Life Tethered to a Concentrator — Caroline Gainer

After a challenging period of illness that included shingles, diverticulitis, and a respiratory infection, I found myself profoundly weakened. My muscles had softened, my breath felt shallow, and even the smallest tasks left me winded. I knew I needed to start moving again, but I also recognized that I couldn’t…

The pumpkin pie and ice cream saved my life. Not in the dramatic, rush to the ER kind of way. Just in the quiet, revelatory way that only comfort food can. It was the first significant amount of non-protein food I’d eaten in weeks, and my body responded like it…

As is true with almost everything concerning my chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), my mental health requires some effort on my part. Just as I monitor my breath, adjust my pace, and adapt my routines, I also have to take care of my own emotional well-being. The antidepressant I…

I will soon be 82, and my weight has been an issue since being diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For most of my adult life, I weighed 113 pounds and was 5 feet, 1 inch tall. My doctor’s nurse quipped that if the scale didn’t say 113,…

Some days I despair over having to rest so often during my kitchen cleanup, but then I realize that I should be grateful. Even with Graves’ disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a hiatal hernia, high blood pressure, and sinus irregularities, I am still able to clean my kitchen,…

“Gloom, despair, and agony on me …” The Moonshiner quartet sang it best on the country show “Hee Haw,” their voices twanging through the television like a knowing wink from the universe. I used to laugh at that line until chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) made it…

Inflammation is having a moment. It’s the buzzword behind turmeric lattes, elimination diets, and supplement stacks. But for those of us living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inflammation isn’t a trend. It’s the smoldering undercurrent in our lungs; the flare that shapes our breath, our energy, and our…

Each day that I continue to take my antidepressant, I see more and more of the world I used to enjoy before chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused the walls to cave in on me. Though I fought to stay positive, it seemed that the doors and windows had…

I’ve recently been reflecting on how Maslow’s hierarchy of needs intersects with chronic illness, moderate means, and the dignity of helping others. I’m doing so through the lens of my chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the relationship that I’ve built with the young man who helps me with…

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can rob us of certain physical abilities, possibly preventing us from doing some of our favorite activities. But for many of us, the disease’s mental effects are even worse. Prior to my diagnosis, I was up for trying anything, but along with COPD came…

Those of us living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have learned to pay close attention to subtle changes in our bodies to avoid or quickly address respiratory infections, which can lead to exacerbations. An exacerbation is a worsening of COPD symptoms that can result in serious complications, such…