Now that I am not feeling quite so down I thought it a good time to write about dealing with bouts of “the blues” that verge on Depression.

I have really been struggling on and off for a week or two.

Each day to me is a blessing in disguise.

I am often asked to describe the experience of living with an incurable condition – to try to help people who have not shared this unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It’s a bit like this.

I look ‘healthy’ in this recent photo with my Labradoodle, Toby at Men-an-Tol, Cornwall, as aspergillosis is a ‘hidden’ condition…

I don’t do selfies…..(not all illness can be seen – hence the back of my head…ha ha!!) … where are the emoji’s???

My story is that I was diagnosed in 2001 after a dreadful summer of coughing, lung collapse and lots of different antibiotics by a very clever, persistent GP.

When I was told I had aspergillosis and was being referred to Wythenshawe Hospital, I cried. I cried because my brain heard ‘Asbestosis’.

Since being diagnosed with CPA I am no longer able to work. I also developed epilepsy which affects my long and short term memory.

I have Bronchiectasis and severe COPD. I have been successfully treated for Mycobacterium Avium Complex and Psuedemonas a few times.

Each day to me is a blessing in disguise.

My name is John Hill, I was diagnosed with ABPA around 5 or 6 years ago and have been in declining health with it for some time. As a result, I shielded for much of 2020, and was fairly high on the list for my vaccines, getting my second one back in April.