Need inspiration to stay active? Here you go

@pacathy Thanks for this reminder - we can do far more than we give ourselves credit for. How wonderful that she has such a supportive partner - it means the world not to be alone in this "race."

We just did a 16 day, 4000 mile road trip, living in our tiny camper, visiting 12 states and 2 Canadian provinces. For someone with BE and asthma, traveling by private auto and pulling your home behind is ideal, safe shelter, no need to be in crowds, ability to control a lot of your environment. In addition to bronchiectasis and asthma, I also have coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis and a few other challenges. My husband is several years older and has a similar list of challenges. His cousin, about to turn 88, just returned from 6 weeks in Europe, and encourages us to "keep goping".

We could easily and safely attend an outdoor music festival, sightsee, hike, visit with neighbors in the campgrounds with minimal risk. We filter the water in our camper with a dual filter system, 2 micron & .2 micron, and sanitize the tank between trips. So even showers are safe!

Next month, our risk will be higher, but we have chosen to take a long-delayed trip to visit family in Europe. It involves (masked) flights (our relatives are also older) and staying in a private home for 10 days. My nebulizer will work overtime, but they understand. That last week will be a tour in Italy, where we will share a tour bus on and off for 6 days - we will decide "enscene" when to mask. Fortunately we stay in a single hotel, and they are ready to accommodate our needs.

In preparation, we have updated all of our vaccines and our kit of "just in case" medications. We plan to continue to travel, into our 80's if possible, so we work these out in advance with each of our docs.

My former ID doc, who has moved on, my former primary who is retiring, our current primary, and my pulmonologists all encourage us to keep on moving.

@sueinmn
When my husband and I had to rethink thru hiking the Colorado Trail because I was on Arikayce and needed a refrigerator, I told him, "Hmm. A tent with a fridge sounds like a travel trailer." We bought a small travel trailer and headed out on a six-week adventure that took us through the Northeast, stopping and hiking for a week in Acadia as well as trails in New Hampshire and Vermont. We went into Canada and spent a week hiking in Algonquin during peak color, which was incredible, and then down through Michigan and meandering back home. I never missed a day of airway clearance or meds. Having my .2 filter to shower was fabulous. We didn't have a full-trailer filtration system then, but we're getting a Blu Tech for our new trailer that will do .2.

I will say the Arikayce did the trick. I've been NTM clear for 16 months now!!

We will hopefully be walking the Camino Del Norte next year. Figuring out how to carrying what I need for airway, etc., and hopefully I can work it all out and not have a pack that weighs 50 pounds!

@pacathy Thanks for this reminder - we can do far more than we give ourselves credit for. How wonderful that she has such a supportive partner - it means the world not to be alone in this "race."

We just did a 16 day, 4000 mile road trip, living in our tiny camper, visiting 12 states and 2 Canadian provinces. For someone with BE and asthma, traveling by private auto and pulling your home behind is ideal, safe shelter, no need to be in crowds, ability to control a lot of your environment. In addition to bronchiectasis and asthma, I also have coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis and a few other challenges. My husband is several years older and has a similar list of challenges. His cousin, about to turn 88, just returned from 6 weeks in Europe, and encourages us to "keep goping".

We could easily and safely attend an outdoor music festival, sightsee, hike, visit with neighbors in the campgrounds with minimal risk. We filter the water in our camper with a dual filter system, 2 micron & .2 micron, and sanitize the tank between trips. So even showers are safe!

Next month, our risk will be higher, but we have chosen to take a long-delayed trip to visit family in Europe. It involves (masked) flights (our relatives are also older) and staying in a private home for 10 days. My nebulizer will work overtime, but they understand. That last week will be a tour in Italy, where we will share a tour bus on and off for 6 days - we will decide "enscene" when to mask. Fortunately we stay in a single hotel, and they are ready to accommodate our needs.

In preparation, we have updated all of our vaccines and our kit of "just in case" medications. We plan to continue to travel, into our 80's if possible, so we work these out in advance with each of our docs.

My former ID doc, who has moved on, my former primary who is retiring, our current primary, and my pulmonologists all encourage us to keep on moving.

@sueinmn
When my husband and I had to rethink thru hiking the Colorado Trail because I was on Arikayce and needed a refrigerator, I told him, "Hmm. A tent with a fridge sounds like a travel trailer." We bought a small travel trailer and headed out on a six-week adventure that took us through the Northeast, stopping and hiking for a week in Acadia as well as trails in New Hampshire and Vermont. We went into Canada and spent a week hiking in Algonquin during peak color, which was incredible, and then down through Michigan and meandering back home. I never missed a day of airway clearance or meds. Having my .2 filter to shower was fabulous. We didn't have a full-trailer filtration system then, but we're getting a Blu Tech for our new trailer that will do .2.

I will say the Arikayce did the trick. I've been NTM clear for 16 months now!!

We will hopefully be walking the Camino Del Norte next year. Figuring out how to carrying what I need for airway, etc., and hopefully I can work it all out and not have a pack that weighs 50 pounds!

@laureltn
Dear Laurel,
You are always such an inspiration, my friend! Thank you for being a support group leader and for everything you do for the bronchiectasis and NTM community. You don’t let this disease define you. You continue to find ways to do what you love. That’s such an important message for all of us.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Linda Esposito

@pacathy Thanks for this reminder - we can do far more than we give ourselves credit for. How wonderful that she has such a supportive partner - it means the world not to be alone in this "race."

We just did a 16 day, 4000 mile road trip, living in our tiny camper, visiting 12 states and 2 Canadian provinces. For someone with BE and asthma, traveling by private auto and pulling your home behind is ideal, safe shelter, no need to be in crowds, ability to control a lot of your environment. In addition to bronchiectasis and asthma, I also have coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis and a few other challenges. My husband is several years older and has a similar list of challenges. His cousin, about to turn 88, just returned from 6 weeks in Europe, and encourages us to "keep goping".

We could easily and safely attend an outdoor music festival, sightsee, hike, visit with neighbors in the campgrounds with minimal risk. We filter the water in our camper with a dual filter system, 2 micron & .2 micron, and sanitize the tank between trips. So even showers are safe!

Next month, our risk will be higher, but we have chosen to take a long-delayed trip to visit family in Europe. It involves (masked) flights (our relatives are also older) and staying in a private home for 10 days. My nebulizer will work overtime, but they understand. That last week will be a tour in Italy, where we will share a tour bus on and off for 6 days - we will decide "enscene" when to mask. Fortunately we stay in a single hotel, and they are ready to accommodate our needs.

In preparation, we have updated all of our vaccines and our kit of "just in case" medications. We plan to continue to travel, into our 80's if possible, so we work these out in advance with each of our docs.

My former ID doc, who has moved on, my former primary who is retiring, our current primary, and my pulmonologists all encourage us to keep on moving.

@laureltn They have baggage services that will take a bag to the next place. I used one on the French because I'd done a bike trip before I walked. I found that I liked having just a day pack.
You travel trailer idea sounds great. Sometimes I wish I still had my little RV.

@laureltn
Dear Laurel,
You are always such an inspiration, my friend! Thank you for being a support group leader and for everything you do for the bronchiectasis and NTM community. You don’t let this disease define you. You continue to find ways to do what you love. That’s such an important message for all of us.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Linda Esposito