Mourning the Death of Your Previous Life - Part 2When you are in mourning for the life you've lost to COPD, denial, disbelief and grief are the easiest emotions to deal with, but they can lead to the stronger... By Mary Ultes8 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments17 comments
Mourning the Death of your Previous Life - Part 1The reaction to being diagnosed with COPD is as varied as the people that get COPD. Being diagnosed with COPD may cause feelings of denial, fear, anger, blame, guilt, confusion... By Mary Ultes6 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments34 comments
Bloating and COPD - Part 2In part one I explained how COPD causes many of us to bloat. I also explained how large our lungs become inside our bodies. Bloating can be uncomfortable, and in some... By derekc4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments20 comments
Tidbits for COPD in Cold Weather at Home & AwayCold weather is definitely here. With it comes a change in our own health. I don’t know about you, but my body feels the changes and reacts to things differently in... By Janet Plank3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Bloating and COPD - Part 1This week I am writing about the bump many of us wish we did not have: bloated stomachs that no amount of effort on our part seems to deflate. I... By derekc3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Medical Bills 101As if the symptoms of COPD are not enough to deal with on their own, you also have to deal with medical bills and insurance companies. Just when it seems... By Tonya Hidalgo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Conversation No One Wants To HaveThere is a discussion that needs to take place, before it needs to take place. Honestly, I wish that I had pushed this conversation years before we needed the information... By Tonya Hidalgo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
An Embarrassing SituationWhen you have COPD and become short of breath, you may feel the urgency to go to the bathroom or experience incontinence. It affects many of us with COPD and... By Mary Ultes5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments72 comments
What You Wish Friends and Family Understood About COPD“You seemed fine yesterday.” “You don’t look sick to me.” “So, do you still smoke?” How much easier would it be if people just understood COPD? If you didn’t have... By Stephanie Huston3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Christmas Shopping TipsPurchasing gifts for the holidays can be overwhelming for a healthy person. Add COPD to the mix, and you have a really big shiny ball of... stress! So how do... By Tonya Hidalgo3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Strong Smells Can Cause Shortness of BreathYou probably have that one uncle that always covers himself in half of a bottle of cologne before showing up at a family function. He comes in and you give... By Tonya Hidalgo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
How Safe Are Your Blood Oxygen Saturation Levels?If you are diagnosed anything other than mild COPD I always advocate buying an oximeter to check blood oxygen levels, more so when active. An oximeter is attached to the end... By derekc4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments18 comments
Tips and Tricks for Tackling the HolidaysIn a recent survey, 106 of our COPD community members shared their holiday struggles as well as some methods for coping during the holiday season. Between the cold weather and... By balexander2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Are You Prepared For A Local Disaster?When there is a local disaster, it is important to be prepared - especially when living with COPD. There are many types of local disasters that you should think through... By Tonya Hidalgo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments
COPD and Workplace AccommodationsLiving and working with a chronic respiratory condition like COPD can be a real challenge. Luckily, the Americans with Disabilities Act (or ADA for short) offers legal protections for individuals... By Mariah Z. Leach3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
30 Days of COPD Awareness - 30 Things About Janet ... By Janet Plank6 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Community Thoughts: What You Wish More People Knew About COPDAs part of COPD awareness month, we asked our Facebook community:"What do you wish more people knew about COPD?" Check out their responses below - and feel free to add yours in the comments! Also, we welcome... By jennl2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
COPD Pick-Me-UpsDealing with COPD is a challenge and a feat that can be downright grueling at times. Because of this, it can be helpful to give yourself a little pick-me-up every... By jennl1 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Handling the Holidays with COPDIt’s that time of year again! In a recent survey, 96% of individuals with COPD indicated they enjoy spending more time with their friends and family during the holiday season... By balexander2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Pets with COPD?It’s a classic battle between head and heart: Should a person with COPD have a pet? Allow me to spoil the ending for you: there’s no right or wrong answer... By Stephanie Huston3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments