Living

Editor's Note: We are heartbroken to share that Liana passed away in November of 2021. She is deeply missed, but her encouragement and positivity live on in her articles. Thank...

The last couple of weeks I have had plenty of time to think, or should I say dwell (the dwelling didn't last too long). The thinking has stayed but not...

I have mentioned several times that I have a great deal of anxiety about going out without my husband. If I get very short of breath or there is an...

Music is powerful. It can lift our moods, console us when we're down, and connect us with the world. We asked you to share your favorite songs and were amazed...

“Give yourself time to catch up. Be gentle with yourself. Listen to your needs. Let yourself adapt to the changes that are right for you.” Melody Beattie (Journey to the...

There was this guy that lived in the neighborhood I grew up in. I don't want to tell you his real name. So, for the sake of this article, I...

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency is a condition that may result in serious lung disease in adults and/or liver disease in infants, children, or adults. This condition is passed on from parents...

Stress is my enemy. It can wreck my day, make my heart race, and take my breath away. How those of us with COPD handle stress impacts our daily life. It can make...

It has taken me a very long time to find my comfort level living with COPD. I am still working on some issues that give me a great deal of...

Have you noticed any change in your sleep pattern and how you get comfortable? I have noticed a lot of change. No longer do I sleep on my back, and...

I’m sure most of us are familiar with the term "invisible illness." This is a term for medical conditions that are not physically obvious but are life-changing. They can range...

Pre-COPD, I had always led a fairly active life. Up until about ten years ago, I snow skied, hiked, gardened, and worked lots of hours. As this disease progressed, I...

Understanding COPD cannot be done unless you live it. That is really true of any illness. True understanding comes from experiencing daily life with the symptoms, particularly the worst days...

Editor's note: This is part 3 of a 3-part series. Be sure to check out part 1 and part 2! When I was first diagnosed with Alpha-1, I was still working...

I needed a new doctor after moving. When we arrived in the UK, we registered at the local GP's surgery and I got an appointment to see her really quickly. This...

Just like working through the different stages after any traumatic event in life, how we deal with a COPD diagnosis is different for everyone. Going on 7 years living with...

Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) is a treatment option for some people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This lasting lung illness can hinder airflow and result in low oxygen levels...

It happened last week and it is going to happen again next week. What a difference it made for everyone’s mental and emotional health. Well, I should have known because...

Editor's note: This is part 2 of a 3-part series. Check out part 1 and part 3! When I was first diagnosed, I felt so lonely. Not that my family...

COPD comes with many symptoms, not just shortness of breath. It took some time to figure this out, learn which ones affect me, and how to manage them. I feel...