About me
My Name is Stacey McCarthy and I was diagnosed March 26th, 2009 when I was just 37 years old. I was a single mom of a teenage boy and the sole provider. I had been a waitress working 6 days a week and actually loved what I was doing and was making decent money. Within two short months I went from walking miles a day at my job to barely being able to roll over in bed without gasping for air. My assumption was asthma but realized I needed to get to the hospital. After just one chest X-ray they determined from the size of my heart that I was in heart failure. Within 24 hours from that I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension.
Like many patients, I was sent home with a bottle of pills and a diagnosis; That was it. I took my medication, but figured if I didn’t talk about it or tell anyone than maybe I just “wouldn’t” be sick. I have changed around my medications a few times with my doctor but have found a fairly stable place on Opsumit and Adempas, but I know I need more. My heart is still enlarged and may always be.
I met and made friends with a gal in my area that also had PH. She was helpful, kind, full of knowledge and led a support group. I realized that there were many of us in San Diego, and that got me intrigued. When my friend Julie moved to Arizona I knew in my heart that I needed to step in and do everything she had done for me, for everyone else in our group.
In the past two years I have developed a great group of about 35 patients and to the side of that a smaller group of just ladies that I refer to as my “Heart Sisters”. We look in on each other and have lunch once a month. We help to share information with each other and “compare notes” for advice.
I try to encourage others to find things to be passionate about, hobbies or any way to stay as active as their PH will allow them to be. I starting Riding a motorcycle because it requires little physical exertion and I fell in love with being a biker. I make it my goal to encourage, inspire and teach new patients. I now somehow couldn’t picture my life without PAH (not to say I would be against a cure!). I am grateful for the chance to help others!
