Living with a chronic illness is not for the faint of heart. In addition to the physical and emotional aspects of having a life-threatening lung disease like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), there are also many mental challenges. As patients, we’re often forced to face our fears, especially during acute…

Many chronic illness patients experience brain fog. Those living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and life-threatening lung condition, are no exception. Due to being chronically under-oxygenated, especially as the disease progresses, many IPF patients find their brain fog prohibitive to important aspects of their life, such as excelling…

I’ve always been guilty of putting too much pressure on myself. While I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) five years ago, I still haven’t learned how to slow down and avoid putting so much pressure on myself. This is despite the disease causing me extreme fatigue, breathlessness,…

Have you ever been in a position in which you wanted to disclose something but were worried about how it would be perceived? Were you concerned that you’d be treated differently as a result of the disclosure? Unfortunately, I’ve been in this position recently, as I continue to navigate the…

It’s no secret that chronic illness complicates the lives of patients, regardless of the disease. While illnesses have many recognized symptoms, only patients are aware of the lesser-known complexities of each one. Since my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis, I have been consistently learning and adjusting to what…

Last week, I wrote about my brain-fog struggles. It’s common to wonder, “Why am I having so much trouble thinking clearly? Is it from pulmonary fibrosis?” I was able to run this question by Noah Greenspan, a doctor of physical therapy who specializes in cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. He…