Columns

For my last column, Is There a Hidden Drug Abuse Problem Among Pulmonary Hypertension Patients?, I spoke to several pulmonary hypertension patients who use prescribed pain killers to help manage pain. Sarah and Lindsay shared that they began to abuse their prescribed painkillers within the last year. Both admitted…

Last week I had to have an ultrasound done on my pelvic region. I have always had very difficult periods, so my family doctor finally sent me to have some tests done to rule anything out (such as an ovarian cyst). The tests sucked for a multitude of…

Chronic pain can often be associated with pulmonary hypertension. Many diseases associated with pulmonary hypertension such as arthritis or scerloderma can cause chronic pain. Pulmonary hypertension medications can also cause chronic pain, such as jaw pain or site pain associated with IV administered medications. Chronic pain can be…

Do you practice self-care? It might sound like a silly concept, especially for people who are used to taking care of other people. However, it is important that every person gives care to themselves. I never practiced self-care until I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. Unfortunately, it took…

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” That is a question most are asked when they are a child. As you reach young adulthood the phrase changes. “What do you plan to study?” “What do you want to do with your degree?” Where do you…

When I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a lot of friends and family left my life. I heard from some that they simply didn’t know how to handle my diagnosis, or the situation. I understand that it can be difficult to support anyone through a serious diagnosis, such…

Pulmonary hypertension is the great impersonator. Before I received a proper diagnosis, many medical experts tried to tell me that I had asthma, had been poisoned, or had anxiety. Pulmonary hypertension wasn’t even on their radar. When a young person comes in the ER with shortness of breath, doctors…

Would you wear a badge to let people know that you have an invisible illness, like pulmonary hypertension? The Transport for London (TfL) is offering button-on badges to its riders with hidden health conditions. The badge reads, “please offer me a seat,” in hopes of aiding those with…

I used to love dreaming about my future, and thinking about how great things would be someday. Now, as someone with pulmonary hypertension, I have mixed emotions. Sometimes the future can feel like a pretty scary place. I worry about what my body will be able to do on…

When I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, I learned that it was a rare disease. I had never heard of pulmonary hypertension before my diagnosis, and I learned that none of the people in my life knew about the disease either. For those who might want, or need, to…

When you are first diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, it can be difficult to find resources for online support. It can be hard to know where to look for support, or where to even begin. As someone who has benefited from the online pulmonary hypertension support community, I wanted to…

I have really struggled coming to terms with my diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. The first year was especially difficult. I felt frustrated that I had a lung disease when I had never smoked in my life and did everything “right” growing up. It didn’t seem fair. I felt…