Living

This is my 2nd kick at the cat. I first attended respiratory rehabilitation upon my initial diagnosis 5 years ago. I was the last of the ‘in-patients.’ I stayed in...

In 2020, 2,074 people diagnosed with COPD took our 6th Annual COPD In America survey. We learn so much about this community each time we field this survey. Some of...

COPD and self-esteem. They seem like an unlikely pair, but are they? My computer has been sick and I finally took it in. A few days later my husband decided...

I got my shiny new oxygen concentrator in 2016, and 33 feet of hose to walk around the house with. They provided me with several smaller bottles, a backpack, and...

I’m sure we have all seen the saying, “I have COPD, COPD does not have me.” Another common one is, “I am not defined by my illness.” I think about...

When we are diagnosed with COPD, most of us hold onto the thought that we can continue the path of our past lives as if nothing has changed. However, a...

Editor's note: This is part 1 of a 3-part series. Be sure to check our part 2 and part 3! I was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) almost eleven...

Wouldn’t it be nice if we were able to bounce back immediately after a COPD flare-up? To be able to have some energy and fall back into our regular routines?...

I'm counting my blessings. Lately, my life has been filled with so many obstacles, but everything is finally coming together. We are blessed. We recently got the good news that...

When someone has more than one health condition, they are said to have comorbid conditions or comorbidities. Most people living with COPD have comorbid conditions. In fact, one study found...

I have always had a love of cooking. Collecting cookbooks and recipes, particularly from the colonial era, was a hobby. Weekend mornings were a time for watching cooking shows even...

I am so tired of hearing the downside of COPD, so I thought I would change it around a bit and write about the good side of COPD. We all know...

Going from a very active social life to a stay-at-home, I can’t breathe kind of life is the start of a lonely existence. I don’t mean loneliness from social contact...

"You have Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency." Those were the words that I heard when I was diagnosed in June of 2010. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) is a genetic (inherited) condition –...

It is time for some fun! Can you find the following COPD-related terms in the word search below? How did you do? Could you find all the terms? Let us...

Every year on the last day of February, we acknowledge those who are fighting a rare diease. This article outlines a bit about rare diseases and highlights the one I...

I have an update on my journey with a cancer scare. After many weeks of tests and very lonely, scary moments, I found out on Wednesday that I am cancer-free...

There are many different treatment options for people living with COPD. This article provides information on a few of the most common and invites you to let us know which...

I am a big fan of Alice in Wonderland and all the great quotes that come from the story. Many seem like nonsense until you really reflect upon them. As...

The best place to live in the winter is something that I have looked into for years. Being from South Dakota made me think that any place warm sounded good...