COPD Lifestyle

09/24/2025

Why Self-Advocacy Matters

Frustration with the healthcare system is what pushed me to become my own advocate.

I’ve dealt with poor follow-up too many times - unreturned calls, test results slipping through admin fingers and when I pushed for answers, the response was often dismissive, even gaslighting, with no apology. That used to drive me crazy.

I’ve seen others suffer through the same thing. A close friend went through admin hell when his dad was fighting cancer. Messages weren’t passed along, instructions between departments got mixed up or missed completely, and the stress of miscommunication made an already painful time even harder.

And more recently, my sister struggled to understand what was happening when her husband was admitted to emergency. She didn’t realize she had the right to push for clearer answers and better care, even when faced with obvious apathy.

Those experiences opened my eyes: if we don’t speak up for ourselves, or for the people we love, the system can fail us in devastating ways. That’s why I decided to create a guide for self-advocacy. I wanted to better understand my rights and learn how to leverage that knowledge to get the best care possible.

Starting next week, I’ll be sharing my Self-Advocacy Guide here, chapter by chapter. But if you don’t want to wait, just send me a DM with your email and I’ll happily share the PDF with you. It’s a short. practical guide, meant to give you the courage to speak up and get the care you deserve.

Have you ever felt dismissed in your care or in a loved one’s? What did you do?

09/13/2025

Resilience Leads to Self-Advocacy

Resilience isn’t about being unbreakable. It’s about being open-minded enough to learn, to adapt, and to keep moving forward when life changes.

For me, resilience shows up in small ways like introducing new foods into my diet, trying a different breathing exercise, or adjusting my routines to match my energy. Even choosing rest when I need it has become part of my strength.

That same openness is what leads to self-advocacy. When we’re willing to learn and adapt, we also find the courage to speak up at doctors’ appointments to ask better questions, understand our care options, and to take a more active role in our own self-care. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask more questions, especially if you don’t understand something, or if your gut instinct feels like something is off.

What does resilience mean to you? Is it bouncing back, staying steady, or staying open to new ways forward?

09/05/2025

The forest fire smoke has been heavy these days — and even if we can’t always smell it, our lungs know it’s there. For those of us living with COPD or other breathing conditions, poor air quality isn’t just uncomfortable, it can be dangerous.

On Tuesday I even had to leave the farm early because the smoke was overwhelming. Even with an N95 mask, there’s only so much protection it can give when you’re working hard outdoors. That experience reminded me: sometimes the safest choice is to step back and protect your lungs!

That’s why it’s so important to check the air quality before stepping outside, the same way you’d check the weather. Two tools I trust are Firesmoke.ca which shows where smoke is blowing from active fires, and the AirVisual app from IQAir (https://www.iqair.com/ca/air-quality-monitors/air-quality-app), which gives real-time readings.

When the PM numbers are high, I keep windows shut, run my purifiers on high, and skip outdoor activity — especially exercise. Masks help, but there is a limit when the air is this thick.

How do you check the air quality? What’s your routine for staying safe on smoky days?

Learn about our AirVisual air quality app, Get real-time air quality data for six key pollutants from over 80,000 sensors for iOS and Android devices.

08/26/2025

Did you know your lungs are almost 80% water by weight? Staying hydrated is one of the simplest ways to support easier breathing. Dehydration can make mucus thicker and harder to clear — a big deal if you’re living with COPD.

Keep a glass of water nearby throughout the day. Small, steady sips are often more comfortable than chugging.

Add some cucumber or lemon for a little flavour if you find plain water too bland :)

12/19/2024

It’s been a while since I’ve had anything vital to say, but here I am, processing my thoughts and feelings and reaching out to anyone else who may be feeling lonely like me during this time of year.

The holidays can be a difficult time, especially in a post-pandemic world, where gathering with others doesn’t always feel as secure. Where some see holiday spirit and sharing meals with family and friends, I often see ‘flu season’and ‘risky situations’ to potentially catch a cold! So, as I watch the holiday Facebook photos pile up, the feelings of loneliness and isolation can weigh even heavier.

When I’m missing these gatherings and struggling to keep up, I remind myself to pause, breathe, and acknowledge where I’m at. Simply put, it’s okay to recognize how I’m feeling without critical judgment. If I’m lonely, tired, or overwhelmed, it’s okay to feel those emotions and not pressure myself to do more than I’m able to right now.

Connection doesn’t always have to mean physical closeness. A simple phone call, a video chat, or even a shared memory can help bridge the distance and bring a sense of connection we might be missing.

So, if you’re feeling lonely, reach out. Quite often, when we do, we realize someone else needed to hear from us, too.