Finding the StrengthChange the story to change the outcome. The challenge is to change the outcome by changing the story you consciously tell your brain. Because it is an organ of memory...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Where Are Our Celebrity Advocates?I love Michael J. Fox and wish that those of us in the Alpha-1 and COPD world had "our own" Michael J. Fox. I have been the biggest fan of...Reactions0reactionsComments12 comments
Many Choices Is a Good ThingOf course, we would rather not have lung diseases like asthma or COPD. Yet, be it as it is, many of us are here because we do. We must learn...Reactions0reactionsComments12 comments
Life Gets in the Way of LivingLife with COPD and other chronic health issues sometimes puts living on hold. Too often, when we struggle with breathing, for example, we stay home and away from people. Why?...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Time Flies When You Do Nothing (Part 2)Part one is here. Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has its own challenges, but hobbies can be a good way for people with this disease to relax and...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
So Much Guilt Because of COPDEditor's Note: This article addresses the topic of smoking, which has the potential to evoke strong emotions. I feel guilty about so many things regarding my COPD. I feel guilty...Reactions0reactionsComments28 comments
Raging Wild FiresCanada is on fire. Some of the fires are man-made, and some are controlled burns that got out of control. These fires could be the product of climate change and...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Time Flies When You Do NothingTime seems to fly by. We just got over the new year, and before we knew it, here came August. Another eight months have passed. There seems to be no...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
What If You Lived With COPD 250 Years Ago? As a kid with severe asthma, I often wondered what life would be like if I had been born 50 years earlier when rescue medicine didn’t exist. Would I have...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Journey With GERDAt the very beginning of my diagnosis with COPD, I began feeling the symptoms of bloat. It felt like I was in a constant state of fullness and feeling of...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
There’s an App for That: My Favorite Apps for COPDNowadays, there seems to be an app for everything, and if you have a smartphone, you probably have a few or have heard of at least a few of them...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Methods for Cleaning Your EquipmentEditor's Note: Always refer to your healthcare team or device manufacturer if you have questions about cleaning your equipment. People with COPD often have various equipment to help with breathing...Reactions0reactionsComments12 comments
Hospice and Palliative Care With COPDEditor's Note: This article discusses hospice and end-of-life care, which could be potentially triggering for certain readers. I know a lot of people don’t like to talk about the subject...Reactions0reactionsComments24 comments
Extra Struggles in a COPD WorldYou’ve probably heard me say that the leg bones are connected to the knee bone. That’s my body, for sure. To me, it only makes sense that one chronic illness...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Health Risks Associated With COPDEditor's note: If you have concerns about COPD or associated comorbidities, always consult your healthcare provider. I am sure most of us with COPD have heard that, according to WHO...Reactions0reactionsComments19 comments
Memes I'd Create for Doctor's Offices Then and NowI enjoy being a respiratory therapist. It gives me an opportunity to connect with people with COPD and to share my knowledge with them. Of course, I enjoy our conversations...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
My Grandsons Interviewed Me About COPD: Here's What They AskedMy grandkids are always inquisitive about my Alpha-1, so I thought I would share their questions and how I answer them in an article. I gave them instructions to ask...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Wildfire WeekOur country is on fire from coast to coast across Canada, including the North and through Quebec. A controlled burn rids the forest of debris, dead trees, and leaves and...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Advice for a Newly Diagnosed COPD PatientEditor's note: Always consult with your medical team before starting a new diet or exercise routine. Being diagnosed with COPD can seem scary and overwhelming, but it doesn't have to...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
This or That: Mesh or Jet NebulizersGiven the variety of options available for nebulizers today, I believe this to be a reasonable question. Which is better: mesh nebulizers or jet nebulizers? If you want a rundown...Reactions0reactionsComments20 comments