wow...what a story. I'm so very sorry you had to go through that. I'm impressed that you are able to take the high road. That's not an easy thing to do.

I'll miss your blog posts. Stay happy and well.

For me, with my daughter, I have a pretty high "ER" tolerance level, for exactly the reasons you state...they give the same medications...just at higher concentrations...and I've worked it out with her pulmo...how many treatments piggy backed I can do before he wants me to bring her in. Sometimes, I bring her in before...if she looks really bad, if her O2 is particularly low, if SHE asks to go...it's definitely a "gut" sort of thing. I'm definitely of the believe..."when in doubt, check it out" better to go to the ER and not really need to go, than not go, and have a tragedy happen.

I am in awe of you. As I said, you have done (3 times) what so many people only DREAM of doing...and to finish with a PR on the course....OUTSTANDING!!! (and, like Kerri said....most people don't do one marathon at all, let alone 8)

Do they think your knee is going to heal on it's own, or are you going to need surgery? Hopefully, it will do it's healing thing on it's own, and you won't have to have a surgery. (but wouldn't it be refreshing to have something ELSE put you in the klink, besides your lungs?)

Great report, thanks for "bringing us along"

One of Mariella's docs ran yesterday too, he's not really her doc, but he's the lead of her team...so we spent our time today talking about the marathon, and I mentioned you. He said that he respects the folks that run or walk who have challenges so much, maybe more than the fully able-bodied runners.

Sorry about the knee. Having suffered with knee pain my whole life, the fact that you pulled yourself over the finish line, despite what had to have been bordering on, if not excruciating pain just FLOORS me.

I thought of you many, many times today...we went to lunch in Quincy Market, and I counted no less than 20 people with their 2011 marathon jackets on...and each time I saw one, you crossed my mind.

Congratulations on doing what so many people only dream of!

I'll be cheering for you from Western MA. Unfortunately, I'll be heading to Boston on TUESDAY, so I just can't make two trips in one week. I would have loved to have cheered you on from the sidelines.

that bloating sounds terrible...and I'm glad you found out what it was from...and hopefully, the scans just show that you hand an acute attack, and it's not chronic, or worse.

That sounds terrible...I can't even fathom how difficult it was for you. I'm glad you're coming out on the other side now. I'm also a huge believer in online chat boards and rooms, I'm glad you were able to find some that were helpful for you. I'll be thinking about you while you keep recovering.

I hate that....Living where I do, where smoking in public places is banned nearly entirely (no smoking at all in restaurants or bars...etc) it always shocks me when I go places that have a "smoking section" or just allow smoking in general...because it's not like there's an invisible wall that blocks the smoke from entering the non-smoking section.

I'll tell you, I'm a little jealous. I haven't been to ANY show in far too long.

have fun, and fly safe.