This week, March 8-14, is National Pulmonary Rehab Week. As a pulmonary fibrosis and single-lung transplant patient, I vow to promote pulmonary rehab awareness on behalf of my fellow Pulmonary Fibrosis News Forum members and others who are…
Recently, a topic in the Pulmonary Fibrosis News Forums called “fits of cough” caught my attention. Reflecting on the topic brought back vivid memories of my own experience with coughing attacks. Before my single-lung transplant, coughing spells…
Rare Disease Day takes place on Feb. 29. Bionews Services, the parent company of this website, has taken on this initiative in an all-out effort to bring awareness to rare diseases, of which over 6,000 have been…
After a lung transplant, a patient should not partake in some tasks or continue with certain behaviors. For example, I used to love to do yardwork, such as gardening and keeping my lawn in shape. But my transplant doctor…
At my last doctor’s appointment, my physician asked me how I felt. I replied, “Some days, I feel invincible.” She gave me the biggest smile and told me how happy she was that I was doing so well.
I enjoy the holiday season, especially Christmas celebrations. As my siblings and other family members were born in Poland — I am the only one born in the U.S. — we follow a traditional Polish Christmas, holding most of…
Thanksgiving is over, but my feeling of gratitude remains. As a single-lung transplant recipient, the holiday is a time for me to contemplate the tremendous gift given to me on Dec. 4, 2015. I have just passed my fourth…
In 2014, before I received an official diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, I attended the wedding of my niece, Stefania, in Breckenridge, Colorado. The town’s elevation is 9,600 feet. Although my lung function at the time was 62 percent,…
After my single-lung transplant in December 2015, I was invited to participate in a panel of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung transplant patients who had previously taken the anti-fibrotic medications Ofev (nintedanib) or Esbriet (pirfenidone).
After I received my single-lung transplant in December 2015, I was required to participate in a pulmonary rehabilitation program to build up my strength and lung function. I had a choice of several programs in my immediate…
A large number of people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) were unaware this disease even existed before they were diagnosed. I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in December 2014 and received a lung transplant a…
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