Jorge Ríos

I love the spring season! After a long, dark, and cold winter here in Canada, nothing lifts my spirit quite like warmer days and sunshine. As much as I enjoy this time of year, I also feel a bit of anxiety about whether my disease is worsening because my symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) tend to be more intense as the seasons…[Read more]

There has been a lot of correspondence on the PF forums lately about portable oxygen concentrators (POC) – thank you all for the rich discussions!

Early on in my diagnosis, and based on my prescribed need for oxygen and my active lifestyle, I had a really hard time deciding which POC would work best for me. Most often I’d recommend…[Read more]

It’s no secret that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an exhausting illness for patients, both mentally and physically. I am very protective of my Sundays lately and do not commit to doing anything except things around the house that will set me up for a successful work week.

I enjoy a hot cup of coffee out of a cup (vs. a travel mug…[Read more]

I really enjoy reading along to many of the conversation topics that are started on this site. I looked closely at the Prednisone and Vitamin D thread, as I am vitamin D deficient and take a prescription dose of 50,000 IUs once per week. Surprisingly, many of my fellow IPF patients I’ve spoken to have also discovered they are low on vitamin D.…[Read more]

To my fellow IPF patients: is weight something your doctor discusses with you at routine appointments?

I’ve heard from some patients it is, whereas other people say their doctors never bring it up. I wanted to write this forum post about how difficult it is to maintain a healthy weight while living with IPF. Whether the goal is to gain or lose…[Read more]

I enjoy celebrating Rare Disease Day (RDD) each year, which falls on the last day of every February. That means RDD is today! This day gives me a chance to help raise awareness for the rare disease that complicates my life; living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) as a young adult is hard. It’s hard for all of us who deal with this…[Read more]

As patients living with chronic and progressive diseases like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), it is inevitable that we will experience hospitalization at some point. Whether that be proactively ahead of a test or procedure, or reactively due to an exacerbation, illness, or disease progression; it is likely something you have or will…[Read more]

As my disease progresses and my physical abilities lessen, I am often asked how others can support me. This is especially true in my workplace and oftentimes, I don’t know what to tell them.

Sadly, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is mostly an invisible illness, with the exception of supplemental oxygen use if patients have progressed to…[Read more]