Oh, thank you!!!

The doctor saw 2 small scars in one of my lungs. he said it may have been from the ileocecal T.B. i had in 2000. I will have another CT scan when I get the schedule.
Are there certain exercise that we can do to prevent the progression? or supplements or food?

Thank you echoes!

Oh, I just remember, when the staff assistant got the oxygen level (the one they clip in your finger), mine was 99. She did not comment, nor I asked if that was normal. I used to be so inquisitive about results and numbers...I dont know...

I'm sorry, we must have been posting at the same time and I didn't see your question re: SE. Exercise is good because fit muscle uses oxygen more efficiently. I take D3 which is supposed to be good for your lungs. there was some research with probiotics and rats that looked promising but was not replicated or something, I think its good to take them anyhow, it won't hurt and may help in some way they haven't discovered.

99% )2 saturation is normal, they prescribe oxygen if you drop below 88% consistantly but you really want to try to stay at least 92-94% .

judi

if you have trouble doing aerobic exercizes, an incentive spirometer may help you with your shortness of breath. Incentive spirometers are those things they give you in the hospital that you blow into to prevent pneumonia. you can give your lungs a decent workout with it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incentive_spirometer

I can tolerate doing exercises. I walk at least 30mins a day (but just relatively slow walking due to my painful feet), then I rest my feet for a while, then do the stationary bicycle for another 30 minutes. When I do this, I dont gasp for air.

How can you be tested for Alpha-1 Antitripsin?
Thank you.

I take D3 too at 2000mg - 3x a week. I also take Calcium at 750mg (it has D3 too) at 4x a week for my osteopenia.
I am taking Kefir for the probiotics.
What is your lung condition? I am sorry if I asked you this question already? My memory is becoming really bad - i blame it to Gabapentin (or maybe simply age)

Thank you.

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_1-antitrypsin

Analysis
As protein electrophoresis is imprecise, A1AT is analysed by isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the pH range 4.5-5.5, where the protein migrates in a gel according to its isoelectric point or charge in a pH gradient.

Normal A1AT is termed M, as it is migrates toward the center of such an IEF gel. Other variants are less functional, and are termed A-L and N-Z, dependent on whether they run proximal or distal to the M band. The presence of deviant bands on IEF can signify the presence of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency. Since the number of identified mutations has exceeded the number of letters in the alphabet, subscripts have been added to most recent discoveries in this area, as in the Pittsburgh mutation described above.

As every person has two copies of the A1AT gene, a heterozygote with two different copies of the gene may have two different bands showing on electrofocusing, although heterozygote with one null mutant that abolishes expression of the gene will only show one band.

In blood test results, the IEF results are notated as in PiMM, where Pi stands for protease inhibitor and "MM" is the banding pattern of that patient.

Other detection methods include use of enzyme-linked-immuno-sorbent-assays in vitro and radial immunodiffusion.

Alpha 1-antitrypsin levels in the blood depend on the genotype. Some mutant forms fail to fold properly and are, thus, targeted for destruction in the proteasome, whereas others have a tendency to polymerise, being retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. The serum levels of some of the common genotypes are:

PiMM: 100% (normal)
PiMS: 80% of normal serum level of A1AT
****: 60% of normal serum level of A1AT
PiMZ: 60% of normal serum level of A1AT
PiSZ: 40% of normal serum level of A1AT
PiZZ: 10-15% (severe alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency)
PiZ is caused by a glutamate to lysine mutation at position 342
PiS is caused by a glutamate to valine mutation at position 288
Other rarer forms have been described; in all there are over 80 variants.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isoelectric_focusing

Whew, that was a lot to understand! Back in my country I mentioned this to my pulmonologist but she shrugged me off by saying:"you are ASian, you are not predisposed to it". I'm starting to doubt it now. I will mention it again to my new doctor.

Thank you.

Incidence: Alpha 1-antitrypsin


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12426287