What I Wish I Knew About PAH

[On Screen Text: Looking Back What I Wish I Knew. PAH Initiative - Sponsored by United Therapeutics - Committed to Improving the Lives of Patients.]

[On Screen Text: Joanne PAH Initiative Ambassador]

If I could go back in time to that period when I was first diagnosed 22 years ago, I would try to reassure myself that I need to do all I can to help myself.

[On Screen Text: Laura PAH Initiative Ambassador]

I had so many questions, and asking a doctor is not the same thing as asking someone who's really going through it.

Stay as educated as possible on everything that's going on in the pulmonary arterial hypertension world. Participate, join a support group…

Speak to them and ask questions. Because it’s more I think, for newly diagnosed patients, I think it's more of the initial shock of what you're being told.

Improve your health, not just taking your medicine and doing what the doctor says, but also taking as, I always encourage people to take as good care of themselves as possible.

I didn't settle for good enough because I wanted better. I wanted a better quality of life for myself.

I want the best life I can possibly live. Not- not, you know, muddle through every single day but feel as good as I can feel by helping myself as much as possible.

I am my best advocate in the journey of my health.

So, whenever I see my doctor, I ask her, "What else can I be doing to improve my situation, to improve my condition?"

This diagnosis does not define me.

I think it's really important to hold onto hope.

Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid.

We're going to continue to make progress.

PAH will not control my life. I will.

[On Screen Text: PAH Initiative - Sponsored by United Therapeutics - Committed to Improving the Lives of Patients. For more resources about PAH, please visit www.PAHInitiative.com]