What Is an Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)? | COPD.net"Hi, I’m John from respiratory. I have to draw some of your blood.” This is how I usually introduce myself when I come to draw an arterial blood gas (ABG)...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
My Most Stressful Time of the MonthDoes bill paying time of the month throw your body system off? It sure does mine. I would call this my stressor time of the month. It can get my...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Frustration of an Invisible Condition!Has anyone ever said to you, "You look fine. It's hard to believe you're sick!" or something similar? Many people in our community have expressed their frustration with COPD being...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Getting Your Best Sleep - Even With COPDA restful night's sleep can be elusive when you have COPD. Do you have to sleep somewhat upright, find yourself getting your oxygen tubing tangled up in your covers or...Reactions0reactionsComments68 comments
Expert Answers: Pain Relief with COPDLately, many of our community members have been talking about pain as it relates COPD. So we asked our experts. Check out what they had to say! Do you have...Reactions0reactionsComments25 comments
Why Quitting Smoking is So HardIt’s often said that cigarette smoking is one of the hardest habits to break. Quitting smoking, for lack of a better way of putting it, is a “Pain in the...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Not Always a Placebo! Types of Clinical TrialsWhen many people think of clinical trials, they may think of testing a new experimental drug or taking a placebo pill. But, not all clinical trials involve treatment! Even among...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
COPD, Obesity and MeThe last thing that I want to tell a group of people is that I’m overweight. I’m not just overweight, I’m obese. I’ve been dieting for years. Looking back, I...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Fire Season and COPDFire season is almost upon us. The end of summer and the start of fall mean the trees are changing colors, the weather is changing, fields are almost ready to...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Letter To Those Who Are Really Sick - Part 2As I mentioned in Part 1, no, I’m not being silly regarding the title. Many would say having COPD means that they are sick. Others think of COPD as having...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Community Feedback: Relief For Rib CrampingHave you ever had muscle spasms or cramping around the ribcage, also known as rib cramps? Even though many of our COPD community members experience rib cramping, doctors and researchers...Reactions0reactionsComments26 comments
The Foggy Brain Dead ZoneHave you ever seen an old Sherlock Holmes movie? All the old films ends with Holmes and Watson chasing the nefarious villain through a maze of London alleyways covered in...Reactions0reactionsComments12 comments
COPD and Pain? It Does Exist!Do you ever get pain that you think could be related to COPD? For example, you may get pain from chest tightness, rib cramps, skin tears, or something else? Do...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Emotional Pain of COPDMany with COPD suffer physical pain, other than the breathlessness that almost all of us with a respiratory condition suffer. I am lucky as a part from cramps I have...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Good Self Care for a Bad Day“You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocket ship underpants don't help.” Calvin, “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Waterson “Ugh,” I rolled over and grabbed my comforter closer. “I...Reactions0reactionsComments11 comments
Explaining Emphysema, Part 2: TreatmentIn "Explaining Emphysema, Part 1", we discussed the risk factors and symptoms associated with this condition. Now, let's look at what can be done about it in terms of treatment...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
8 Things To Know About COPD PainWhile COPD isn’t necessarily a painful disease, there is some good evidence linking COPD to pain. Here are 8 things to know about COPD-related pain. If you suffer from chronic...Reactions0reactionsComments15 comments
Video: Move That BodyI have written much over the last decade about COPD, and my personal fight with it, how it is possible to improve our lives despite our illness, and of the...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Yes, We Do Grieve Our Old LivesA couple of years ago on a grieving site, a person wanted to grieve her old life. Some on the site said that this was for grieving because someone died. This...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Have Peace of Mind with Lung Cancer ScreeningCOPD patients spend a lot of time focused on their lung health. Between staying on top of breathing treatments, going to pulmonary rehabilitation and receiving important vaccinations that can prevent...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments