Breathing Easier on the Canadian West Coast
For as long as I can remember, I have always been passionate about traveling. While this has become more difficult since my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis, I am grateful that it…
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.
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Strategies that make exercise with pulmonary fibrosis easier for me
Exercise is important for people with chronic illness. But as someone living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a disease characterized by progressive scarring of the lungs and difficulty breathing, I know working out…
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Quiet Hobbies Bring New Opportunities
A recent discussion in our new Pulmonary Fibrosis News forums was about quiet hobbies that are beneficial for patients living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). As the forum’s moderator, I shared…
A Gratitude Miniseries: April 2018
Editor’s note: A continuation of Charlene Marshall’s monthly “Gratitude Miniseries.” Unfortunately, April was not my best month. While many good things happened, which I am excited to share below, last month…
I’d Rather Have No Disease Than Special Accommodations
I have been lucky that many of my friends, colleagues, and family members have quickly adapted to my new normal since my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis just over two years ago.
Lessons Learned in the ER: A PF Patient’s Experience
For those of us living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), trips to the emergency room (ER) are inevitable. These trips could be due to fighting off a virus that affects our…
The Benefit of Having Friends with Chronic Illness
No one wants to be plagued with the symptoms, medications, management, or label of living with a chronic illness. For most, a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis…
The Fears an IPF Patient Faces when Going on Vacation
When most of us think about going on vacation, images of relaxation pop into our minds. The point of a vacation is to feel rejuvenated and to catch a break from our…
Coping with Diagnosis Anniversaries
April 7, 2016, is a date that will be etched in my memory for a very long time. It is the date of my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis, which followed nine…
How I Respond to Common Reactions About My Disease
Because I was diagnosed with a chronic illness at 28 years old, I have received many different reactions to the news. Most people are well-intentioned, some don’t know what to say, and…
A Gratitude Miniseries: March 2018
Editor’s note: A continuation of Charlene Marshall’s monthly “Gratitude Miniseries.” The goal of my “Gratitude Miniseries” is to write about the things I am grateful for that took place in the…
Why I Enjoy Having Nothing to Do Since My Diagnosis
If you have read my previous columns, you may be aware of how much things have changed for me since my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis. My current life is nothing like…
Choosing to Let Things Go Since My IPF Diagnosis
When you are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the choices about how you live your life suddenly becomes illuminated. Since IPF literally steals a patient’s ability…
