Life Tethered to a Concentrator — Caroline Gainer

For those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), avoiding exacerbations — or flare-ups — is a top priority. The question is, what tools are available to help us do that? Some of them are cleansing our nasal passages, getting vaccinations, and noticing changes in the…

Those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use oxygen therapy must have a backup plan for emergencies like power outages and equipment failure. Even if you don’t use oxygen, it’s crucial to have an emergency preparedness plan if you use a nebulizer or other medical…

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 others involve my health. Fall is another reminder that those of us with chronic obstructive…

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 embrace. Such experiences are on my mind because I’m preparing for my yearly wellness check. In…

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 Care Access, aims to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the investigational therapy itepekimab in…

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 my chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health issues. Dealing with acute respiratory…

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 us felt a degree of this fatigue because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which set off…

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, the four most important types of exercise — and this is generally speaking, not specifically for…

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. When I was younger, anti-aging efforts revolved around preventing wrinkles and changes in body shape. But…

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 the computer to find a squash casserole recipe. I had a beautiful summer squash in the…

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,  uses spoons to represent portions of energy. Earlier this year, The Washington Post provided one…

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 again for the State Fair of West Virginia. My friend and I had tickets…