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.Patients living with a chronic illness must learn quickly to manage their medication. Access to the right treatment can be a matter of life or death, especially when talking about a rescue inhaler in response to a respiratory crisis. I’ve experienced one respiratory crisis since being diagnosed with…
I want to increase awareness about the impact on those of us with lung disease when people smoke in public places. Since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I’ve twice inhaled secondhand smoke at the entrance of a grocery store. One of those times, I was rushed to…
I feel vulnerable writing about this topic, but if this column opens the door for conversation, my discomfort will be worth it. I recently had a conversation with one of my colleagues about having kids. She is healthy, but I am living with a terminal lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary…
I often write about living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and what I’ve lost as a result of my diagnosis. It’s easy to write about because my life has changed drastically over the past three years. But I need to remember that the changes haven’t been all bad.
Do you ever wonder what your bigger picture looks like and what life lessons you’re meant to learn? I am aware that this is a very philosophical question to open a column with, but I can’t help but wonder about it after being diagnosed with a fatal lung disease. Since…
Learning to cope with a chronic illness is an ongoing process — and never easy. My entire world was flipped upside down when I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in April 2016. I didn’t know anything about interstitial lung diseases and felt bitter that I had to…
I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting these last few weeks. I don’t know why — I haven’t hit any special milestones such as a birthday or diagnosis anniversary. But I’ve been thinking about the adversity I’ve faced since my diagnosis with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) as…
Goal setting is an essential part of a balanced life. Regardless of whether the goals are related to fitness, finances, or learning a new skill, having targets gives you something to work toward and opportunities for improvement. I recently read a post titled, “8 Benefits of Goal Setting,” and…
Have you ever been in a position in which you wanted to disclose something but were worried about how it would be perceived? Were you concerned that you’d be treated differently as a result of the disclosure? Unfortunately, I’ve been in this position recently, as I continue to navigate the…
I was diagnosed with a fatal lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) three years ago. Since then, my life has been full of ups and downs — most of which my peers, who are other young adults, cannot relate to as a result of living a healthy life.
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