Author Archives: Charlene Marshall

The Pulmonary Fibrosis News Forums offer a one-of-a-kind platform to learn about this life-threatening lung disease firsthand. Patients, caregivers, and professionals alike come together to discuss a plethora of topics pertaining to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Many of those discussions focus on how to effectively manage the disease, and…

Excessive amounts of inflammation in the body often accompany chronic illness. For people living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and life-threatening lung disease, effectively managing inflammation is important to overall health and is a popular topic of discussion among IPF patients in our Pulmonary Fibrosis News Forums.

Throughout their lives, many people experience an array of ups and downs. Days, months, or even years can be plagued with challenges that seem unfair. Conversely, people also can experience prolonged periods when things go well. Rare disease patients who frequently experience ups and downs caused by their illness know…

I love the memories feature offered on various social media platforms. With the click of a button, you can revisit what you were doing or posting about on the same day in previous years. I recently read an old post on one of my social media pages that reminded…

Following my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis in 2016, I had many fears. As an avid traveler, my No. 1 fear was being put on supplemental oxygen and losing the ability to fly. I also feared that using oxygen would prevent me from partaking in many of the outdoor…

According to the Canadian Lung Association, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms mimic other common respiratory conditions. I have spoken with many IPF patients who can attest to this. They describe their diagnostic journey as long, complicated, and frustrating. The process of being diagnosed…

Managing symptoms is an ongoing challenge for chronically ill patients. Whether they’re caused by an exacerbation, disease progression, or environmental factors, it’s often difficult for patients to get quick relief, including from respiratory symptoms. Despite their name, rescue inhalers aren’t always effective in managing or improving pulmonary fibrosis…

While you can’t predict an emergency, it helps to be prepared for one. Most young adults haven’t had to think about whom to notify during a medical emergency, but I have as a result of my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Two years ago, I published a column about the importance for…

Stories have been a catalyst for conversation for centuries. Generations of families are often weaved together by the narrative of a loved one’s past, and by the stories that have shaped our evolution. There is so much to learn through the stories of those who came before us. As a…

If I could give strangers one gift, it would be that they never take their healthy lungs for granted. I’ve longed for a life with fully functioning lungs for 1,854 consecutive days. That’s how long it’s been since I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) at the age of…