It is hard to admit that my chronic lung disease is having more than a physical impact on me. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a relentless, cruel disease and sometimes it causes me to behave in ways that leave me feeling ashamed. This disease sets me apart from most of…
How Do I Deal with Increasing Impatience Since My PF Diagnosis?
I named my column “Courage to Care” because I wanted to convey that it takes a lot of guts to be a caregiver. The moment I decided to take responsibility for protecting my mother, I became a courage-making machine. I have mustered courage all day, every day, to face…
Rosavin, an active compound found in the plant Rhodiola rosea, commonly known as golden root or Aaron’s rod, can prevent pulmonary fibrosis (PF) manifestations in mice, a study has found. This discovery, published in the journal Biomedicine & Pharmocotherapy, suggests that rosavin may be a promising candidate…
I vividly remember being told I had something called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). That day and conversation will be forever etched in my mind. I looked at the specialist revealing the news and said to him, “OK. What’s that?” Like most people, I’d never heard of this disease before…
Contrary to what has been suggested, antacid therapies may not change survival or disease progression rates among people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), an Australian study found. The study, “Gastroesophageal reflux and antacid therapy in IPF: analysis from the Australia IPF Registry,” was published in the journal…
Another Mother’s Day is upon us. As each year comes round, it seems that I think about my mother more and more. My mom passed away on June 27, 2007. She suffered a fractured pelvis from which she didn’t fully recover. Afterward, she lived with ongoing pain and contracted frequent…
Ofev (nintedanib) can prevent disease progression in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) regardless of their prognosis at treatment start as staged by the…
Exposure to cigarette smoking and lipopolysaccharides, components of the cell wall of certain bacteria, can lead to more severe lung fibrosis, a mouse study shows. The study, “Cigarette smoke exposure combined with lipopolysaccharides induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice,” was published in the journal Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology.
It’s reasonable to assume that dizziness would be a common symptom of having poorly functioning lungs due to chronic underoxygenation. However, now that my lungs are weak thanks to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the causes of my particular symptoms are more complicated. I have had occasional bouts of dizziness in…
It started with a cough that just wouldn’t go away. Many of you probably know what that cough feels like. I don’t. I do, however, know what it feels like to learn that harsh, persistent cough isn’t just allergies or a lingering cold. I know what it feels like to…
