http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/feeds/copd-caregiving?key=copd-caregiving Healthline Health Blogger Holly McBain - One Breath at a Time en-us Copyright (c) 2013 Healthline, All rights reserved. en-us Copyright (c) 2013 Healthline, All rights reserved. http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/importance-equipment-maintenance A patient suffering from COPD has a great deal of equipment and medicine which requires maintenance and proper handling. My mother, a COPD patient, has portable oxygen canisters, a canister holder that rolls, a wheel chair, a rolling walker, ai... Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/importance-equipment-maintenance Holly McBain 2012-06-05T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/keeping-weight-on My mother is 82 years old and for most of her life she has always been thin and a picky eater. She often likes to say “I don’t live to eat, I eat to live”. However I always see that sentiment thrown out the window when she is presented with a d... Thu, 03 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/keeping-weight-on Holly McBain 2012-05-03T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/the-emotional-toll My father-in-law passed away in 2010 from COPD and I helplessly watched him wither away. The last 6 months of his life were the most emotionally stressing for him and for those who loved him. Each passing day he would grow a little weaker and r... Tue, 01 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/the-emotional-toll Holly McBain 2012-05-01T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/dealing-with-the-hospitalist-physician Every time my mother exacerbates her COPD and is hospitalized, I end up dealing with the Hospitalist, a physician employed at the hospital who is the primary caregiver for her. Although the Hospitalist does defer to my mother's own physicians o... Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/dealing-with-the-hospitalist-physician Holly McBain 2012-04-26T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/caregiver-to-a-parent At first thought, you might think it would make it easier to be a caregiver if the patient is your parent. You already know one another, have a history together, and have established a rapport. Unfortunately, as with most things in life, nothin... Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/caregiver-to-a-parent Holly McBain 2012-04-24T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/the-anti-oxygen-phenomenon As a caregiver to someone with COPD who is required to be on oxygen 24/7, I sometimes encounter the “I no longer need Oxygen” or “I no longer need this medicine” phenomenon. This generally happens every time my Mother feels good for a while. Wh... Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/the-anti-oxygen-phenomenon Holly McBain 2012-04-11T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/my-mother-was-diagnosed-with-copd It was early in 2006 when my mom came down with a cold or allergies or both. She is never really sure which or what it was. She was still living on her own, in her own home, and still smoking. She was 77 years old and had smoked on and off for ... Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breath-at-a-time/my-mother-was-diagnosed-with-copd Holly McBain 2012-04-05T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breathe-at-a-time/be-a-proactive-caregiver What exactly is a “proactive caregiver”? To me, this means I take the initiative at every step; especially with doctors. Why? Because I am not a doctor, nor a nurse, and I want everything explained to me so I understand exactly what is going on... Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breathe-at-a-time/be-a-proactive-caregiver Holly McBain 2012-04-02T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breathe-at-a-time/developing-good-communication Over the years as a caregiver, I have learned it is extremely important that my Mother tells me how she is feeling. It is also important that I pick up on any cues that are indicators of potential medical issues. Although I am not as thorough a... Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/one-breathe-at-a-time/developing-good-communication Holly McBain 2012-03-28T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/copd-caregiving/sometimes-its-not-copd It was April 2011 when my Mom complained that she couldn’t breathe very well and felt weak. She had no fever, but had just completed a course of antibiotics due to allergy drainage. She almost always requires a second dose, so I contacted her pu... Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/copd-caregiving/sometimes-its-not-copd Holly McBain 2012-03-19T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/copd-caregiving/decompress-and-cope Unlike visiting or live-in nurses (who have shift changes), a caregiver for a loved one stricken with COPD and living in your home rarely has a break from the daily activities—you are on duty 24/7, 365 days a year. If your patient is on oxygen ... Fri, 16 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/copd-caregiving/decompress-and-cope Holly McBain 2012-03-16T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/copd-caregiving/do-not-resuscitate It was March 2010, and my father-in-law was dying of COPD. He had been in an acute care hospital for a week after spending more than a month in the hospital. As my husband, my mother-in-law, and I made the trek down the hall to his room, I bega... Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/copd-caregiving/do-not-resuscitate Holly McBain 2012-03-15T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/copd-caregiving/welcome Hi! Welcome to my blog concerning the trials and tribulations as a caregiver for my mom, who has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. I am humbled to be involved with Healthline.com as a writer detailing my experiences as a caregiver ... Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/copd-caregiving/welcome Holly McBain 2012-03-12T07:00:00Z