Telling people about myPH

Raya Mynot has had PH since she was a baby and has had to explain her condition to many different people over the years. In her latest column for Emphasis, the 21-year-old reflects on the multiple conversations and how they have changed throughout her life.

Raya in her school days

Having PH has, of course, had a pretty big effect on everyday life. Things become more challenging, they can take more time, and sometimes just can’t be done at all. This is why it’s really important for me to make people who come into my life aware of my PH.

As a child I definitely didn’t have to do this as much as I do now in adult life; mostly because as a child I was still learning my boundaries and limits, and just tried to always join in with everything.

Other children also didn’t take a lot of notice if there was something I couldn’t do, or had to sit out of, as long as they were having fun and their minds were occupied.

I think as a child I was also more oblivious to it all; I didn’t understand the seriousness, and being out of breath sometimes was just normal for me. It was only as I got older that there was a lot more I couldn’t do, or had to take time doing.

In high school I had a team of teaching assistants who knew all about my condition and would help me during the times I was at school. I was also lucky to be able to spend time in a quiet area for SEN (Special Educational Needs) pupils, which was really nice as it meant I didn’t have to worry about keeping up with friends in the playground.

During GCSE years I did spend more time outside with friends. They already knew I had to take things slow and got out of breath