How Has Working With COPD Patients Affected Me?...As my regular readers know, I am a respiratory therapist at a small-town hospital, where a significant portion of my patients are...reactionscomments
COPD Caregiver POV: Female Catheter...As we age, our bladder loses the ability to hold urine for long periods. If we also have COPD, we are prone to limited...reactions2comments
What Are Your Thoughts on Zephyr® Valves?...When Zephyr® Valves emerged as a promising innovation, I was quick to document their potential in an article. Over time, I've heard...reactions27comments
COPD vs. Aging (Part 1)...The other day I was talking to my husband about some ailment that was new. I think at the time I was...reactions8comments
Redefining Being a Karen...When my mom met Karen at the last job she had in early 2000, she found in Karen a funny, supportive, younger...reactions2comments
Beyond My Existence...This morning I awoke to my 3-month-old puppy pulling at my hair. The light tugs caused me to smile. It was time...reactionscomments
COPD and Risk for Heart Disease...Dealing with COPD can come with a lot of challenges. For many people, heart disease is one of the biggest issues they...reactions2comments
Only me...Doctor fatigue? You make me laugh. Over here, after diagnosis, we get shoved over to COPD specialists. In theory, we see them...reactions7comments
Shortness of Breath...Shortness of breath is a common symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Two conditions make up COPD: chronic bronchitis and emphysema...
COPD Stages...If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), your doctor may have told you which stage you are in. Doctors use COPD...
We Tried For a Transplant...In the first few years after my mother’s COPD diagnosis, I spent countless hours researching the disease. The big thing that kept...reactions3comments
Basics For Caregivers: Terminology...What exactly is a caregiver? A caregiver is defined by the Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary as “a person who provides direct care (as...reactionscomments
Living With COPD...Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be very challenging. People with COPD have symptoms that affect different aspects of their...
Finding Deals on Mobility Devices and Supplies...Throughout your journey with COPD, you will no doubt spend a great deal of money on medicine and supplies to assist you...reactions3comments
Useful Items I Keep in My COPD To-Go Bag...I don't know about you, but ever since I was diagnosed with Alpha-1 (genetic cause of COPD) and started using inhalers and...reactions47comments
Traveling by Train With COPD...In the past, I have written an article about air travel with COPD but today I'd like to talk about train travel...reactions2comments
Pride, Humility, and COPD...It begins when others see that you're not as energetic or that you move more slowly. My mother's complaint was that she...reactions4comments
Is a Maintenance Dose of Antibiotics Good for a COPD Patient?...I have never been on a maintenance dose of antibiotics myself, but I know many who have. I have heard many praise...reactions9comments
Dos and Don’ts of Rescue Inhalers...Like many in our community, I couldn't imagine life without my trusty rescue inhaler. Over the 35 years I've been dealing with...reactions21comments
The Benefits of Hospice Care for COPD Patients...When I was growing up, my grandmother was abruptly diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, which rapidly declined in a matter of weeks. The...reactions4comments
