About Me

I’m Gregor Rasp (Greg). I have CTEPH. With this website I try to inform and encourage others.

Photo by yours truly, Mar 2022. Selfie at Khao Khitchagut, Chanthaburi, Thailand.

Please read the terms of use and disclaimers. It could save your life. Every person is different. What works for me may or may not work for you. Always consult your health care provider before following anything suggested or recommended by others.

I'm Gregor Rasp (Greg). I have CTEPH. I attempt to inform and encourage by sharing information and personal experiences.

Aim & Purpose

If you have pulmonary hypertension, especially CTEPH, my website might be useful to you. Some topics may also be of interest to your family members or caregivers, or anyone suffering from an incurable illness.

Things don't always go according to plan.

I began this website in February 2022, shortly after I was diagnosed with CTEPH, which effectively put me on death row. CTEPH is a viscous, chronic condition that worsens over time. In most cases, there’s no cure. Current treatments are mainly aimed at delaying death.

By this time, I had been through a lot. Nothing could shock me any longer. I thought that my experiences might be useful to others in similar circumstances.

A reminder to myself.

This website is also a constant reminder to myself to continue to educate myself and manage my disease well. My hidden agenda: to live a little longer and enjoy a better quality of life while I still have the ability.

This website is a labor of love, a work of love for myself and a feast for my ego, if you will.

I am not a doctor.

I am not a doctor or medical professional, nor do I pretend to be one. I’m a certified personal trainer and running coach with a good understanding of sports and exercise science.

My illness prevents me from coaching athletes. But it doesn’t stop me from studying, reflecting, and writing about my experiences.

If you come across something of interest, there’s nothing stopping you from discussing it with your doctor.

Make the most of adversity.

By sharing my personal story, I hope to motivate people who suffer from CTEPH or other chronic or incurable diseases.

If you have any questions, would like to talk, or have a story to share, please contact me. I’ll do my best to accommodate you as much as my health permits.

I Am Not A Doctor

I am not a doctor or medical professional, nor do I pretend to be one. I’m a certified personal trainer and running coach with a good understanding of sports and exercise science.

My illness prevents me from coaching athletes. But it doesn’t stop me from studying, reflecting, and writing about my experiences.

I try to manage my disease as best I can by following the advice of my doctors, reading scientific articles, and using my understanding of exercise training.

CTEPH And Therapy

In early 2022, I was diagnosed with CTEPH. We began treatment with pulmonary vasodilators (medications that relax the blood vessels in my lungs) and oral anticoagulants (medications that reduce the risk of blood clots forming). I used to be a fairly active long-distance runner and cyclist. With the permission of my doctors, I added exercise to this pharmaceutical cocktail.

Believe it or not, it works!

I could already tell the change after only three months. My exercise tolerance has improved, my quality of life has increased, and my ability to perform everyday activities has improved (now I’ve got to do the dishes and take out the trash again). I’m also back to being the annoying guy I used to be.

Don’t be intimidated. Some people may see this as a unique story of survival and not giving up. You don’t have to be afraid. I’m sure you can do it too. Be open to it. With motivation and small steps you’ll reach your goal.

By this time, I had been through a lot. Nothing could shock me any longer. I thought that my experiences might be useful to others in similar circumstances.

This website is also a reminder to myself to continue to educate myself and manage my disease well. Maybe I could live a little longer and enjoy a better quality of life.

Topics I May Be Able To Help You With

A selection of topics I may be able to help you with. No doubt there are many more topics than these. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you want to talk about something else or know more about something, whatever it may be.

Self Awareness

Everything starts with self-knowledge and awareness. It’s important that you understand your disease. You want to know exactly how it interacts with your body, how it affects your well-being and your daily life.

Motivation

Despite all the difficulties and possible suffering, try to find the motivation to understand your illness and gain a high level of insight and self-awareness. I know it’s difficult, but believe me, it’s worth the effort.

Confidence

Once you have a plan, an approach to improving your quality of life and very likely your life expectancy, you must have confidence in it. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be adjusted occasionally, especially when something new comes up.

Consistency

Last but not least, you must be consistent in your actions. Randomness won’t get you anywhere. Consistency is the key to success!
Success means a higher quality of life and a longer life.

My Recent Activities

I joined Strava on April 6, 2012. Since then, I’ve documented all my exercise sessions. Back then CTEPH didn’t exist for me. In early 2012, I was still an avid runner and cyclist. Things changed dramatically with my accident on December 31, 2013.
You can find the full list of my workouts in my Strava activity feed.
Only my most recent activities are listed below.
To see all the details of an activity, click on it.

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Physical activity refers to all movement. (WHO)

QUESTIONS?

Whether you’re curious or a member of the press, I’m here to answer any questions.