What You Can Do: A Guide to Coping with your Feelings:

Many people, when told they have PPH, feel helpless. But there are many things you and your family can do.

Understanding Your Illness and Its Treatment

• Talk to someone who really knows about PPH. Doctors, nurses and social workers at the major PPH centers have extensive knowledge about PPH.

• Call us at 1-800-780-2686 or email us for a list of PPH doctors, PPH clinical trials, and PPH hospitals.   

• Make lists of questions to ask at the PPH hospital

• Ask about sources of information and support when you go to the hospital. You may not be told what is available unless you do.

 See our section on communicating with your health care provider.

These things will enable you and your family to know what to expect, and to take actions which can help your treatment.

Practical And Positive Tasks

• When you are being treated, or are recovering from treatments, you may not be able to do many of the things you used to do. But as you begin to feel better.

• Have a go at simple tasks.

• Gradually try to do a little more

Success will give you confidence, but remember to be patient and take one step at a time.

All people want to improve the way they feel. Some of the ways this can be done are

• Following a healthy, well-balanced diet

• Learning relaxation techniques

• Exercising regularly

But only do these things if you want to, and only if they make you feel better. Well-meaning friends or relatives may make all sorts of recommendations about what you should do or be doing. You don’t, however, have to make any sudden or drastic changes to your lifestyle. If you have been recently diagnosed or treated, you may feel you have had enough change for a while.

If you decide to exercise

• Build up slowly

• Set realistic targets

• Base the type of exercise, how strenuous it is, and how often you do it, on what you are used to and how well you feel

• Many people strongly recommend joining a support group. While there may not be a support group specifically for PPH patients in your area, joining a support group for cancer patients will work.

• If you are at home more than you were, you might want to get a dog. You'll get daily exercise and meet a lot of people when taking it out for walks.

 Many sufferers say that exercise helps them:

• Not dwell on their condition

• Make the most of what they have

• Do the things they've often put off before