Life Tethered to a Concentrator — Caroline Gainer

The leaves are starting to change colors here in West Virginia, which means it’s time to start getting ready for winter. Some of these seasonal preparations concern the house and the car, while…

As we go through life, we face many changes. Some are happy, like the birth of a child or the accomplishment of a goal, while others, like illness and physical limitations, are harder to…

Several months ago, I was selected by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi to be screened for a clinical trial called AERIFY-1. The study, which is being conducted by the global research company…

I haven’t traveled since the COVID-19 pandemic started. This is partly because I was afraid of contracting the virus, but also because I wasn’t sure I had the stamina to travel due to…

Do you suffer from emotional fatigue? I do. Mayo Clinic describes emotional exhaustion or emotional fatigue as accumulated stress from challenging events. The symptoms can be physical or emotional. I believe most of…

What types of exercise benefit patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? In my opinion, the quick answer is “all of them,” but let’s take a closer look. According to Harvard Health,…

I have embarked on a quest to reduce inflammation in my body, which is largely a result of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and aging. My latest effort is implementing an anti-inflammatory diet.

One topic in the most recent edition of the COPD Foundation’s Faces of COPD newsletter is staying healthy while pursuing hobbies. This subject struck me smack in the face because I’d gotten on…

I had not heard of the spoon theory until a few years ago when I was researching fatigue. The spoon theory, created by writer and lupus patient Christine Miserandino in 2003, …

I remember my first outing with my Philips Respironics SimplyGo portable oxygen concentrator (POC) like it was yesterday. The reason I remember it now is because it’ll soon be time to use it…

Many of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) struggle with fatigue. I haven’t resolved the issue to my satisfaction, so I continue to seek ways to cope. My latest solution is to…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with several chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) medications. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a…