Columns

My inner child awakens every fall. As the foliage starts to change into its glorious colors, I go to work decorating my home. And while sipping pumpkin spice latte, I think about what costume I will wear to this year’s party. On Halloween, you will find me on my porch,…

Traveling by plane can be stressful for anyone. Flying with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and other disabilities adds another dimension of stress and anxiety. My husband and I recently flew from Houston to San Diego. I was stoked about this trip and had been looking forward to it for months. My…

“Just go take a nap.” That’s the response I often receive when I tell someone I’m feeling really tired. Many people don’t realize that the degree of exhaustion I experience goes beyond what a nap can resolve. I wish I could crawl into my…

Holding down a job when you have a chronic illness can be really tricky. First, there’s the time you’ll need off for appointments. Secondly, there’s the fact that you’ll need more sick days than the average Joe. This can make going after your dream job seem impossible. I was…

Change is inevitable when you or a loved one is diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH). There will be physical, emotional, and social adjustments. And one day you will notice that your home has been unexpectedly redecorated. Boxes of medical supplies will take over tables, drawers, and cabinets. Trash cans…

“Is there any chance you are pregnant?”  Unfortunately, I have had to answer this question more times than I would like to count. Usually, I can think of some witty reply in the moment, along the lines of, “You would need to get the news team…

Managing pulmonary hypertension (PH) can be exhausting. Adding coexisting conditions makes it even more challenging. Like me, many people struggle to manage multiple illnesses. In addition to PH, I deal with chronic kidney disease (CKD), iron deficiency anemia, and a few others. It can be overwhelming. Some say…

After I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH), I was so scared of doing any further damage to my heart that I stopped exercising altogether. I even gave up cycling, which was my main way of getting around. I spent a lot of time in bed and led a…

My son Cullen was excited to tell me he’d made a friend on his first day of kindergarten. Fifteen years later, he and Keenan remain best friends. Cullen’s battle with pulmonary hypertension (PH) might have challenged their friendship, but it never came close to impacting their bond. Cullen was…

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.