Managing Medication as a Patient with PF
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…
Living With IPF — Charlene Marshall
Charlene Marshall 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.
Featured Post
My New Year’s wishes for the IPF community
Each new year brings an influx of marketing about resolutions, hopes, and wishes. If you’re like me, your social media feed is flooded with related ad campaigns this month. A new year often sparks…
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Protecting Yourself from Secondhand Smoke
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…
Deciding Whether to Have Children When Chronic Illness Is a Factor
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…
My Heart Aches for People Living with Chronic Illness
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…
Pondering the Bigger Picture in Life
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 Use Humor as Part of My Coping Strategy with IPF
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.
Sometimes My Health Condition Dictates My Social Plans
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…
Setting Goals Brings Me Benefits While Living with Chronic Illness
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…
IPF Cognitive Struggles: Does Disclosure Carry a Risk?
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…
I’m Embracing Desensitization as a Coping Strategy
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,…
I Have Experienced These Physical Changes Since My IPF Diagnosis
Chronic illnesses inevitably cause physical changes in a person’s body. These alterations include scars from surgery, procedures, and the placement of a medical device such as a port-a-cath or a peripherally-inserted central catheter,…
4 Side Effects of Ofev: A Patient’s Perspective
Following my diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I took some time to research the available information to learn about my disease. Despite discovering a lot of useful material from brochures, online sources, and…
