I love to keep busy. Ever since I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in 2017, I have been keen to fill my days and avoid the listless feeling that comes from having little planned. In last week’s column,…
Chronically Uncool — Ellie Bird
Ellie is a cat lover who lives and works in Cambridge, UK. She was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2017 at age 22, having just graduated university with an English literature degree. Now she works in higher education and dedicates her spare time to raising awareness about PH, reading books, singing and going for walks in the countryside (when not too breathless!). She also, in stereotypically English fashion, drinks a lot of tea — preferably with a slice of cake!
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Summer is in full swing here in the U.K. Many are jetting off on holiday, and thousands flocked to the recent Glastonbury Festival. I’ve always loved summer, music festivals, heat, and travel. But now that I live with pulmonary hypertension (PH), I have to make certain adjustments.
Ever since I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in 2017, I have been determined to live as normal a life as possible. As soon as I was able, I returned to work. My doctors had told me that lots of people with PH…
Not too long ago, I met someone and opened up to them about my pulmonary hypertension diagnosis. They listened and thanked me for sharing my experience. Later that week, they sent me a message saying they had researched my condition and wondered if I…
Since being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2017, I have had a complicated relationship with exercise. I have been quite erratic in my approach to staying active. At times, I’ve followed a strict routine of working out every…
One difficult aspect of the pandemic and all of the necessary restrictions that have been put in place is the feeling that our time is being wasted. Young people, and likely the elderly, too, especially worry about this. Some might say, “I don’t want to waste my 20s…
Before my pulmonary hypertension (PH) diagnosis, I’d never had therapy or counseling — though perhaps I could have used it. Over the past three years, I’ve constantly toyed with the idea. I’ve always been good at putting on a…
A few years ago, if someone asked me to describe what self-care meant, images of long baths and DIY face masks would have sprung to mind. But since my diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH), my understanding of self-care has changed dramatically. For those with chronic illnesses,…
Everyone feels the effects of a bad night’s sleep. But for those with chronic illness, sleepless nights can be debilitating. Since being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH), I have found that if I sleep poorly, I struggle to function, which can make surviving a day at…
After I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH), the online community I found via social media was a huge comfort. It immediately made me feel less alone, and in the three years I have lived with PH, I have formed genuine connections with people…
Three years ago when I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension at age 22, I never would have predicted I’d one day want to live alone. At the time, I was terrified and became reliant on my family for support and comfort. A lot has changed since…
When going to the hospital for tests, one always hopes and prays for the best-case scenario. Last week, I had a number of tests and was lucky enough to get pretty good news across the board. My walk test was good and has definitely improved…
As I write this, I’m due for a hospital visit tomorrow for a day of tests. And I have some pretty major pre-appointment anxiety. I haven’t had a face-to-face appointment to monitor my pulmonary hypertension in almost six months. While…
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