The day I was told I am going to die

Submitted by GAtherton on 15 March 2017

This is a remarkable video by Stewart Armstrong who has sarcoidosis and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.

Stewart had known about his sarcoidosis for some time but despite that and knowing about significant lung damage he maintained a physically fit lifestyle and felt well up until November 2014.

In November 2014 when he had an episode of coughing up a large quantity of blood – a very frightening event and all too often the first sign of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. He spent the next year with doctors unsuccessfully trying to treat his aspergilloma as he couldn’t tolerate the antifungal medication. Running out of options Stewart researched the subject of aspergillosis and discovered the National Aspergillosis Centre in Manchester, where he was referred.

This is his story from when two years ago (March 2015) he arrived at the National Aspergillosis Centre with the knowledge that he had aspergillosis and that it was incurable. After some testing he was told that his outlook was limited with a 50% chance of living past the next year to 18 months.

Still unable to tolerate antifungal medication Stewart subsequently had treatment designed to stop his bleeding from his lungs and put on another new antifungal medication and eventually (after 6 months) felt much better, more in control. Stewarts gives us an exceptionally clear impression of what our aspergillosis patients go through and how they feel when all seems lost.

Stewart shows us that there is always hope, he shows us all the way to stay positive, better times can be just around the corner even when you think all is lost.