My name is Caroline Gainer and I am addicted to the POC and the oxygen that it supplies. Though we are all addicted to oxygen, I am addicted to the POC (Portable Oxygen Concentrator). My goal is to light the way for others who suffer from chronic disease and to help you live your best life. I also will be promoting the COPD Foundation as this is where you can find accurate information about all things COPD.
At the COPD Foundation website you will also find me and others with varying degrees of ability or disability who have learned to have a fulfilling life even though they have COPD. That website is http://copdfoundation.org.
I have adult onset asthma and emphysema. I have had 4 pneumothorax which is a big word for a lung collapse. Three of these events required chest tubes. This is a rather unobtrusive sounding word which means that a plastic tube of varying diameters is inserted into your chest to allow the air to flow out. Though they use loads of lidocaine, you are awake and once through the skin, the tube becomes quite painful as they position it close to the lungs. I hope never to have another one, but have opted not to have the treatment which was designed to prevent them. I will discuss this later.
In fairness and full disclosure, I am a member of the steering committee for the COPD Foundation.
What I do
My Life
I live with my cat and my dog. He is as handsome as she is pretty. So far that POC has enabled me to remain self sufficient with just a little help with yard work and once in a while some help with the house work. I am very active in advocating for people with lung disease.
I retired after 38 years of teaching in the public school system. Retirement lasted less than a month and I took a position as Jewelry Coordinator. After 10 years at that job, I retired for the second time and became active with matters concerning COPD.
What I Do
I am a patient advocate for COPD and prior to covid we would sometimes gather as a group to promote new technology, present first hand knowledge, and gain insights into treatment.
I also work with the Department of Defense (DOD) as a patient participant for lung research. I have recently worked with Patient Centered Organization Research Institute (PCORI) on the establishment of principles to guide the progression of “Individualized Medicine”. Individualized medicine is not to be confused with Concierge Medicine which is just a way for doctors to get more money.(In my opinion)
What I Love
As the picture indicates, I love to garden. I have flower gardens and vegetable gardens and some that are both.
I also love to read, sew, make jewelry, chrochet, and help people. I have a little store here where I sell some of my creations and some odds and ends.
Want to collaborate?
If you want to blog, here is a good way to get started. https://school.bloggingfornewbloggers.com/a/aff_kz3f5xvf/external?affcode=223291_mz8ixqvq