Columns

For the first 18 years of my life, I rarely thought about my weight. I was active, enjoyed playing sports, and had a muscular, athletic build. My body type changed when I was going through many difficult symptoms associated with my pulmonary hypertension (PH) and…

The number of devastating natural disasters has increased significantly in the past several years. These billion-dollar disasters strike some states repeatedly. Therefore, residents in those areas realize the importance of preparedness. I stay on alert because I live on Texas’ Gulf Coast. I also live with pulmonary hypertension (PH)…

Welcome to Ellie Bird’s “Chronically Uncool,” a new Pulmonary Hypertension News column. When I was at university, I had a boyfriend who was obsessed with fitness. I had always been a very active person — I particularly liked to swim — but I had never been much of a gym bunny.

My son was 8 years old when he was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Children are supposed to be nurtured, but the attention showered on a child living with a life-threatening disease can begin to feel smothering. For the five years my son battled PH, I greeted him each…

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complicated disease. I am the first to admit that. I live in the mountains and the valleys of PH life daily, and often I am thrown curveballs. While it is understandable that others around me cannot comprehend the impact PH has on my body, dealing…

Sitting in a hospital room for the past few days has given me a lot of time to think. When my mind wanders, it could be good, leading to self-reflection, or it can heighten my anxiety and worsen my depression. Over the past 24 hours,…

I can’t recall a time in my life when I didn’t have scars to show. Growing up with congenital heart disease left me with scars from drainage tubes and open-heart surgery, and cutdown scars from catheters and IV placements. I was always told to “love my scars”…

Surviving day in and day out with a life-threatening illness like pulmonary hypertension (PH), well, simply sucks. My struggles with numerous symptoms and medication side effects weigh me down and rapidly deplete me. Uptravi (selexipag) and Revatio (sildenafil) can cause horrific side effects, and these are my two primary…

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has a ripple effect on family life. A diagnosis is like a pebble tossed into water, its weight disrupting the calm with waves of change. My advice is to wade through those ripples and rescue some normalcy. It might take time to calm the waters, but…

“Advocacy August” is here. Because pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare disease and has no cure, it is necessary that we promote awareness among those who can make a difference in our lives. When it comes to government decisions, advocacy means helping people who might otherwise be overlooked to…

Last Sunday, I thudded up the stairs to my apartment, making as much noise as possible, unlocked the door forcefully, and slammed it behind me. As soon as I entered, I rummaged through my cupboard, frantically looking for a medicine cup. I raised my voice at my boyfriend,…

A therapist once asked me what makes me happy, and I said “food” right away. Thankfully, I’ve matured since high school, and food is no longer at the top of my mental list of reasons to live. Now coffee ranks above it. I’m joking!…