PHA AWARENESS DAY

Did you know that today is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Day--a day in which all of us with PH are blogging for an awareness of the quiet sneaky condition that slowly can take your life away, without ANY TREATMENT.

I never knew about pulmonary hypertension until 5 years ago and was told I may have it. Well, I have it and thru the Pulmonary Hypertension website http://www.phassociation.org I found a very good doctor who specializes in PH and after his review and a right heart cath I was diagnosed with exercise induced pulmonary hypertension. I take one pill a day and seem to be doing all right.

I have decided that this condition will not kill me if I stay positive, stay healthy by following a good diet, exercise with some limitations, and seek support of others with this condition. You cannot call it a disease cause there is no fever etc. related to it.

Check out the website and read other peoples stories-- My story is simple, but there are other PH friends whose story is more complicated.

Have a great day everyone and pray for all people who have to live with pulmonary hypertension. God Bless all of them this day especially our PH friend Mason who needs extra special prayers this day for his recovery.
Please remember him in your days ahead.

I am a soon to be 69 year old full of life lady who lives in Phoenix, Az. A retired x-ray technician! I worked for over 38 years in the x-ray or radiology field of medicine. At the end of my career I was as you ladies out there call a boob squeezer!!(LOL) I enjoyed my job tremendously and loved taking care of people. In 1994 I received certification as a spiritual director in the christian church after attending a month long school in Pecos, New Mexico.
I lived a normal life with some limitations due to muscular dystrophy!

In 2001, my 83 year old mother was unable to live alone anymore in Indiana. She came to live with myself and my husband in our home in Phoenix where she lived until February 2003.

It's been 5 years this month that I had a right heart cath and was diagnosed with exercise induced Pulmonary hypertension!!! How could this be? I already had my share of stuff--I have to use a mobility scooter due to the diagnosis of FSHMD(facial scapular humeral muscular dystrophy). A detached retina which caused my heart cath to be delayed by about 6 weeks! As well as living with untreated hypertension! This possibly couldn't be true, I have two beautiful grand babies who I want to see grow and become adults!

In February of 2003 I had a cardiac echo , due to a near fainting episode while driving on the freeway! Went to see my primary care physician at the time and she stated it was probably due to stress(from taking care of my mom) wrote a prescription for a tranquilizer and sent me on my way! I normally don't take those kinds of medications as tend to be an addictive person and don't rely on that stuff. A couple of days later I was driving again and had the same experience--needless to say I was extremely scared! I made an appointment to see my husband's doctor who immediately ordered a number of tests- carotid ultrasound, sleep study, and the echo of my heart! The echo of my heart showed elevated pressures not extreme but enough to make for my physician to be worried! She sent me on an adventure where I learned that many doctors in my city of Phoenix were not well versed in Pulmonary hypertension or didn't want to research my problem! YOU DON'T LOOK SICK ENOUGH TO HAVE PH!!!

I found one dear man(a sweet and well learned on pulmonary hypertension) ran some more tests and believed I had Pulmonary hypertension and I needed to have a right heart cath done-- I had no idea what this was or had only heard of it before!

I found my way on the Internet to the Pulmonary hypertension Association's web site--which has helped me tremendously! Especially in the area of finding a caring local doctor to a wonderful experienced doctor in the speciality of Pulmonary Hypertension this doctor was located in Southern California.

So here I sit today at my computer telling you and the world my story so that others may learn and be aware of a not so very known condition that has become a part of my life. This is Pulmonary Hypertension awareness month. At the present time my pulmonary artery pressures are not too bad on cardiac echo, I take a single medication called cartia xt, which is a calcium channel blocker. This lovely capsule has caused me to gain some unwanted pounds as well as slowing me way down making my movement greatly limited in conjunction with the muscular dystrophy! I am having to rely on my scooter more than ever before, I still get shortness of breath, get some swelling in my feet, but no near fainting episodes as before and I still don't look--------- SICK ENOUGH TO HAVE PH.

Go to Pulmonary Hypertension Association to learn more about this life changing condition.