I’m Aware That I’m Rare: Vicki Banos (281)

The phaware® interview

Pulmonary hypertension patient Vicki Banos discusses her PH diagnosis.

My name is Vicki Banos and I’m a pulmonary hypertension patient.

I had had a knee replacement in Denver in 2012, and I began to feel really weak and fatigued. I couldn’t walk two blocks. I had some other things going on at the same time. I had an undiagnosed cough for about eight years. And I was seeing an allergy asthma doctor and they thought maybe I had a blood clot from the knee replacement. So, it started with a V/Q scan. Then I ended up fainting and going to the ER a couple times and I failed a stress test. Then a doctor there said that I needed a right heart cath. I had two of them and they diagnosed me with pulmonary hypertension.

I was originally from New Orleans, so I had moved there after Katrina. I was alone. I didn’t have anyone going with me for any of this. So, it was a little shocking at first. I just decided to Google it as much as possible and learn as much as possible about the disease. So, I’ve tried many medications and…