Author
Heike Isensee, as published in Alpha1 Journal 1/2023.
The event room in Stuttgart-Vaihingen was filled to capacity on June 24, 2023 – the program of the patient event by CSL Behring in cooperation with Alpha1 Germany, to which the Stuttgart regional group had invited, was also very promising!
CSL Behring organized the patient day to our complete satisfaction and made this unforgettable day possible financially. Many thanks for that, especially to Dr. Burmeister (who had been instrumental in the organization beforehand and unfortunately could not attend in person), Dr. Kögler, and Ms. Batlaeva, who together ensured the smooth running of the event.
We were able to attend a presentation by Dr. Alexander Rupp (pulmonology practice in the center of Stuttgart with a large Alpha1 center). In it, the expert explained "our values" to us. Finally, some clarity was shed on the subject – who really understands the many terms associated with the various components of a lung function test? What do the curves and lines on the diagrams mean? And what exactly are all these blood values that are measured? What does it mean when the measured values are higher or lower? Dr. Rupp managed to explain these very complex terms in an engaging and easily understandable way for everyone and patiently answered all questions. A huge thank you to him for that, and also for taking the time on a Saturday – with his large practice and his work as a scientific advisor for Alpha1 Germany, his schedule is already quite full.
Afterwards, during the coffee break, there was an opportunity to catch up with old acquaintances and make new friends. There was a lot of laughter, and we Alphas always benefit from the experiences of others affected by similar challenges.
After the break, group leader Heike Isensee led a short pulmonary exercise session, allowing everyone to breathe in more oxygen to improve their concentration and stretch and move their respiratory muscles. Then came part two of the program.
Ms. Ines Schneider works as a coach and not only possesses remarkable knowledge about physical and mental processes in stressed people, she can also convey this knowledge in a very understandable and exciting way and deepen it with exercises for the listeners.
We learned how the constant barrage of stressors affects us and how they can plunge us into a deep depression. We received guidance on what we can do ourselves to gradually climb out of this rut. No superhuman strength is required. Smiling, consciously breathing, not focusing on too many things at once, and ensuring our bodies get what they need – these are the first steps. Listening to our intellect and our subconscious when necessary, and setting goals based on our own positive experiences, will help us move forward. Surrounding ourselves with positive people, improving our mood through good posture, and perhaps simply doing what we truly enjoy… – we learned this and much more. It's good to know that we are not helplessly at the mercy of crises as long as we don't succumb to lethargy but actively take action. Many thanks to Ms. Schneider for her wonderful support.
After lunch together, our paths diverged again. We hope to see each other again in good health in September at the South German Patient Day in Stuttgart.
