Goodbye 2017 & Hello 2018

Dear Readers,

I can't believe I'm writing the final post of 2017! Where has the time gone?!

Pulmonary Hypertension has been quite at the forefront of the year, whether it's attending the PHA-UK conference, or generally raising awareness for Pulmonary Hypertension. I love being an Ambassador and raising awareness for Pulmonary Hypertension as it is a condition that people are not aware of and people need to understand what it is.

This year I've raised awareness by telling my story in the newspapers (EADT), going on the radio (interview), making a video (above or Youtube), working with the PHA-UK for PH Awareness Week, creating a new Facebook page (Tess and PH) tweeting on Twitter (@maritess_mt) and continuing this blog. Also huge congratulations to Capital B Media for winning 'Best Publication' for the Pulmonary Hypertension "EmPHAsis" magazine!

It's been a bit of a whirlwind year for me and Terry and probably one of the best and one of the busiest! They say buying a house and getting married are 2 of the most stressful things in life. We did both in 3 months...

We started off by getting keys to our own home and renovating it in time for Terry's Mum arriving from Australia for our Wedding. In the midst of renovating we celebrated Terry's Stag and my Hen do! I don't know how we done it or how we dealt with the stress, but we made the shell of a house into a cosy home in time for our Wedding.

On 27th April, Terry and I became Husband and Wife. It was a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends and I was well enough to walk down the aisle! It couldn't have gone any better and it was amazing to be symptom free to enjoy a much-anticipated day. Terry and I went on a Mini-Moon to Crete the day after the Wedding, where we both crashed out and relaxed for the entire week thinking about how much we had achieved with our home and our future plans as Mr and Mrs!

In the Summer, Terry and I caught up with friends, attended friend's Weddings and I closed down my music business as working evenings was taking it's toll on my health, but I received news of a new job which I started in September and really enjoy! 

Most of all we got a new family member. We travelled to Blackpool and picked her up. This is Izzy, our fur baby!

After the Summer my health was starting to decline and knew something was wrong. I managed to celebrate my 27th birthday, another milestone reached, with my friends and we all had a fantastic time! As I was still struggling, the Royal Brompton consultants and I decided to bring my hospital appointment forward. I was told I had deteriorated and new medications were needed. I started them that day, but I wasn't ready for the side effects that came with them! I battled through sickness and severe headaches, but I'm feeling a little stronger now and hoping they are starting to subside!

I had a wonderful Christmas with my family and I am really looking forward to what 2018 will bring. As 2017 was so good, it'll take a lot to beat it!!

However we will be celebrating my 10th PH Anniversary - wow 10 years since my diagnosis, I can't believe how much I have achieved after being given such a short prognosis. It is also thanks to the Pulmonary Hypertension team at the Royal Brompton Hospital, who have been amazing since my diagnosis with their continuous support and also the medication that the hospitals and PHA-UK fight for so we can have it to help us lead our daily lives. Keeping positive, keeping strong and living life to the full. There may be no cure, but there is always hope!!

Thank you to my friends for all of your support and friendship, but a huge thank you to my family, especially my Mum and Husband for everything they do and continue to do to make sure I have the best quality of life. Together we will live life to the full. This final picture sums me up perfectly!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Thanks for reading!

Deterioration = New Meds = Awful Side Effects

Dear Readers,

In November I found out that my PH had deteriorated so I had to start a new medication to help me to get back on my feet. I had to stay in my hospital (Royal Brompton Hospital) whilst they monitored my stats on this tablet, but my body took to it well and I was let out that same day, albeit rather late into the night!

I have now been on this new medication for a month now and gee that side effects are awful! I've suffered severe headaches and sickness over the last month. I'm hoping they will subside very soon, so I can enjoy Christmas next week! However if my symptoms haven't improved then I'll have to change to a new tablet and hope I take to them better. I really hope my side effects subside soon as I have noticed my PH symptoms have improved, so they're definitely doing me good, even though I feel like they're doing me in! Haha!

Anyway, as always I keep on going and get on with my life as much as I can, but in the meantime please keep your fingers crossed that I continue to improve with the PH symptoms and the side effects are no longer!

On a good note, my Facebook page, Tess and PH, has now reached over 1000 likes and followers! I will continue to raise awareness for this incurable heart and lung condition alongside the PHA UK charity and help people to understand this condition!

Follow my everyday updates on my Twitter @maritess_mt

Or check out my FB page Tess and PH

#nocurealwayshope #BreathlessNotVoiceless #LivingwithPH

Thanks for reading!

Relationships & Illness

Dear Readers,

One thing that is sad about battling illnesses is that relationships break.

Sudden illnesses affect yourself and those around you. People won't understand, they think you're making excuses, they just won't listen. You want to do everything you used to do before diagnosis, truth is, you can't!

Life is about making the most of it, no one knows when their time is up and sometimes if you want to save a relationship you have to move on and be the bigger person.

Struggling with an illness everyday is hard enough without the added stress of reminding yourself of what someone has done.

Illness can be a big deal breaker and sadly not all relationships are reconciled, some go too far that forgiveness is too difficult due to reasons personal to those involved.

Be the bigger person, move on, but never forget how they made you feel. Go forth and live life and enjoy your life with those who lift you up, not bring you down!

You can also follow my PH journey on Facebook - Tess & PH