I have had for about 4 or 5 years. The HUFFY was appropriately named as when I was riding it I was really huffing and puffing. I lost half my lung capacty due to Sarcoidosis.
You know your in trouble when you get a diagnosis that you've never heard of (I'm an RN). To build my lung capacty up I started blowing bubbles than balloons. The Balloons was a real killer. Many a time I turned cynotic and had to turn my oxygen on.
Than I started mall walking. I ended up walking every mall in Washington. Than I started riding my bike.
I had some old bikes but they were not comfortable. Thus my HUFFY from K-Mart.
Tried for a while with my oxygen tank tide to the back but it wasn't satisfactory. So I braved without it.
Few times I passed out - fortunately I always landed on soft grass. Many other times just extremely SOB (short of breath). When you can't breath nothing else matters!!!!Besides using my inhalors I would start stripping off my clothes. Don't ask me why - I don't know. I'm hot, sweating and can't breath. Trying to cool down - anything to help breath. One time I was in a nice neighborhood when this happened. People had to have seen me. No one called the cops or asked if I needed help. I just laid there on the ground dying and naked except for panties. That time and a few more times I thought I was going to check out. WOW, Did I ever get long winded.
If you want more of my fight to stay alive and to live life let me know. Kathleen

Wow, what a story. About the only thing that comes to my mind is MOVE. Sounds like you need to live in a place where (1) the air is more oxygen-rich (I assume by "Washington" you mean "D.C."), and (2) people will come to the aid of a dying half-naked fellow citizen. 'Course, hopefully, the first condition will render the second moot. Still, I'd seriously consider moving to a less-polluted, more bike-friendly (and generally neighbor-friendly) place.

Good on you, though, for fighting as you do. Hey, with the right bike and possibly some special equipment (and some ideas you might glean here), you might be able to go back to bringing your O2 along.

Wow, That would scare the heck out of me! Take it easy, small steps. HMMM you might want to look at a 'bent. Easier to ride and you put out less effort most of the time. Although any type of good bike that has reasonably low rolling resistance, has a nice range of gears, and doesn't weigh like a tank would probably work. you could maybe set up some sort of rack for your O2 bottle?

'bent Brian

...you could maybe set up some sort of rack for your O2 bottle?

'bent Brian

Welcome to the forums Kathleen. You're a mighty tough woman! What bnet1 above says about a recumbent makes big sense to me. You probably can mount an O2 bottle on a "bent" rather easily.

Im certainly no doctor , but there is a way too raise your red blood cell count . There are many rumors of pro cyclist using EPO . This makes it easier to breath .
jarhead

My story continues: It's now 4 years later. I've learned to avoid hills. (Fortunately in the State of Washington there are no hills.) I still get very SOB but not passing out or stripping clothes.
I decided I needed a new bike as I was "tired" of my HUFFY. Tried several bikes but when I tried the TREK 7200 I fell in love with it. I've been riding it for 12 days and already have over 200 miles on it. Tuesday I did 28 miles which is a record for me. I go further and faster and a lot less effort.
Wishing Good Health to All

Kathleen. I hope you are able to continue to improve. It saddens me that people did not come to your aid. Sad to say they probably just thought you were drunk. Unfortunately that is the first respinse from so many people now.

Nice to hear you are doing better. I wonder though if you would be able to get a smaller O2 carry along. Of cousre that depends on how high you use it. My brother-in-law had a double lung transplant 9 years ago and due to major complications with pnuemonia latenly, is just up to walking in the house without a walker. He normally has the level at 2 and up to 4 or 5 during tube feedings. He can't go without at all. As an RN I know you have an idea of LE, as do I, so this probably makes a lot os sense to you.

My father has Sarcoidosis; among other things >_<

Sorry to hear that people are asses where you live. Have you thought about getting a M.U.L.E. and replacing the hydration bladder with a small oxygen bottle? It might be a little heavy but the Camelbak should distribute the weight pretty evenly. :)

I'm doing well on my bike without my oxygen. Which is good because I hate being on a 6' umbilicord. However, when ever I go up on my roof I now take my tank with me. That's right had to get the fire department to get me down. When I told my doctor what happened, she laughed, as the same thing happened to her mother - twice.