PF Awareness Month Feels Less Important than Others
September is Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, and as I sit down to write this column, I have to admit that the topic is coming from a point of frustration … and even a little anger.
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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My tips for patients struggling in their pursuit of an IPF diagnosis
When I first began experiencing symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), my condition worsened quickly and kept me from doing many activities I enjoyed. And yet, it took 13 months for me to receive a diagnosis.
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IPF and Emotional Outbursts: Why Are They Happening?
This is another column in which I hope others living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) will have some helpful tips for me. I don’t know if it is my diagnosis or the medications, or maybe a…
When Illness Dictates Significant Lifestyle Changes
It’s no secret that when you are diagnosed with a chronic illness, your life will inevitably change in numerous ways. Lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), are bound to impact your physical, mental, and emotional…
Supplemental Oxygen and the Life of a Young Adult
Given the stage of life I am in, many people are curious to know what type of work I do for a living. This curiosity often comes naturally to people when interacting with young adults —…
I Don’t Always Have an Answer for ‘What’s Wrong?’
I have experienced a whirlwind of emotions, good and bad, since being diagnosed with IPF. Sometimes I feel these emotions randomly, and other times they are attributed to how my day has gone overall. For example,…
Finding Ways to Regain Some Control Since My Diagnosis
Since I received my IPF diagnosis about 16 months ago, there have been many times when things in my life have felt out of my control. For example, I neither can control how rapidly my disease…
What I Don’t Need as a Patient with IPF
Sometimes when people ask me, “What do you need” or “What can I do to help,” I feel like a broken record since my response is usually, “I don’t know.” I wish I did know what I need…
Watching Others Leave for Vacation
I have always enjoyed traveling and have been privileged enough as a young adult to enjoy vacations that span the globe. While some were related with business, such as being flown to Calgary, Saskatchewan, Halifax, New York City,…
My New Reality: Just Doing Things Differently
This past weekend, I was able to get away from all of my medical treatments, therapies, and appointments and spend time at my cottage with two dear friends. We had been planning this for a long…
Constant Fatigue and Its Emotional Toll
After walking from a lunchroom table back to my desk, I remember thinking to myself, “Gosh, I am feeling tired this week.” I reviewed what I might have done differently last week from other weeks, and thought about…
The Impact of Naivety for IPF Sufferers
By definition, I always understood naivety to mean inexperience, lack of understanding or wisdom about a particular topic. Such things could include naivety about the topic of a difficult discussion, or an unrealistic expectation of a…
Patient as Self-Advocate: It Seems Impossible to Keep Up
As a patient living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I am extremely grateful to the researchers, doctors, health advocates, and other professionals dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for those of us enduring this horrible…
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