I Have More Identities than Being a Chronically Ill Patient
As we grow up and go through life, we adopt many different roles or identities that help shape who we are as a person, and in relation to others. Some of these…
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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My Dog is the Best Therapy for IPF
For animal lovers out there, it won’t come as a surprise that having a dog has been a blessing since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in early 2016. I often…
When No One Has an Answer: Rhetorical Questions of an IPF Patient
By definition, a rhetorical question refers to one that seeks to make a point as opposed to seeking an answer. Lately, I have been asking myself rhetorical questions, and I am not…
Neither I Nor Others Have Time for Chronic Illness
As I sit down to write this column, I am wiping away tears of frustration. I hope that getting all of my thoughts down on paper will help. I’ll be candid: I…
Being a Patient Can Test Our Patience
Everyone diagnosed with a life-threatening disease or chronic illness can have a different experience as a patient. Many factors might cause this, including how involved patients are or want to be in…
The Conflicting Feelings and Fears of Traveling with IPF
For those of you who know me personally, you likely are aware that I am excited about an upcoming trip to celebrate my 30th birthday. More than the fact that it’s my…
I Am Changed Since My Diagnosis
It likely wouldn’t surprise anyone to hear that after being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, there are many things about which a patient might feel differently. There also are changes both internally…
The Guilt of Being Immune-compromised
Since the beautiful season of fall has embraced us in southwestern Ontario, so has cold and flu season. Between the seasons changing and the kids going to school, there is an entirely…
I’ve Lost a Lot But I’m Still Thankful
As the seasons slowly change here in Southwestern Ontario and we welcome the beauty of fall, I can’t help but reflect on this past summer. It was filled with some happy memories,…
Pain and IPF: What’s the Deal?
I am sure there is some underlying rule that a patient will have some type of pain when diagnosed with a chronic illness. Either that pain will come from the disease itself,…
The Impact of a Stranger’s Kindness
Those of you with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) likely have had to use supplemental oxygen. If so, you likely are aware of how labor-intensive it is to obtain and maintain oxygen equipment,…
‘You’re Having a Pink Day!’
Since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I have crossed paths with many different people with varying responses to my disease. Because I am only 29, I am regularly reminded that…
