Articles

Recently, members of our community discussed shingles. Shingles symptoms are uncomfortable, and they can be more severe when combined with autoimmune diseases. It is always an unwelcome surprise when shingles...

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...

Editor’s note: This article was written by Health Leader Cora Lyn Sears and originally appeared on our partner site AtopicDermatitis.net. She describes her experience of having shingles while living with...

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...

Editor’s note: This article was written by Health Leader Jacqueline Harmon and originally appeared on our partner site BladderCancer.net. She shares her experience with shingles while living with multiple serious...

We asked our community of Health Leaders to share about their shingles experiences. What topped the list of challenges when dealing with a shingles infection? PAIN! It’s no surprise that...

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...

I have noticed every once in a while in our COPD forums that many people have asked about getting on disability, and I thought I would share my journey with...

It is true that when you have a chronic illness like COPD, your daily suffering will be a struggle that others cannot understand.  My symptoms go over their heads. I...

For many people, a shingles diagnosis will come as a painful surprise. But about 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will be affected by this common...

It is important to remember that our caregivers need some caring of their own. As hard as it is to live with a chronic illness like COPD, our caregivers live...

There are 15 million people in the U.S. with a diagnosis of COPD. Each one experiences this disease in unique ways. Some have mild COPD, while others have it severe...

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most common complications of shingles. Up to 18 percent of people who get shingles will develop PHN. PHN causes severe pain that can...