My recent pulmonary function test (PFT) results indicated a decline in all the areas it measured. That’s not unusual for me. In the spring, my PFT numbers had declined, as well, leading to a diagnosis of pneumonia that was treated with antibiotics. This time a CT scan was ordered.
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When your time here on Earth is done, what will your legacy be? We all leave one behind, intentionally or unintentionally. What do you want to be remembered for? When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January 2017, I’d already retired once from a successful…
During my journey with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, I’ve noticed periods of silence that affect not only patients, but also caregivers. I experienced my first significant such period about eight months after my diagnosis in January 2017. I took disability leave from my job as I was no longer able…
When I talk to patients, caregivers, or family members, almost all of them can recall the details of the pertinent diagnosis. After all, it’s a monumental life event. What each of us hears and how it’s interpreted can vary. When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)…
Some truly horrific events have occurred in recent weeks. The flash flooding that began in the early hours of July 4 along the Guadalupe River in Texas has claimed 134 lives as of this writing, with dozens more still missing or unaccounted for. Emergency situations are dangerous, but even more…
Joy is a simple three-letter word, but it can be elusive at times for those of us in the pulmonary fibrosis community. Patients and caregivers alike may often feel like no joy is to be found. When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January…
This column is scheduled to publish at 10 a.m. Eastern time on July 10, 2025. Four years earlier at this hour, I was undergoing a bilateral lung transplant at Inova Fairfax Hospital here in Virginia. I’d been moved into surgery at 3 a.m., about seven hours earlier. Today, I…
It’s been hotter than usual here in the mid-Atlantic. Temperatures in the upper 90s, flirting with 100 F, plus high humidity made it feel like 107 to 115 F. If I had to sum it up in a single word, I’d pick “miserable.” After my diagnosis of idiopathic…
Being diagnosed in January 2017 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and learning that the disease is chronic, progressive, and incurable was a lot for one day. Of course, I wanted a cure or better therapies to be available immediately. But what I came to learn during my journey is…
When your lungs betray you, your voice becomes your strongest tool. That’s what it means to live and speak through pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Living with PF or another rare disease involves managing various challenges that can affect time, emotional well-being, and physical health. The countless doctor appointments, procedures,…
