Life Tethered to a Concentrator — Caroline Gainer

Oxygen therapy is required for many of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). My column’s name, in fact, comes from my need to be connected to an oxygen concentrator. I have an Inogen G4 Hip Bag to carry my portable version; it’s pricey, but worth…

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…

It’s not uncommon for those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to suffer from cachexia, or wasting disease. A 2019 study found that people with cachexia or pre-cachexia had a higher death rate than those who didn’t suffer this uncontrolled weight loss. The reason I’m…

Those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease need to be prepared for unexpected challenges like inclement weather or power outages. A few days ago, I was happy that I had an emergency preparedness plan for when the power goes out. We were experiencing high winds, which caused…

I’ve been struggling lately to maintain my normally positive focus on life and living. It’s been perplexing to try to figure out why I’ve been falling further off the gloom-and-doom cliff. I eventually realized that I haven’t been doing anything leisurely lately. As the saying goes, all work and no…

I recently posted in COPD360social, the COPD Foundation’s online community, that I’ve been requiring more sleep than usual. That represents a change in thinking for me. Normally, I would’ve told myself, “Get up. What’s wrong with you? Are you going to sleep your life away?” Or, “Get up and…

You know that Dolly Parton song where she tumbles out of bed, stumbles to the kitchen, and pours herself a cup of ambition? A recent day was one of those days when I need more than one cup of ambition. Days like that one make me almost wish…

I was scrolling through Facebook recently and found a friend’s post that shared his life philosophy. That philosophy? Forget yesterday, live for today, and hope for a better tomorrow. If yesterday was a bad day because of the weather, for example, we should forget about it. But those of us…

Many people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) live alone, and because we must exercise care not to get whatever bug might be going around, we often must limit our excursions away from home. Both factors can make the disease a very isolating one. People with COPD may not…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with phenazopyridine hydrochloride and cranberry juice for urinary tract infections. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. As November ends here in West Virginia, the chilly weather is confining…

No matter how well I plan or how much I want to do something, I have to remember that my chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is in control. One such reminder happened two weeks ago, as I was rounding up suitcases, securing a driver, and ensuring my house sitter…

Each year here in West Virginia, the Greenbrier Clinic, where I have my yearly physical, sends me a complete list of my vaccinations and when the boosters are due. I make every effort to stay current with them because having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) makes me vulnerable…