Living

One of the things that I wish I had been taught at the beginning of my diagnosis was how to track my numbers. This would help me be more aware...

The one thing I have learned about taking COPD medication is most will most likely dry you out. It could be puffers or a simple inability to breath easy and...

We asked our COPD advocates to share their tips on running errands. Here is what they each had to say. Let’s talk about getting out and about! While we were...

This is the story of how I fell down, landed on my buttocks, and got myself back up again without help from anyone. Being home alone always makes me feel...

Did you have breathing issues when you were young? I sure did. I remember having colds, bronchitis, and the flu all the time. My sister and I seemed to be...

If you are like me, you probably have other things besides your COPD that you struggle with that may hinder your will to keep going every day. COPD is hard...

One of the things that I have learned while dealing with COPD is that it is hard for others to understand what we live with every day of our life...

Let's talk long Covid. Twenty days after our previous Covid test, my husband and I tested positive for Covid-19. This was the third time. When we tested positive, my husband...

Editor's Note: This article discusses domestic abuse and neglect, which may be distressing for certain readers. The cruelest part of having COPD is the people that refuse to understand. It’s...

When I was first diagnosed with Alpha-1, I was interested in joining a support group. Would there even be one in my area? With Alpha-1 being a rare genetic disorder...

Please give me strength in this COPD world. This title really resonates with me. How often have I said those three words: “Give me strength.” If you stop and think...

I had a doctor’s appointment; the day was lovely, with the promise of spring around the corner. I was happy to get out of the house for a few hours...

Editor's Note: Please note that each hospital admission is unique, and the following account represents only one perspective. When you come to the hospital, things will be different than at...

I do not always bring this up. But in a conversation today with a patient of mine with severe COPD,  I mentioned I had really bad asthma as a kid...

According to Google.com, GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Heartburn is the main symptom, but it also affects swallowing and causes food to get stuck in the esophagus. When you...

Just recently, in one of the Alpha-1 support groups, questions have been asked about how often we should change the hoses on our oxygen concentrators. When reading some of the...

Yearning, I so want to smell the flowers. Wildflowers are my favorites. Yet, nothing compares to the aromatic lilacs from those beautiful lilac bushes. I remember picking them up when...

I want to thank a few of you members from our forums who reminded me of how this feels. I think we all have been through this, but it would...

At least once a day, I hear someone say how much they dread wearing supplemental oxygen. Some because their vanity dictates it, some because of prejudice, and others because, the...

Getting a COPD diagnosis is downright scary. So many emotions and questions go through your head and trying to make sense of it all seems like an impossible feat. One...