Life With PH: Saying No, for Now, to Being a Parent with PH

"I went to a doctor’s appointment in March to see a rheumatologist, who placed me on another medication that causes birth defects. Again, I was warned not to get pregnant. I did something I try not to do at doctor appointments. I began to tear up, and I told her that I wasn’t supposed to have children anyway and I am too scared to adopt because of my dreaded life expectancy. At that moment, she began to talk to me a way none of my other specialists have..."

Please visit Pulmonary Hypertension News to read more.

4 Things Not to Say to Someone with Pulmonary Hypertension

"I found that after I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, I received a bunch of off-brand advice. I realize the majority of what I heard from others was an attempt to make the situation better. Unfortunately, some of the words I received at times have been hurtful despite the well intentions behind them. I began to find it quite difficult to feel like I was biting my tongue in an attempt not to hurt other people’s feelings, even though their advice felt like it was minimizing what I was going through. As a blogger, I also became scrutinized online by strangers who tried to give me unsolicited advice and “words of wisdom” that simply do not apply to my situation."

Please visit my blog Life With PH over at Pulmonary Hypertension News to read "4 Things Not to Say to Someone with Pulmonary Hypertension."

Pulmonary Hypertension and "The Spoon Theory"

Do you know what the Spoon Theory is? Have any of your friends called themselves a Spoonie?
I didn’t know what the Spoon Theory was until a few months after I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. I found out that I was Spoonie after reading more about the theory. If you have a chronic illness, like pulmonary hypertension, you might relate to the Spoon Theory as well.

Read more about Pulmonary Hypertension and "The Spoon Theory" over at Life with PH

Who Should Raise Awareness for Pulmonary Hypertension?

I am excited to announce that I have a weekly column called "Life with PH" over at Pulmonary Hypertension News. Please be sure to visit the source below to read my first entry about my experience wearing oxygen in public, and whether it helped raise awareness for PH.

Who do you think should be responsible for raising awareness for PH?