Jim’s story

A shock diagnosis

“When I was first diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2023 it was over the phone and I was in deep shock. I had been monitored by my local hospital for some scarring on my lungs for a while, but when they referred me to a specialist London hospital which diagnosed pulmonary fibrosis, I was completely caught off guard. They asked me questions such as ‘does your GP surgery have oxygen?’ and I just had no idea why they were asking me this or why they thought I might need it.

“The hospital sent me lots of leaflets about pulmonary fibrosis but, to be honest, I put off reading them because they all felt so daunting and in my opinion, painted a negative picture of the diagnosis.

Rethinking hospice care

“Thankfully, the hospital also gave me a phone number for my local hospice. I had always thought hospices were places that provided end of life care. And I had previously associated them with cancer. So I was quite shocked when they suggested this. But they explained that hospice care is more than end of life care and is available to people with any progressive life-limiting illness, not just cancer. So I got in touch and started attending a support group for people with pulmonary fibrosis.

“That was the first time I had spoken to professionals face-to-face since my diagnosis, and my first time meeting other people who were living with the condition. And that made such a difference. You might think a support group would be depressing but for me it was so uplifting to speak openly with people who understood and had similar experiences to me.

Finding support and connection

“I spoke to the person running the group and they suggested I contact Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care to see what services they could offer that would help me. I had an initial assessment with the team there and was referred to a group exercise class and for reflexology. That was in 2024 and I’ve just [March 2026] completed my second round of group exercise and reflexology at Peace Hospice in Watford.

“I found the exercise classes so helpful. Due to the scarring on my lungs, it has been very reassuring to exercise with a physiotherapist who can support me throughout and help me with different goals. We set goals at the beginning of the course and during each session we record what I’ve done and the progress I’ve made. So I have that record of how it’s going. I’ve also been able to take away some handouts of the different exercises so I can continue doing them at home.

“After each session there’s a chance to stay for a cuppa with the other people in the group. That’s really helpful as it is a good opportunity to meet new people and chat with others who understand. We might all have different illnesses, but we have many things in common, due to living with a progressive life-limiting illness, so there’s always lots to talk about.

A positive hospice environment

“People often think that going to a hospice building would be gloomy. But my experience has always been the opposite. I find it so uplifting. Everybody is so supportive and encouraging – from the staff, to the volunteers and the other people attending the class. There’s such a positive atmosphere. Sometimes people turn up to the class looking down but by the end they’re always smiling. I look forward to the sessions and I always feel better afterwards.

“Since my diagnosis, something I’ve struggled with is my mental wellbeing. In the past I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression. And the shock of my diagnosis left me in a dark place.

The impact of complementary therapy

“I’ve come to learn that hospice care is as much about supporting your emotional wellbeing as your physical health. The two are so closely connected, after all. So when I was referred for exercise sessions, it was also recommended that I try reflexology.

“As it happened, I was able to have reflexology on the same day as the exercise class. So I would go to Peace Hospice once per week and do both in one trip.

“The reflexology was wonderful. When I had it the first time I arrived in quite a state of stress due to the emotional toll of my diagnosis and everything that went along with it. I had never had reflexology so I didn’t know what to expect but it was so relaxing. I would leave each session feeling much more relaxed and positive. And even between sessions, I only had to think about my next session and that alone would have a similar effect of making me feel less stressed.

“When I had reflexology more recently, I was also struggling with tightness in my neck and shoulders, as well as the stress. And reflexology really helped with that. I could feel that my shoulders and neck were looser. This worked hand-in-hand with the exercise sessions to loosen everything up and give me more mobility in my neck and shoulders, which makes a big difference to me day-to-day.

“When I look back on the time since my diagnosis I can see that I have come so far. All of the support I’ve had and the changes I’ve made have had a compound impact of meaning I’m in a much better place now.

“I’m so grateful that my medical team suggested I contact my local hospice as without this, I don’t know where I would be.

Jim’s advice to others