move to colorado

[Seana30]

<FONT color=#008000 size=3><STRONG>Looks like we may be moving to Colorado Springs, CO.  Anyone know about the CF clinics in that area?Seana</STRONG></FONT>

 

[65rosessamurai]

Hi Seana!
I had checked out CF clinics in the area...the closest was in Denver.

I'm originally from Detroit, but my family and sister had moved to Colorado Springs! (what a coincidence!)
I had to check that stuff out because upon my visit, I wanted to see a doctor to evaluate my health.
My sister is a Physican Assistant, but she works as a civilian at a military base (she and her husband were former millitary)
Anyway, I still have the E-mail address of who I was corresponding with at the Denver Children's Hospital
She's an RN, and her name is Shelley Mann.
If this info is helpful, let me know.

 

[Haileysmommy]

Seana,
I live in CO. Just south of the Springs. The dr's form Childrens Hosp. come down once a month to do clinic in the Springs so we go to that. The dr is wonderful. We do have to go to Denver a few times a year. I am not sure about adult clinics since hailey has a long time before she gets there. If you have questions feel free to ask.

 

[Seana30]

<FONT color=#008000><STRONG>thank you for all the info.......i would love to get the info you are talking about 65rosesamurai.  Courtney's father is military so i am not sure if we will be seen on base or if we will need to be seen by a civilian.  I don't know if military has any CF clinics out there.Myself and the kids are going to stay here in Texas till the end of the school year then will move up this spring.  Do you both like it there?  I have never been to CO but lived in Santa Fe, NM for awhile and they say they are alot alike.  I LOVED Santa Fe!  We are looking to move to the Falcon-Peyton area.  How are the public schools in colorado springs?Thanks for all the help!Seana</STRONG></FONT>

 

[abloedel]

Seana - I am not sure whether it's you who has CF or your child...but I have CF and go the adult clinic at National Jewish in Denver. I LOVE it and couldn't ask for a better team.

I also love the dryer climate Colorado offers...I think it helps with my CF cough!

I have heard good things about the public schools in the Springs, but don't have any personal experience with any of them. I could tell you tons about the schools in the Denver area!

If there are any specific questions I can answer for you, please feel free to email me at abloedel@westwood.edu.

Amy
36 w/CF

 

[65rosessamurai]

abloedel,
I think that's the same clinic my sister was mentioning to me (just recalled after seeing your post!)
It's for adults, right? Which means if the person in question (Courtney, right?) is too old for the Children's Hospital (I was going to a Childrens Hospital until I was 16!!), that would be perfect!
I think my sister knows some doctors there, she was suggesting I go there first, but with no insurance, they wouldn't foot the bill for me...Instead I saw an old co-worker of my sisters, and he was quite reasonable with the visit (for someone with NO insurance!), but it helped to have done most the footwork here, and bring it there. (I brought my X-rays and CT Scan on the plane!)
(Remember, I live in Japan, so my insurance here only covers things in THIS country! Anyone who knows of Insurance that'll cover internationally, PLEAAASE, let me know!)
Anyway, good luck Seana30, Maybe in the future I may come across you, there.

 

[anonymous]

do any of you who live at higher altitudes like colorado find that it is harder for you to breathe? obviously if you live there you are used to it but i was just wondering if you thought it had any effects...or noticed a difference when you travel to sea level. I just recently got a teeny portable O2 SAT moniter so i could moniter my sats all the time, and when i went up to vermont they went from at average of 96 ish to about 92,93,94 at best!!! and that was only about 1000 feet above sea level! i was just wondering...

caitlin

 

[65rosessamurai]

Actually, caitlin,
The last time I was there, I didn't feel as much difficulty as I did when I was there a few times before.  My mom is on O2, and when I was first there for a week (it was a year ago May), I could tell when we were going to a higher altitude when we were sightseeing.

When I was there last Sept., I thought for sure I was going to have trouble, but actually, my wife had the reaction,and was on O2 for a couple of hours.  I know that between the altitude and concern to stay hydrated, it's difficult to deal with, but it seems no matter what area you live in, there seems to be some sort of ecological difficulty. 
Like Japan, no one ever told me how often earthquakes and typhoons would occur in Osaka.  If I'd known that, I'd stayed in Detroit with all the snow storms, tornadoes and roads with potholes so big, Mac Trucks were known to fall into!

Colorado Springs is a beautiful place, I'm contemplating on moving there when I decide to leave Japan.  Of course, my other reason is that I'll be close to family members.

And, well, Seana30; since I came across in another spool that Courtney is only 13, Childrens Hospital is probably more accurate for her. Though probably having a G.P. (general practicianer) from one of the bases can't be ruled out. Hope that helps...

 

[abloedel]

I find it easier to breathe in Colorado then other places I have been...mostly due to the lack of humidity in the air. Denver is a mile above sea-level, and I don't really notice any effect between here, and say California when I visit....but I do notice an effect when I go to the mountains in Colorado to even higher elevations (8000 feet+). I feel more short of breath.

My O2 sat levels are normal in the 94-96 range, and the RT at the clinic says that's good, even for healthy people at this elevation.

I will say when the temperature drops below about 40, because the air is so dry, I do have trouble being outside and breathing unless I cover my mouth with a scarf or something, but I have a reactive airways/asthmatic component to my CF, so I don't know whether I would have this problem if I "only" had CF.

And yes, 65rosessamurai, the clinic I go to is the Adult Clinic. Headed by Dr. Jerry Nick, also Dr. Mimi Saavedra works there. Used to be Dr. David Rodman in charge, but I think he moved to CA to a clinic out there. Also great nurses, RT's, nutritionist, etc. I see that Seana's daughter is the one with CF - so she would go to Children's Hospital in the Denver area.

Elevation wise, Colorado Springs is actually higher than Denver. CS is 6035 feet...so don't know if that impacts anyone's decision to live there or not, but thought I would point that out.

Amy

36 w/CF

 

[65rosessamurai]

Hi Amy,

Yea, it was about when my wife was getting a reaction to the height, I think my brother-in-law mentioned it being higher in C.S. than Denver.

I think the other advantage was some mites, or something, can't survive at that altitude, so some with certain allergies can get along better.

Another advantage, is after living at such a high altitude, and going back to a lower one after a while, you have a little bit more endurance because of the oxygen stored in the blood...anyone knew that one?

 

[anonymous]

i think that is really interesting about 94-96 being in the normal range even for healthy non cf people...
at sea level 97-100 is normal, but i am sure youi know that. i've never been to colorado but was wondering if it should be a concern if i ever wanted to visit. thanks for the replies to my ?

caitlin

 

[65rosessamurai]

Actually, caitlin,

It would be better to take it easy when you visit, and the first few months when/if you move out there.
As mentioned, the blood accumulates oxygen, but doesn't do it right away...when I was there, my brother-in-law (the army medical nurse) has said it would take about that long to get used to.

Even after getting off the plane, you'll feel it if you walk too fast! Just take it easy, don't overdue things, and you should be fine. Just in case, make sure there is O2 readily available.

 

[abloedel]

65rosessamurai is correct about taking it easy when you first get here (or to any other higher elevation) if your body is not used to it. Even my "healthy" friends take a few days to adjust to the altitude when visiting. Remember that it takes your body a few days to adjust to having less O2 in the air and drink PLENTY of water! It helps prevent the headaches most people experience for a couple of days when coming to a higher elevation if they are used to sea level. But it is "fun" to go to sea level as I do find that I have a little more stamina there - as long as it's not too humid!

Amy
36 w/CF