Charlene is a fiercely independent 30-something year-old who can’t sit still. She loves coffee, wine tasting, playing with her dog, and spending time on the beach with her family. She’s a lover of all things travel, and never passes up an opportunity for a dip in the ocean! A proud Canadian, Charlene was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2016 after 13 months of investigation into sudden shortness of breath, a chronic cough, and unusual fatigue. IPF has forced her to slow down, but she’s slowly learning the value of quality versus quantity in everything she does.I’ve been writing this column for almost six years. Throughout that time, I’ve had the privilege of interacting with other patients living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and life-threatening lung disease. While IPF is considered a rare disease, it doesn’t always feel that way given how many…
By definition, a progressive illness is one that worsens over time. When I was diagnosed in 2016 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a life-threatening and progressive lung disease, I was told by a pulmonologist that simple tasks would become difficult as the fibrosis in my lungs worsened. Before IPF,…
One of the most common symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the chronic cough. While patients may have other characteristics of a cough, such as bringing up phlegm, most of the ones I know living with this cruel and life-threatening lung disease have a cough that is…
Pulmonary fibrosis has stolen a lot from me over the years. Like most people, I’d never heard of this cruel and life-threatening disease before my diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2016. I also had no idea how many other body systems are affected by chronic…
A strong relationship with a medical specialist can make a world of difference. As a young adult living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a debilitating and life-threatening lung disease, I have various specialists, but the one I value most is my pulmonologist. Before my diagnosis in 2016, I bounced…
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a cruel and greedy chronic illness. I’ve had to accept this, albeit begrudgingly, since being diagnosed with this life-threatening and debilitating lung disease in 2016. Just how cruel and greedy IPF is has become more apparent in the last couple of years as…
Living with a chronic illness is not for the faint of heart. In addition to the physical and emotional aspects of having a life-threatening lung disease like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), there are also many mental challenges. As patients, we’re often forced to face our fears, especially during acute…
“I’m so busy” feels like it’s now a common response to the question, “How are you?” It’s like being busy is glorified or worn as a badge of honor among many of us, myself included. Living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a life-threatening and debilitating lung disease, has forced…
It’s hard to forget traumatic events. Even if we’re not directly involved, these moments often become ingrained in our psyche. When we face trauma firsthand, we tend to remember many of the sensory experiences connected to the event. My most traumatic experience was being intubated after an exacerbation…
Last Monday was one of my favorite holidays here in Canada. Victoria Day, which honors Queen Victoria’s birthday, kicks off the summer season, and we have an unwritten rule among the cousins in my family to gather at our family lake house after a long winter. Being able to…
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