Tag: Pulmonary Hypertension

Participating in a Research Study-Pulmonary Hypertension

At my first visit with Penn Medicine’s Pulmonary Hypertension Center, I was visited by a research coordinator. Pulmonary Hypertension is a rare disease, so the pull of potential research subjects is small. I agreed to be placed on a list for future studies, and was enthusiastic about doing my part to assist in finding a…
When Travels Don’t Go As Planned-A Western Adventure

72 Hours Pre-Trip “I feel like my cough is getting worse,” I tell the Primary Doctor. I’ve been dealing with a chronic cough and lung inflammation since April. It’s fluctuated in degrees of severity, but on this September evening, it seems worse. We’re leaving for the TBEX conference and our Western road trip in a…
Hiking The Quill with Pulmonary Hypertension-St. Eustatius

The day starts out uncertain. The main reason our feet land on the island of St. Eustatius is to hike The Quill. The problem, I wasn’t sure I could hike The Quill. The Quill is a long dormant volcano. There is trail that leads to the rim of the volcano, and a trail that takes…
Staying at The Old Gin House-St. Eustatius

There are trips where an accommodation is just a place to shower and rest your head. Then there are trips where the accommodation is an important part of the experience. I mentioned in the previous post, that when I saw pictures of The Old Gin House, it was love at first sight. The brick and…
The First 48-Juneau-Alaska

Day 1 To reduce anxiety caused by possible flight delays, we arrive in Juneau, Alaska, 48 hours before our cruise sets sail. Exiting the airport, we are struck by the gorgeous mountains. The hotel we are staying at provides airport pickup. The driver loads our bags into the back of the van, and we are…
Visiting Victoria Falls-Zambia Side

The relationship between the mind and body is interesting. As I stared up at the stairs on the Zambia side of Victoria Falls, looming before me, by mind said, they are just steps. Easy peasy. You just walk up them. No big deal. I started my upward climb, but around step ten, the pressure in the…
My Panama/Costa Rica Hiking Triumph

They didn’t know, Erika, Jenny, Rey and especially Liza (we did the most hikes with Liza). Our guides, didn’t know how nervous I was at the start of the week. I wanted to hike. I had worked hard so that I could hike, but I was still worried that hiking would cause an episode. An…
My High Altitude Simulation Test

When I looked up information on having a High Altitude Simulation Test (HAST) completed, the information was vague, brief, and clinical. I couldn’t find anything about what the experience of having the test done would be like. I thought I’d post my experience for anyone who might be looking for a little more than the…
How Travel Most Likely Saved My Life

It starts in Belize. In order to get to the first zipline platform, we have to hike up a hill, and then climb a long, steep, set of stairs. Part of the way up the steps, I feel like I can’t breathe. I’ve been exercising every day, how can I be this out of shape, I…