By Sara Thompson
Barbra Leiferman talks fast , and that's no small feat for a woman suffering chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). Leiferman, 53, wife, and mother of two daughters, has endured crippling asthma and other discomforts in the last 13 years, but says a daily regiment of exercise and a good attitude keep her feeling good.
At 40, living in Germany with her husband and older daughter, Leiferman was stung by a yellow jacket and developed severe reactions after being rushed to the hospital. The ensuing weeks saw her in the ICU six times breathing normally was a serious problem and Leiferman discovered how prone she was to anaphylactic shock. I believe the COPD is because of that sting, and what happened with that, and the venom therapy, Leiferman now says.
According to National Jewish Hospital's Web site, COPD is a progressive lung disease that affects millions of people each year. People with COPD have airways that are narrowed and blocked due to damage. Patients with COPD often have chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema and may also have an asthma-like or reactive component to their pulmonary disease. The Web site also says more than 95 percent of COPD cases are caused by smoking. The other 5 percent of cases are likely caused by significant exposure to various types of dust (coal, grain or wood).
Sting therapy employs the use of insect venom to desensitize the patient to the venom. Bee stings have been used for hundreds of years to relieve many illnesses and conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and skin diseases. The Leifermans were stationed in Germany while Barbra's husband served in the U.S. Air Force and the hospital felt this was the appropriate course of treatment.
For the most part, Leiferman had not suffered allergies or reactions before. She grew up on a farm in Oklahoma and says, I did have to stop driving the wheat truck when I was 16 due to the wheat dust. Other than that, she lived free of breathing problems.
Upon returning to the United States, the military's doctor suggested Leiferman seek out treatment at National Jewish Research and Medical Hospital in Denver. National Jewish has been ranked the No. 1 hospital for respiratory and allergy treatment and research and offers a comprehensive series of treatments, education and research opportunities.
I can't say enough positive stuff about National Jewish, Leiferman says. They treat the whole patient there, not just the disease. They look at your diet, your heart, bones, lifestyle, everything. Leiferman spent a few weeks in the summer working with doctors there on a program that would keep her healthier for longer. There, she can talk with specialists, be part of ongoing research and clinical trials, and attend classes on managing COPD. I go to every free class they have! she says.
One of the things that Leiferman says keeps her going is a daily exercise routine. After gaining more than 100 pounds when she started taking prednisone regularly, Leiferman knew something had to change. I get to Milestone Fitness every morning when they open, about 5:30 a.m., she says. As a music teacher at Second Presbyterian, she has to be to school early so she must exercise early. Right now, her program consists of an hour on the arc trainer, which is similar to the elliptical machine.
I used to do weights, but I have to stop that for now because of this ulcer, Leiferman says. Besides the prednisone, she takes an average of 12 medicines a day, including inhalers and vitamins like calcium and B6. Over time, that much medication can result in conditions such as bleeding ulcers. Without her wig, you can see she has also lost most of her hair, which leads many to believe she's a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy. Her skin is also very fragile, another side effect of the medications.
Despite a chronic cough and severe asthma, fragile skin and a debilitating disorder, Leiferman gives no excuses. She says only misses about four workouts a year. Since 2000, she has also been running local races like the Derby Triple Crown.
When considering what keeps her going and keeps her motivation up, Leiferman's first answer is, I feel so much better when I've exercised.
Exercise is no longer considered dangerous for asthma patients. In fact, studies have shown that exercise increases the body's ability to use oxygen effectively, as well as strengthening the cardio-pulmonary system.
Leiferman also credits her stubbornness as a key motivator. When I told my husband I wanted to run the Triple Crown, he said, I don't know if you can do that,' and I thought, Oh, yes I can!'
She says people have a choice each day to make it the best day they have and it doesn't help to ask Why me? because that doesn't help you feel any better.
