Katie Bagshawe

oO I will look this up as it keeps popping up on my Amazon feed to watch. I always have to read the book version first though so I might just have to get my hands on it!

Hello Mark, thanks for sharing your story and also the important awareness you’re doing and that those around you are also going above and beyond to share your story in the hope of making the disease more known within the community.

At present the status of Pulmonary Fibrosis is of similar status in the UK. The current statistics we have for…[Read more]

Thanks for sharing that news Lorraine, it’s encouraging to hear that governments and politicians are becoming more open minded to these important matters that play such a big role in so many peoples lives. Ultimately I hope it gives the people the right support should they have to face this kind of issue. And of course, hopefully open a…[Read more]

Definitely fatigue and general tiredness is a major symptom of living with lung disease due to the restriction of oxygenated blood around your system, plus I agree with your notion on the mental health impact as depression and anxiety will give the same fatigue and tiredness that the low saturation levels will. That’s why I believe it’s so vital a…[Read more]

It’s interesting to hear your thoughts on this as I never really assessed Dads heart. He did lose a rapid and significant amount of weight in a short period of time due to pneumonia, and though he did regain muscle strength back, he never really recovered any weight despite bumping his calorie intake up. They did assess his heart quite heavily…[Read more]

It would be hard for me to sum this up as I feel we could all write quite a list of the things that are the biggest struggles, and our opinions can probably change day by day. For me though, I think it sums up into the fact that there is such a lack of awareness which means the research and funding opportunities are far fewer, diagnoses takes a…[Read more]

Hello Wendy, sending my love and thoughts to you. Losing mobility and independent is such a heart breaking and frustrating symptom of dealing with lung disease. Like Mark said, are you using supplemental oxygen at all? That can help immensely at providing oxygen and support to remaining active. Have you also had the opportunity to attend Pulmonary…[Read more]

Wow Charlene, that is so lovely that someone came to the rescue to ease your anxieties. I agree wholeheartedly with you that as individuals it can be so easy to become self involved because of all the angst and hate around us, it’s so easy to get hurt in this cruel world that we forget to show simple acts of kindness, or people are judgemental…[Read more]

oO if they have any sense then they wouldn’t hesitate at a trip to Hawaii! I have spoken to people in the past who managed Hawaii on quite a tight budget because they were doing extensive travelling at the time, but like you say, a little research will help you figure it out! I had no idea until my parents went how far away it was from the West…[Read more]

I knew I had one by Jodi Picoult in my collection somewhere but I might have donated it into charity recently as I had a massive clear out in my bookshelves. I will definitely check at the library as I’ve seen her books in there many times, definitely need a new author to read as I always get myself into a rut obsessively reading the same one!

@roger-coles ,

oO if you like Jo Nesbo and the Stieg Larrson series, there was a similar one I got into the year before last by Samuel Bjork. I believe the third book in the series comes out sometime this year but I adored the first two, very similar in the Nordic crime thriller but again, it has some unique and complex characters mixed in. A…[Read more]

Outlander sounds familiar. Did they turn that into a TV show?

I was chatting with a work colleague the other day who showed me some drone footage he took in the Yorkshire Dales that looked stunning! However, I wouldn’t trust myself with such an expensive piece of kit.

A part of me was considering a GoPro for when I’m travelling so that I can shoot videos as well, but I still like the idea of traditional…[Read more]

So, I’ve recently joined WW (or what was known as Weight Watchers) to help me get better control of my diet and exercise and there is some really lovely simple dessert ideas, plus lower sugar cakes and buns to make.

This Jaffa Cake looks incredible and is a lighter version than making a full on cake. I would love to have a go at making…[Read more]

Hi Jean, the French system sounds the same as us in the UK in that relatives can block consent even if the person made it clear their wishes were to donate organs. They still actively encourage the conversation to ensure this doesn’t happen. There has also been press coverage lately regarding how some organs are wasted because of a lack of…[Read more]

@ramblingolfer (Bill),

Glad to hear you’ve tried a variety of options, and I’m sorry to hear that most of them seem to be so unsuccessful. Unfortunately they were the only options we had available to us, with the exception of when Dad was admitted and he was using a humidifier alongside his oxygen. I’ve never seen this available in the…[Read more]

Thank you Mark! I was fortunate in my time acting as a Carer for my Dad that I was able to study a Masters of Science in Psychology and focused my dissertation on the Psychological Impact of Pulmonary Fibrosis whereby I interviewed patients on the mental health impact. Learning about Psychology also helped me understand my own mental health a lot…[Read more]

Alas not from Wales but Derbyshire in England, about a two hour drive from Hay on Wye. It’s such a beautiful place though isn’t it? A whimsical little town in the middle of the stunning Brecon Beacons, we stayed in a cottage nearby a few years ago whilst the festival was on and had the loveliest summer days exploring the area. If you’re ever in…[Read more]

oO yes I think I did pick up  a Jodi Picoult book last year that I haven’t gotten round to reading just yet. I’ve heard good things about her, especially considering I like Alice Hoffman and it’s similar sort of writing styles!

I will look into the Sarah Knight book as I’ve seen it in the bookstore a few times and I love an easy humorous read…[Read more]