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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients use several analogies to describe what it feels like to live with the illness each day. One example is that it’s akin to breathing the air at the top of Mount Everest. Another is that the exhaustion makes us feel like we’re constantly running a marathon.

When somebody asked me how I was feeling a few weeks ago, I responded, “Well, I feel like Stretch Armstrong being pulled in too many directions.” Do you remember the action figure toy Stretch Armstrong? You might need to stretch your memory back to your childhood to visualize this…

After four years of living with pulmonary hypertension (PH), I’ve learned that there are good doctors, bad doctors, and doctors who fall somewhere in between. I’m lucky to have had mostly positive experiences, but the reality is that doctors who specialize in treating physical illnesses may not always be…

A friend recently emailed me an old list of winners of “The Washington Post Mensa Invitational” that has been circulating the web. According to the rules, participants must take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and then supply a new definition.

Life after a pulmonary hypertension (PH) diagnosis is stressful. As a Type A personality, I’ve often defined my worth by my productivity. But since my PH diagnosis, I am now working to prioritize my health. We live in a society that praises productivity. Hustle culture is encouraged across social…

What is baggage? According to Merriam-Webster, it’s one of three things: suitcases, transportable equipment, or intangible things such as feelings and circumstances that get in the way. What kind of baggage do people living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) often take everywhere they go? The answer: all of it! In…

I often wonder what would have happened had I been born at an earlier time. If my life had taken form even a decade earlier, my story would have looked much different. Had I been a child living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in the early 20th century or before,…

They say pictures are worth a thousand words, but sometimes they can be a one-sided conversation. Some photographers tell better stories, but it’s usually up to the observer to gather hints from the picture to understand what’s going on. Smiling people must be happy. Crying people must be sad.

My husband, Manny, and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary in March. If you know anything about my pulmonary hypertension (PH) journey, you know that 17 years have been with PH. That means that Manny has shared me with PH for over half of our marriage. Although I’m grateful…

I often remark that being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension is like walking into a “PHun house.” Open the door, and everything you’ll see in the mirrors will appear distorted, out of proportion, unfamiliar, and scary. Strange and uncomfortable things are happening inside our bodies that cause shortness of breath, fatigue,…

Throughout March and April, I found myself playing a hectic game of catch-up with my health management. Due to the pandemic, many of my nonemergent checkups were on hold for quite some time. So with decreasing COVID-19 infection rates here in the state of Minnesota, it was time to…

I’m an avid reader who, at 50, still considers “The Little Engine That Could” to be one of my favorite books. This timeless, inspirational story and its catchphrase, “I think I can,” date back to a Swedish version in 1902. As an adult, I had the pleasure of reading…