With the exception of being on antibiotics again for a bacterial infection that tried to start in my ears, nose, and throat, I am feeling pretty well these days. I am tired, but that is to be expected, and most of my harder days now are from the…
To People with Healthy Lungs: What I Wish You Knew
After reading other columns on this site, I’ve come to realize I’m not the only person with a lung disease dealing with sleep issues. After being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in early 2016, I don’t recall sleep ever having been a problem until recently, in the last…
Ofev (nintedanib) is effective at slowing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) progression in patients over time regardless of their degree of lung function at the beginning of treatment, according to new results from an extension of a Phase 3 clinical trial. Ofev, by Boehringer Ingelheim, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug…
Researchers have identified a variation of the AKAP13 gene that they say increases people’s susceptibility to developing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. An article about their discovery, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, is titled “Genetic variants associated with susceptibility to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in people of European ancestry: a genome-wide association study.” Previous…
With the documented success rate and benefits of naturopathic treatment for various chronic illnesses, it is hard for patients not to consider how natural remedies might help with their personal diagnosis. Natural remedies such as the use of essential oils or organic supplements, and those grounded in Chinese medicine such…
The American Lung Association‘s website includes its “Inspire” forum dedicated to pulmonary fibrosis patients and caregivers. The online platform has more than a million members who discuss various topics and share practical advice and emotional support with others. It also allows users to stay up to date on news about research, new…
Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), a clinical-stage biopharma focused on developing novel therapeutics for blood-based disorders, is discontinuing its GBT440 program for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The decision came after GBT evaluated the results from three studies, including one Phase 1 study and two Phase 2a…
One of the hard, but necessary things that we face as a PF patient is our mortality. I am very aware of my shortened life span, and think about every day. This reality guides how I spend my time, energy, and the decisions I make. It also…
Everyone suffers from stress from time to time but when you have a chronic disease, stress not only adds to your everyday burden but can often exacerbate the symptoms of your condition. While we can’t avoid stress altogether, there are ways that we help ourselves relax more and not let things…
If anyone reading this column resides in southwestern Ontario, you can attest to the abnormally hot temperatures that landed on us toward the end of September. For those of you who can bear the heat and humidity, I do hope you had the chance to go outside, because…
