Tina

Birth Date
12/27/80

Gender
Female

Alpha type
lung

Alpha gene
SZ

Diagnosed
March 2005

Siblings
3

Tina

flashgossamer@aol.com

I live in Ohio.

My favorite color is Blue & Pink

My favorite music is Classic Rock.

My favorite book/movie is The Big Lebowski

My favorite pastime is all kinds of exercise and/or book reading.

I have one dog named Snickers.

12/7/2005 The first time I remember hearing about alpha one was when I was about 12 years old. My grandmother was dying from complications of alpha one at the age of 62. About 5 years later my aunt passed away from the same thing at age 49. Some of my dad's sisters have since been tested though he has chosen not to be. It's like a big family secret. Some of my aunts have been diagnosed, some haven't, but we have a very large family and some choose not to share results because they don't want to cause any more heartache.

I have had trouble with shortness of breath especially when I'm tired or exercising since I was about 14, but I always thought it was normal. I didn't even consider alpha one until the day after the super bowl 2005. I had been up all night partying and I started to feel short of breath and for the first time it clicked in my head that it might be alpha one. I immediately got tested. I couldn't believe the results. I have not shared this info with my doctor yet, so I'm not exactly sure how bad it is. I have cleaned up my lifestyle, I eat the right foods, do yoga, and have two air purifiers in my home. Hopefully this helps until I am ready to tell my doctor. I am the first of my immediate family to be diagnosed though we do suspect that one of my sister probably has it. I hope someone out there can take comfort in my story knowing that you are not alone. Good luck to the rest of you.

Much Love!

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