-
2024 PHA Conference in August, anyone?
Is anyone here planning on going to the PHA Conference in August in Indianapolis? I’m strongly considering it, and I was wondering if anyone would benefit from sharing a hotel room, perhaps?
-
41 Replies
-
Hi @brenda-denzler, I am thinking about going. But either. my daughter or hubby will be with me. I’ve been in patient-led groups before. They haven’t sent that info yet. Plus, it all depends on my health between now and then, too.
For anyone who has never been, I always suggest going to one. People come from around the world, and it’s a busy few days, but there is so much to learn.
Excellent question, Brenda. I’ve had many of my PHriends go and share rooms.
-
Well, as it turns out, I won’t be able to go. I got asked to give a keynote speech at a different conference that, unfortunately, meets on the exact same weekend. So……
-
Oh wow, what event will you be speaking at, @brenda-denzler? No worries if you don’t share; I’m just curious. But shucks on the timing! But sure, you’ll impact a crowd no matter where you speak!
-
I’ll be delivering the keynote speech at the annual Society for Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Studies conference. My dissertation was on UFOs and alien abductions and was published as a book. That book is still positively regarded in the UFO studies field. It’s been so long since I’ve had a need to be an academic that I’m kinda afraid.
-
Wow, @brenda-denzler, you keep me intrigued! You are such a fascinating woman and soul! As you share some of your experiences, I need to get a bit busier in life. Hehe
It’s so cool, and I know you’ll do an amazing job as the keynote speaker in August! We are all here cheering you on. This is my hubby Manny’s interest. I’ll let him know. 👽
-
@brenda-denzler I hope your speech went well. What is the name of your book regarding UFO’s? So interesting! Was your speech recorded and if so, would you be willing to share it with us? We support the whole person here and every aspect of our lives.
-
I hope it WILL go well, Colleen. I don’t give it until August. At the same time as the PHA conference, sadly. I’m still writing it. Hope I have something to say that will be relevant and of interest to folks, but ya’ never know…..
And I also don’t know what the URL for the conference will be or whether it will be recorded (probably will) or whether, if it is, it will be publicly available in recorded form. Then again, if it’s not really relevant, then there’s no real point….
It’s been fun getting back into the UFO scene again, though it is much as I suspected: being out of the loop for 20 years is easily remedied by a few months of serious reading to catch up. Things tend not to move quickly in the UFO community!
I hope all is well with you and yours. If I remember correctly (and I’m not at all sure that I do), you were moving east, a little while back. Did you get the move completed? How are things now?
-
My brain must have been lazy that day. It knew you weren’t making the conference because of the speech and yet I also thought you did the speech back in April. LOL!
I have moved in with my parents back in NJ. I still have to sell my home in WA but I haven’t decided yet when I will put it on the market. For now my youngest son is living in it and completing some renovation’s before we sell.
-
Hey @brenda-denzler, how are you, stranger? Are you ready for your speech in a few weeks? I’m just thinking of you and want to let you know.
PS, I had some yummy ice cream last night, maybe that was why you were on my mind. 😉
-
Hey, Jen. My speech is on the 16th. I’ve written it, but am now trying to stuff it into a 45-minute format and put THAT on PowerPoint. Also trying to help one friend who does NOT live close-by, who just had knee surgery yesterday and is pretty much bed-bound for a few days. And a next door neighbor who is having a lumpectomy today. Had a wonderful visit from out-of-state friends last weekend. So in short, I’m running myself ragged and needing to slow down…but it’s a good kind of “ragged.” I’m needed and wanted and can be useful, so that’s grand.
I found out about 10 days ago that my d-dimer is now up to 6,538. Top range of “normal” is 500. My hematologist insisted in early June that my readings from last summer/fall (480s to 580s) and then again this last June (which hit 1077) were NOT indicating an upward trend. I’m not going back to him about this unless I have to. My PCP ordered the d-dimer that came in at 6,000+, and he is trying to refer me to a hematologist who specializes in MGUS (which I do seem to have). However, if in the end I do have to go back to my original hematologist, it will be with snark. “You said you didn’t see an upward trend based upon my d-dimer results last summer/fall and then in June when they hit a new high of 1077. As of the end of July they are above 6500. Do you see a trend yet?”
I am wishing I could be in Indianapolis with everyone. But with my d-dimers running this high when we don’t know why, it’s probably for the best that I’m not trying to drive a long distance or fly. Sometimes things just work out like they’re supposed to.
I hope everyone here who’s going to the conference has a wonderful and informative time and that you come back with information to share and stories to tell. 🙂
-
Wow, @brenda-denzler, you are a busy bee, my PHriend! But it’s nice when we can help others, right?
I don’t see an upward trend in your D-dimer! That’s jumping quickly, and I am concerned. Hopefully, you will not have any issues with that until you can be seen by a doctor who will not dismiss this worrisome increase!
Thanks, and I agree that you should avoid long-distance travel by car, plane, or any other means. You need to figure out why this is jumping so fast. Take care of yourself.
Is that yogurt a frozen version or a regular creamy yogurt? I have heard of Cabot cheese and things. I’ll look.
Please keep us posted, and take care of yourself, Brenda!🤗
-
PS — Jen, speaking of yummy ice cream…. Have I mentioned a new kind of yogurt I’ve found? Cabot brand. Three Cream Greek Vanilla Yogurt. It’s got 10% milk fat in it. They use three kinds of cream to make it. OMG! Is it delicious!!!! Not sicky-sweet, but just sweet enough. Lovely mild vanilla taste. Creamy out the wazoo…..
-
-
-
Who else in the forums is planning to attend the 2024 PHA Conference in Indianapolis this August? When I spoke to them last month, the staff at PHA told me it’s NOT too late to apply for a scholarship. If you’ve never attended one, they are more likely to offer you a scholarship.
If you are not a member of PHA yet, you can contact them via email or phone, and they will assist you in obtaining or renewing a membership, even if you are experiencing financial difficulties. They strive to accommodate as many individuals as possible, recognizing that their dedication and enthusiasm for preparing for this significant and impactful event is benefiting people worldwide.
Below is their section about the PHA Conference. -💜
https://conference.phassociation.org/
conference.phassociation.org
PHA 2024 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions
The biennial Conference brings together more than 1,300 people with pulmonary hypertension, caregivers and health care professionals.
-
I’ll be there! It’s definitely something everyone with PH needs to experience at least once. I hope you’ll be able to attend in 2026 Brenda. Good luck at the other engagement though, it sounds super interesting.
-
@Marcie @Terese Tuohey awesome! I will look forward to hearing about it and maybe see some pictures.
-
Hi @Marcie, I hope to see you and @Terese Tuohey during the conference. Are there others attending this year? We all should connect at some point. @Hall Skåra, you usually attend, right?
I always tell everyone, you need to go at least once! It’s such an incredible few days , busy but so worth it!
-
-
-
I’ll be attending this conference – and will be part of the CTEPH break-out session as well. It’s Friday at 2:30. I’m the patient half of the session, and Dr. Sanjay is the medical half.
Brenda, congrats on YOUR talk! I understand how you feel – excited and maybe just a little apprehensive. It’s been years since I presented anything at a conference, too. I do have someone to room with already, and we’ll be driving in together as well. Jen, I hope I do get to meet you there!
-
You are doing yours Friday night, opening evening; so cool, @Terese Tuohey! You’ll love Dr. Sahay; he is so kind and passionate. I hope to be there in time to see your session.
-
Yes, @Terese Tuohey, I am so excited and proud of you for doing the presentation about CTEPH with Dr. Sahay! This will offer an incredible wealth of knowledge about CTEPH. I’m looking forward to seeing all of you there. Let me know if I can support any of you attending.
-
-
Hey @brenda-denzler, I am optimistic it will go well. Writing about your UFO studies and your passion with anything that interests you and you write about shines through. Like Colleen, if possible, I would love to hear it afterward, so please let us know.
How have you been feeling in the meantime?
-
Yes @jen-cueva we definitely need to meet up! We’ll get there Wednesday around lunchtime. I’ll send you my number so we can be sure to get together at some point.
-
Hi @Marcie That sounds great. I am working on planning our flights this week, so I will let you know when we arrive at the hotel. I would love to meet you and hug you, my PHriend. I sent you my number, too. Thanks- I am so excited!
-
-
I will be attending the conference for the first time. Hope to meet some of you there. Good luck on your speech Brenda-denzler.
-
Hi, @Debra Gonzales. That’s amazing. You’ll enjoy it but also be so tired afterward. I am happy to connect with you. I’ll be in my wheelchair, with my hubby pushing me most of the time, or using my portable oxygen for shorter distances.
Are you so thrilled? What day are you arriving at the hotel? We are figuring out our flight dates, but we have to go with hubby’s approval at work, too. I’ll keep y’all posted here.
-
-
Hi Jen
I am arriving on the 16th. I hope my stamina is up to the travel, and all the walking I will have to do. I do plan on arranging for a wheelchair at the airport. I have not flown since my diagnosis, my pulmonary arterial pressure is much lower than first diagnosed. I feel I will be fine during the flight. I am excited to meet everyone. I hope to meet up with Dr Matusov who first treated me on California. He is one of the speakers. Not sure if patients will be allowed at his talk. I have to contact him and find out what days he will be there. I hope to meet you there.
-
Hi, @Debra Gonzales It’s exciting that you will attend the PHA Conference next month. I assume this is your first one.
You may also ask for a wheelchair or scooter rental for the conference because it usually involves a lot of walking. I use a manual wheelchair for distances, so my hubby will push me when I’m not walking with my O2. Once I find out who may be attending, we can schedule a date and time to meet, even if it’s for a few minutes.
Also, pace yourself, I often miss the early morning sessions because I;’m usually up chatting with others late each night. But rest is imporatnt and know yuopu can’t make it to every session and that’s OK!
-
-
OK, I’m calling all who will be attending the PHA Conference in a few weeks. I would love to try and arrange a group meet-up somehow. We could all meet and take a group picture, too. I am happy to offer my cell, and we can figure out what day and time work. Maybe a coffee date or a rest meet-up.
Let me know your thoughts, @Debra Gonzales, @Marcie, @Terese Tuohey. Is there anyone else attending?
-
I’m in!!
-
Hey, @Marcie, I have you saved on my phone. We arrive on Thursday afternoon. Do you help with the volunteers by chance?
-
Yes, I do! Will you be at the Peer Support Networking hour?
-
I’m supposed to be volunteering, but I have yet to hear what and when I should do it, so I am trying to plan around that, too. I’ll call PHA today to see if I can find out.
-
Did you find out anything? I’m supposed to be volunteering as well and was told they’d send out an email closer to conference for us to choose when and where. I still haven’t heard anything and we’re getting pretty close.
-
Hi, @Marcie. I received the volunteer information this morning. I believe I am doing two shifts on Friday. Sarah emailed me.
But for some reason, I still have not heard about the Peer Support Networking Hour or the volunteer activities, like breakfast. Usually, those are by invitation. Did that change, do you know? Maybe I’ll call tomorrow since it is only a week away.
Are you all prepared and know what to pack? I am so behind, but the main things, like travel and hotel, are covered, LOL.😉 I need to make my checklist and check things off, as I know they will all be taken care of. At this rate, I’ll be exhausted before we get there. LOL
-
I got the peer networking invitation, it’s Thursday at 5:30, but still nothing about the breakfast or volunteering. <div>
I haven’t done anything at all as far as packing goes lol. Scott is working all weekend so my plan is to get it done then. I keep putting it off because just the thought of it seems so overwhelming.
</div>
-
Oh boy , can I relate? It is overwhelming, @Marcie. You’re certainly not alone in procrastinating.
Do you know who you recieved the invite from? Maybe I can contact that person. I’ll DM you the contact for the volunteer info who sent mine. Maybe that helps us both.
-
-
-
That would be great, my cell# 310-525-4331. I also checked with Marriott, they do not offer an airport shuttle
-
Oh no, that is a bummer, @Debra Gonzales. Uber, Lyft, or a cab would be something to check into. Also, if you find others arriving at the same time, maybe split the cost of one of these to the hotel.
I also saved your number in my cell. I’ll text everyone in a group message once we arrive and find a day and time to meet up!
-
-
I will be at PHA2024. Arriving tomorrow afternoon. I hope to meet some of you while there. I’ll be on my scooter (minus the dog).
–Charlene
-
Hi @Charlene Rains, I’ll be arriving on Thursday evening. Hope to see you there. I’m often loud, so you may hear me , first, hehe.
Safe travels and I am so excited to meet you there. 🤗
-
-
I wish you all safe travels as you attend the PHA Conference this week. I’m so excited to meet you all there. 🤗
It’s going to be an incredible but busy few days! I won’t be on the forums on Thursday or Friday this week.
Your health is a priority!💜
@Marcie , @Terese Tuohey , @Debra Gonzales , and @Charlene Rains and anyone else.
-
I wish I could be there in person this year, but unfortunately I am unable to fly and my walking is pretty bad. I lost 60 pounds of muscle mass; in October I am having my esophagus stretched so hopefully I’ll be able to eat more than once a day.
I hope everyone will take tons of pics! I’m so excited that you will ask have the chance to meet and talk! What an incredible opportunity and I hope you bring back information that we can put in these forums! 💞💖💞🫂 Until then, virtual hugs to all of you.
Brenda, I am absolutely fascinated by these UFO book and presentations! How amazing are you? I love the author Carl Sagan; have you read his books? Contact was my favorite! I also would love to hear more about this- you are so accomplished and inspiring! I know you will do an awesome job with this; so please don’t stress!
I am also concerned about your d dimer. Please keep me updated. Are you finding that you are experiencing any extra symptoms? I surely hope you aren’t!
My sincerest thanks for all of you; you have made such a difference in my life!🫂💙🫁💙💖🌞🌸🌼
Log in to reply.