Life Tethered to a Concentrator - a Column by Caroline Gainer

With corticosteroids, a treatment for COPD, it’s love-hate for me

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with corticosteroids. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. At some point, most people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have had to take a corticosteroid, a type…

Things I’ve observed when choosing oxygen providers

I recently received a call from my oxygen provider asking if I’d be home the next day. They wanted to bring me a new stationary oxygen concentrator, also known as a home oxygen concentrator. Durable medical equipment providers (DMEs) rent those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease…

A smashed foot taught me a lesson about being tired

Those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often complain of fatigue, which is much different from simply being tired. Tiredness can be addressed by a good night’s sleep. Fatigue is a different story. The short and sweet of it for me is that tired = good,…

The benefits of virtual pulmonary rehabilitation programs for COPD

Pulmonary rehabilitation can help to significantly increase exercise tolerance in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many hospitals have pulmonary rehabilitation programs, but some patients have difficulty getting to them because they don’t drive, can’t secure a ride, or don’t have easy access to public transportation. One…