How to Make the Most of Summer Despite Pulmonary Fibrosis
Following my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis in 2016, I had many fears. As an avid traveler, my No. 1 fear was being put on supplemental oxygen and losing the ability to fly.
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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Understanding the Relationship Between Asthma and Pulmonary Fibrosis
According to the Canadian Lung Association, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms mimic other common respiratory conditions. I have spoken with many IPF patients who can attest to…
Where Do We Turn When Prescribed Therapies Aren’t Effective?
Managing symptoms is an ongoing challenge for chronically ill patients. Whether they’re caused by an exacerbation, disease progression, or environmental factors, it’s often difficult for patients to get quick relief, including from respiratory…
With Emergency Preparedness Plans, Communication Is Key
While you can’t predict an emergency, it helps to be prepared for one. Most young adults haven’t had to think about whom to notify during a medical emergency, but I have as a result…
The Power of PF Storytelling, and a Plea for Change
Stories have been a catalyst for conversation for centuries. Generations of families are often weaved together by the narrative of a loved one’s past, and by the stories that have shaped our evolution. There…
I Can No Longer Enjoy These Luxuries Because of IPF
If I could give strangers one gift, it would be that they never take their healthy lungs for granted. I’ve longed for a life with fully functioning lungs for 1,854 consecutive days. That’s how…
Eliminating Unexpected Sources of Mold in the Home
In a story about living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), mold would be an antagonist. An abundance of literature outlines the dangers to the lungs of persistent mold exposure, including lung cancer, aspergillosis,…
Managing ‘Scanxiety’: Tips for Rare Disease Patients
A study published early last year revealed that patients living with a rare disease have a greater risk of developing anxiety and other mental health issues compared with people with more common diseases,…
What It Means When I Say I Had a ‘Bad Clinic Day’
Outpatient pulmonology appointments are common for people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The frequency of these appointments varies, depending on how the disease progresses, but spending a day at the hospital for various tests…
How COVID-19 Has Shifted People’s Lives and Habits
March 11 was the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a pandemic. Since then, I’ve been reflecting. I’ve learned a lot this year about myself and others. The hardships we’ve…
The Pandemic Is Stealing My Already Limited Time
After being diagnosed with a life-threatening lung disease like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), many patients reluctantly accept that their life span will be shortened. Even if we’re lucky enough to receive a lung transplant,…
My Age Prevents Me From Participating in Clinical Trials
Next month is the five-year anniversary of when I first heard the words “idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.” I was diagnosed by a pulmonologist at a local respiratory care center, where I’d finally been referred after…
