When Chris Casey was diagnosed with PH four years ago, he fell into a deep depression that affected both his body and mind. Since then, he has shed five stones, become a grandfather, and met and married the love of his life. This is Chris’s story of making changes and proving anything is possible – even when everything feels hopeless…

Story shared in 2024

“One day in 2020, I blacked out whilst dragging the dustbin down my long drive, and that’s what started the road to my diagnosis.

I weighed around 16.5 stones when I was told I had PH and doctors placed me on triple therapy and 24/7 oxygen. I was advised by my specialist centre consultant to lose weight from the start, but instead of losing it, I put even more on.

I got up to over 19 stones because all I did was sit at home and eat. I was in a complete depression and never left the house. My eyes were red and bloodshot all the time and I looked like an absolute mess.

I just gave up when I got my diagnosis. I locked myself away and cut myself off from people.  I’m not sure what the turning point was for me really, but one day I just decided I needed to do something.

I started dieting and I lost three stones in five months. I completely cut out cakes, biscuits, sweets and chocolates. I had cereal for breakfast, and I ate a lot of salads; I didn’t follow a complicated regime.

I got nutritional advice from my dad, as he’s always been into fitness and nutrition, but to be honest, I didn’t need telling what I shouldn’t be eating. I’d open a packet of biscuits and eat the whole lot, and I knew that was wrong.

I also started introducing exercise, with the blessing of my specialist centre. I started with 15–20-minute walks, with my oxygen, and gradually built it up.

As I lost weight and increased my fitness, the oxygen nurses were dropping my prescription.

The more weight I lost, the more motivated I was to continue, and it all helped me feel better in my mind too. I lost around six stones in total.

I got married to my wife Claire in July 2024. We went to school together, but she only came back into my life a few years ago, after I was diagnosed with PH. 

It was during my down days, soon after diagnosis, when I put a post on Facebook moaning about something. She responded, asking if we could meet for a coffee, and she has told me since that she was worried by the message and thought I needed someone to talk to. It all went from there, and she has definitely helped me along my journey.

We got engaged nine months after meeting up and married 18 months later. During those dark days, I could never have imagined that I would be getting married in just two years’ time.

Most of the reason I was hiding myself away was because I looked a mess. I just didn’t want to go out. But when I started losing weight, it began to give me more confidence.

I definitely feel like my mindset around nutrition has changed and I’m not finished yet; I want to get down to 12 stone. I haven’t bought a packet of biscuits in three years. I did eat too much of my wedding cake, but I don’t want to spend my whole life on a diet. You’ve got to have some fun as well!

My granddaughter Brooklyn was born two-and-a-half years ago and she came along at a good time for our family. She never sits still, and because I’m now fitter, I can enjoy more quality time with her. I do know my limitations, so Claire will often do all the running around after her, but I do pick her up and carry her and play with her.

I’m still poorly and things can still feel like hard work, but life does look very different compared to when I was first diagnosed with PH. I’ve opened myself up to life again and reconnecting with people made a big difference.”