Posts by: Kevin Olson

Kevin Olson

December 14, 2021December 14, 2021

Juggling Medications, Lab Tests, and Side Effects After Transplant

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

My pulmonologists are talented jugglers. They must determine my medication dosages, keep my lab results within the standard ranges, and minimize medication side effects. After my bilateral lung transplant in ... Read more

November 16, 2021November 16, 2021

My Crazy Experience Waiting and Preparing for Lung Transplant

COVID-19 Columns, Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

In my previous column, I described the roller-coaster ride of my lung transplant evaluation. On Aug. 7, 2020, six years after my diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I was ... Read more

October 26, 2021October 26, 2021

My Lung Transplant Evaluation Was a Roller Coaster Ride of Emotions

COVID-19 Columns, Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

In May 2017, I began the roller coaster ride that was my lung transplant evaluation. I call it this because it had the usual climbs of positive developments, and the ... Read more

October 12, 2021October 12, 2021

Why I’ve Used Multiple Models to Track My IPF Progression

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

When I learned that the prognosis for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients is about five years after diagnosis, I started wondering how my disease would progress. I didn’t think my ... Read more

September 28, 2021September 28, 2021

My Care Partners Share Their Perspectives on the IPF Roller Coaster

COVID-19 Columns, Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

The dynamic between an ill person and the loved ones who care for them should extend beyond the caregiver providing and the sick person receiving. The relationship should go two ... Read more

September 14, 2021September 14, 2021

My Theory on How I Developed IPF

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with dendriform ossification in 2014, it was the second time I had a medical condition with an unknown cause. Three years earlier, ... Read more

August 31, 2021August 31, 2021

My Wife Shares Her PF Story

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

When I volunteered to coordinate the Pulmonary Fibrosis News initiative “30 Days of PF” alongside fellow columnist Charlene Marshall, I didn’t expect a tremendously emotional experience. I asked my wife, Dana, ... Read more

August 17, 2021August 17, 2021

Measuring My Improvement in the Year After Transplant

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

I received my new lungs a year ago, on Aug. 14, 2020. Now it’s time for me to reflect on my quality of life. Initially, I evaluated my progress by ... Read more

July 27, 2021July 27, 2021

Meeting the 3 Requirements for Hospital Discharge After Lung Transplant

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

On Aug. 14, 2020, around 10 p.m., my successful lung transplant was completed. Now I was in the daunting recovery phase. Before being discharged from the hospital, I had to ... Read more

July 13, 2021July 13, 2021

Individual Actions That Can Generate Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

In February of 2016, I joined the Greater Kansas City Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group. As I attended more meetings, I realized PF awareness was important, and I wanted to make ... Read more

June 29, 2021June 29, 2021

The Fight for Air Climb and Other Extraordinary Feats by People With PF

COVID-19 Columns, Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

A couple weeks ago, my good friend Bert Maidment and I completed the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb, an annual fundraising event. I had never before competed in ... Read more

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021

IPF and Ossification: Who Knew?

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

After my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis, I was in denial about having the disease. So, I had a video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy in July 2014. The pathologist said my ... Read more

June 1, 2021June 1, 2021

My Memories of Transplant Recovery: Hallucination and Defibrillator Paddles

COVID-19 Columns, Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

When I write about my lung transplant, I honor my donor, for whom I am forever grateful. I didn’t know him, but I know he was a caring person. Last ... Read more

May 18, 2021May 18, 2021

Receiving My Diagnosis and Hopping on the IPF Roller Coaster

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columns

In 2014, I was living my life without a care in the world. Oh, I had a few health issues, but none that worried me at the time. Therefore, I ... Read more