As a young child I was "diagnosed" with exercise-induced asthma -- this was something that greatly limited my involvement in any activity that required physical exertion. Despite my limitations, I had a deep desire to be "normal", to be able to run with my brother, to play basketball with my friends; however, no matter how hard I tried, I was continually left frustrated and gasping for breath. As I grew older I joined a gym and began an intense conditioning program. My determination paid off, a little. I still couldn't jog for more than a minute at a time, but I could ride the stationary bicycle for two hours. I couldn't foster the strength to stay on the stairmaster for more than a minute or two, but I could work my magic on the elliptical for nearly a half of an hour. I was dedicated, so dedicated . . . but the frustration and breathlessness remained and eventually worsened.
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| "The medication that I was prescribed did little to ease my condition" |
As time passed my symptoms grew worse. The medication that I was prescribed did little, if not nothing, to ease my condition. Leisurely strolls quickly became a grueling task with the introduction of even a slight incline, climbing a single flight of stairs became a daunting task. By this point, exertion not only left me breathless but disorientated and dizzy -- I even passed out after a very short run while at work. Although it took me a while to come to terms with it, I began to realize that I must be dealing with more than a simple case of asthma. My search for truth was about to begin . . .little did I know, I was about to embark upon a journey rarely traveled. I would soon have the chance to experience the beautiful, the terrifying, and the strange world of Pulmonary Hypertension -- this blog will chronicle my journey.
