Inhaler Use in the Hospital: What to Expect and How It May Differ from HomeEditor'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... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments11 comments
A COPD Patient Interviews MeI 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... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
What I Thought Was Eczema Turned Out to Be ShinglesEditor’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... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Navigating the Impact of GERD on COPDAccording 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... By Barbara Moore2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments9 comments
How Often Should We Change Our Hoses and Other Oxygen InformationJust 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... By Jackie English3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments20 comments
Spring Has SprungYearning, 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... By Janet Plank3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments7 comments
You Don't Look SickI 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... By Jackie English4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Using and Wearing Supplemental OxygenAt 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... By Barbara Moore2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Shingles: Good Reason to Boost My Immune SystemEditor’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... By Editorial Team 4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Community Shares: The Painful Reality of ShinglesWe 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... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Staging for COPDGetting 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... By Theresa Cannizzaro, Respiratory Therapist2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments27 comments
My Own Experience Through the Disability Process with COPDI 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... By Jackie English3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
The Silent StruggleIt 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... By Barbara Moore2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments20 comments
Community Shares: Did Your Doctor Talk to You About Shingles?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... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Taking Care of Those That Care For UsIt 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... By Barbara Moore2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments10 comments
Four Things All COPD Patients Should HaveThere 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... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments17 comments
Postherpetic Neuralgia Is a Real PainPostherpetic 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... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Preparing for an Emergency When You Have COPDWhere I live, here in Illinois, we have to be prepared for everything because of our weather. We have windy, cold winters. In the spring and summer, we have thunderstorms... By Jackie English3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Attending Alpha-1 Education DayI’m so excited! I will attend my first in-person Alpha-1 education day in over three years. You all know why: Covid. Alpha-1 is a genetic liver disorder that can cause... By Jackie English2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
The Connection Between Chronic Health Conditions and ShinglesThe two most common risk factors for developing shingles are older age and having a chronic health condition that weakens your immune system. Shingles is a common viral infection that... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments