Hi Wanda. I will go back and see the lung doctor and heart doc in January. My situation is o.k. at this point. I am not on medications yet but I am sure when January rolls around then it will be time.

I have decided to move back home with my mother. I have had a couple of scary days and I decided that living alone is not a good idea. I know if I pass out then someone needs to be around to call the doctor. I also made a difficult decision to not teach school this fall. I have been teaching for 16 years. I taught elementary music to 1376 students grades K - 4. I loved my job, but I was in charge of all the programs. I worked with everyone with a lot of over time. I know my stamina will go down hill. I also did not think it would be ethical to work with young children knowing that I have a high risk for complications. My lung doctor thought this was a good idea. I know I will need to be on oxygen in a few months and I did not think hospital equipment in a classroom was a good idea. If I had a low stress desk job then I would still be working.

I am not looking forward to getting on medications. The cost and side effects are two reasons. I think most of the meds are considered experimental. I know for Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension some of the meds are not too effective. The meds do work better for those with Primary PH.

Thanks for your reply. It's really sad that you had to give up your work. But I'm happy to hear that you are now living with your Mother.

My doctor said they are going to change the wording for Primary and Secondary and make it something like "class 1, class 2, etc." I don't understand it all yet but that's why I'm here.

Keep in touch!

Wanda

Wanda, I have found that the Cleveland Clinic on the internet divides PH into four different classes. I would be class 2 because my PH is caused by a collagen vascular or mixed connective tissue disease that is actually attacking the heart & lungs. The different classes help people to distinguish the type of PH and the causes. Class 2 will have the 6 to 29 month lifespan due to disease. Class 1 will have PH caused as a hereditary factor which has the 10 year or longer lifespan. The classes help patients learn the causes, lifespan, and treatments that will or will not work for their type of PH. I just hope the treatments will begin to help quality of life. To live for 10 years and not be able to walk across the room without passing out is not so great. I also hope researchers will start working on ways to reverse secondary PH caused by another attacking disease.

Thanks for the info. I believe I would be in class 1. I used to work at a place that dealt with chemicals. Even though I worked in the office it still permeated the entire building. I believe that is when it all started but I can't be sure.

By the way, my doctor said I would be around awhile. Good news!