Contact

General Contact Info

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
(email) info@phsask.ca

 

Michelle

(email) michelle@phsask.ca
(location) Regina, SK

Michelle's Story:

I was diagnosed in October 2006 at the age of 28.  Prior to being diagnosed I was an active person, having being involved in numerous activities (Ukrainian dancing, ringette, volleyball, softball).  After giving  birth to a healthy son in November 2005 I started to notice that I was feeling "out of shape". I was getting short of breath on exertion - while trying to push the stroller, carrying my son or doing anything beyond normal daily activity.  At the onset of my symptoms, I thought that it was due to recently having a baby, however, in September 2006 I noticed that my shortness of breath had progressed and was also experiencing a racing heart.  For example, when I was going up a flight of stairs I would have to stop midway up - I realized then that something wasn't right.  I went to  my family physician who ordered an ECG which came back abnormal and was referred to a cardiologist shortly after.  After seeing the cardiologist I had undergone a number of tests (CT Scan, Lung Scan, Stress Test, ECHO, TransEsophageal Echo and Right Heart Catheterization).  The doctor suspected that I had Pulmonary Hypertension, but wanted to determine if it was secondary to another disease.  All the testing determined that I had Idiopathic Pulmonary Hypertension and I was started on medication (Tracleer) in January 2007. Other medications were added later on not because the Tracleer wasn't working, but because studies have shown that other combination therapy may slow the progression.  I have been stable since being on medication.  

Sandy

(email) sandy@phsask.ca
(location) Saskatoon, SK

Sandy's Story:

I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in March 2008.

I had been experiencing fatigue and muscle weakness for a couple years previous to this time, but attributed the symptoms to Ulcerative Colitis, which I had since around 2000.

I was always very active physically, never smoked, ate a healthy diet and competed as a national level master athlete. I slowly found it more and more difficult to run and train, and began to experience shortness of breath when climbing stairs.  My family Dr. at first refused to believe there was something wrong, citing perhaps a virus, age etc. I insisted that he refer me for tests. After about a year of waiting and many tests, I was diagnosed after an angiogram. I am fortunate to have Dr. K. Laframboise as my PH specialist.

My husband Bill and I live in Saskatoon. We have two grown sons and four beautiful grandchildren. I taught Kindergarten for many years, but am no longer able to do so. 

Although my life has changed a great deal, I am finding new interests and activities and enjoy each day. I am no longer able to play competitive badminton, but I do golf and stay as active as possible. 

I am currently using oxygen upon exertion and taking Tracleer. I also attend a Pulmonary Rehab group three times a week.  Helping to establish the support group in Saskatchewan has been a very educational and rewarding experience.  It gives me a sense of being able to fight back against this disease and not just sit back and accept my fate.  I encourage anyone who either has PH or has a loved one with PH to get involved in whatever way you can to help spread the word about PH.

Darwin

(email) darwin@phsask.ca
(location) Regina, SK

Darwin's Story:

Darwin is one of the Saskatchewan support group organizers.  He first found out about Pulmonary Hypertension when his wife, Michelle, was diagnosed in September of 2006. Since then, he has been actively informing himself and those around him of the disease.  His cause lies in the desire to bring awareness to a broader scope of people and a determination to fund, enable and progress research for PH in the hopes of one day finding a cure.

 If you have questions, concerns or ideas that would bring awareness of PH to the forefront of more people's minds, feel free to provide them to us. He can be reached at darwin@phsask.ca.