It Couldn’t Happen To MeIn my EMT class some years back, when we were learning to take patient evaluations and then the reports, sob kept coming up. The patient was sob. I couldn’t believe... By Janet Plank5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What Are COPD Flare-Ups?The term “COPD flare-up” gets bandied around quite a bit. So, what exactly are flare-ups anyway? What causes them? Here’s what to know. According to Oxford, a baseline is "a... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments29 comments
Understanding and Coping With Severe COPDCOPD is a chronic respiratory illness for which there is no cure and that will progress steadily over time. How much time can vary greatly. Often it will take years... By Kathi MacNaughton5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments20 comments
Ready, Set, GoEvery day has been a race to get functional again. My mom passed away January 16, 2018 from cancer, another close relative was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few... By Janet Plank2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Forming Relationships With Respiratory TherapistsAs a child asthmatic, I got to know my respiratory therapists. Two therapists I met in 1980 are still friends to this day. In fact, they were helpful in me... By John Bottrell, RRT2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Always Something to Look Forward ToWhen I set out to write this article, I was feeling down about my limitations and didn't particularly know what to say about COPD, but felt like I needed to... By michelle.vincent4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Saying GoodbyeOn January 16, 2018 I said goodbye to my mom. She didn’t have COPD, she had 2 types of cancer. It was a blessing, because the cancer had affected her... By Janet Plank3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
What Does COPD Feel Like?I was given the asthma/COPD overlap diagnosis when I was 25 years old. But for me, the COPD part has been pretty mild, however I do have severe asthma. Being... By Theresa Cannizzaro, Respiratory Therapist3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments27 comments
Are You My Doctor?People have asked frequently about lung doctors and who are they. Is there someone else they should be seeing? They wonder if they are getting the right medications, because medications... By Janet Plank4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
When the Doctor Leaves QuestionsBased on the feedback on my last article, which was fantastic by the way; I am left with a growing number of questions for my doctor. I’ve been told to... By Steven Workman2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
COPD Lexicon: Hospital Staff (Folks You’ll Meet in the Hospital)I work at a small town hospital. Where I work professions are color coded. This makes it nice for patients. Once they know the color scheme, they know who they’re... By John Bottrell, RRT4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Do You Know These Ten Things About COPD?1. Did you know that COPD was first referred to as “chronic airflow obstruction” and “chronic obstructive lung disease.” The first person to use the term COPD, was in 1965... By Janet Plank3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Spring Is In The AirIt looks so beautiful outside, yet it’s cold, It’s only the first day of March. Geese are flying, so we know that spring is in the air and getting closer... By Janet Plank2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
10 Things Not To Say To Someone With COPDHere are ten things not to say to someone living with COPD. (Followed by what a person with COPD might say in response!) So, what are some things you think... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments16 comments
If You Don't Like The Weather, It Will Always ChangeIt’s early March 2018 and so many here in the United States have been going through flooding, for many others, it’s blizzards. My heart goes out to so many and... By Janet Plank3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
First Ever COPD National Action PlanFrom left to right: Grace Ann Dorney Koppel, Dr. MeiLan Han, Dr. Jim Kiley, NHLBI, Harold Wimmer. Recently the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) announced the first ever... By American Lung Association2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Power of WaterWater is something that we often take for granted, yet it’s the most essential element. When the thought of writing about water and how it relates to our lives with... By Janet Plank2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Why a Medication Formulary is Your Best FriendHow many of us can relate to the following scenario: we make a visit to our doctor and are prescribed a new medication that sounds very promising. One that just... By Theresa Cannizzaro, Respiratory Therapist2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Our Bodies Beyond COPDWhen I think of COPD, I also think of the whole body. COPD, and the medications for it, can often affect the whole body, and other health issues and medications... By Janet Plank2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Hey, You're Looking GoodWhen looking in the mirror, at times I ask, “Who is that white haired lady, with the baggy and darkness around eyes and in other areas of my face. The... By Janet Plank3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments