“It’s only when our support systems look like they might fail us that you realize how much we depended on them all along.” –Meredith Grey, “Grey’s Anatomy” With pulmonary hypertension and all types of chronic illness, difficult days are…
Recharged and Rewired - a Column by Brittany Foster
According to the Mayo Clinic, pulmonary hypertension is defined as “a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in your lungs and the right side of your heart.” When someone talks about pulmonary hypertension, they often think of only the lungs. Although…
Living with a chronic illness is both mentally and physically exhausting. Managing the seemingly endless symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, muscle pain, and headaches can seem like enough work for a lifetime. These symptoms are considered as being “common” for those…
YOLO, aka, “You only live once.” For much of my late teens and early 20s, almost everyone I knew lived by this motto. It was a way for us to justify our rebellious behavior, and for me, it was a way to…
Going with the flow and finding balance in life often seem impossible with a chronic illness. I wish I had the luxury to release control to the day. I wish I could just pack a bag for a spontaneous road trip, head out with…
*** “Just when we think we figured things out, the universe throws us a curveball. So, we have to improvise. We find happiness in unexpected places. We find ourselves back to the things that matter the most. The universe is funny that way.
With pulmonary hypertension, I have been through a variety of difficult days, including days when I feel I can’t fight this disease anymore. They are the days that make me question my own physical and mental strength. On these days, I think to myself, “How…
For most of my life, “being brave” meant that I had to be tough. For me, this looked like hiding my true feelings with a smile, fighting tears when experiencing pain, learning to just live with the physical feelings I was experiencing, and complaining only when…
“At least you don’t look sick.” I’ve heard this comment before — meant as a compliment, I’m sure. As if saying “you don’t look sick” is a good thing. As if it makes up for feeling like I got hit over the head…
“You shouldn’t be sitting around all day. If you don’t get up and do something, people will think you’re just lazy.” “You shouldn’t use your illness as an excuse to rest and take a break.” “Why can’t you get the…
“You just have to be patient.” I can’t begin to count how many times I’ve heard this throughout my years of managing chronic illness. Although I have 26 years of experience with doctor’s appointments, testing, surgeries, medications, and the many joys that…
Thinking back to my most recent hospital admission makes me realize just how important it is to know my warning signs. With pulmonary hypertension and chronic illness, we are no stranger to emergency room visits and overnight…
