Journey Through a 2-Month Hospital StayMany of us have had times when we were admitted to the hospital because of heart failure. Depending on what the doctor says, you never know how long you’ll be... By Olivia Rose3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Utilizing My Jugular Vein to Assess Fluid RetentionI am a 42 year old women with congestive heart failure (CHF), who really tries to stay on top of my fluid levels. I am very aware of my fluid... By Morgan Drutchas3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Spooky and Scary Symptoms of Heart FailureIt’s October, which means it is spooky season. While some people may be getting ready to get a good scare from costumes and haunted houses, some people are dealing with... By Heart-Failure.net Team1 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Digestive Health and Heart FailureIn my most humble opinion (and it really is just that- my opinion) gut health is one of the most underrated ways to take care of our bodies. I wish... By Clair G3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My First Time In Water Post-LVAD"You can’t go into any water," are the words I heard when Sharon was explaining how the LVAD works. An LVAD is a battery-operated mechanical device that pumps the left... By Olivia Rose3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
My Experience with Right and Left Heart CatheterizationI celebrated my 3rd Heartiversary on February 2nd. I cannot believe it has actually been 3 years since I was given my gift. On or close to my anniversary the heart... By Olivia Rose3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Easy Low Sodium Meal IdeasFor other people with heart failure, who, like myself, follow a low-sodium diet, I have found in order to maintain consistent adherence planning is key. It becomes challenging when you... By Morgan Drutchas3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Therapy For Stroke PatientsWhen I was 25 years old, I suffered my first stroke. My family and I were shocked to hear this news and we didn’t know what was going to happen... By Olivia Rose3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Kitchen GadgetsI have found that a key component of staying sane, while acknowledging the amount of home cooking required when adhering to a low sodium diet for heart failure, is the... By Morgan Drutchas2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
How to Eat a Low-Sodium Diet for the Newly DiagnosedIt is imperative for heart failure patients to learn how to eat a low-sodium diet. I wanted to share what I have learned over the past several years. If you... By Morgan Drutchas3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Having a Career with Heart DiseaseWhether you are around family or friends the topic of work will inevitably become one of the topics of conversation. If you’re like me you dread these conversations because you... By Olivia Rose3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Heart Failure? What Now?Maybe you came into the emergency room because you’ve just been feeling a little bit short of breath. It has gotten a bit worse the last day or so, and... By Amber Blackburn, RN3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Transplant GuiltPatients and doctors agree that when you have a heart transplant you can experience transplant guilt. Transplant guilt is when the heart transplant patient feels guilty about benefitting from someone's... By Olivia Rose2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Adding Flavor Without Fat and SaltAs a heart failure patient, I have found that staying compliant with the sodium restrictions helps manage my symptoms. Also, as someone with 6 stents, my interventional cardiologist told me... By Morgan Drutchas3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
How to Prepare for Travel with Heart FailureIf you are like me and the many other people in the world, you love to travel. Traveling with heart failure is something that can be nerve-wracking, but with the... By Olivia Rose3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
The Power of Love and Support from Your Inner CircleLiving with heart failure can be overwhelming and all-consuming on a good day. Isolating, too. Finding the balance between life, work, family, and doctor appointments can be challenging. I think humans... By Clair G2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Version 2.0I think that, as heart failure patients, we can all relate to experiencing tough situations that are out of our control. For me, I came into this with a STEMI... By Morgan Drutchas2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What Is the Watchman?In my role as a respiratory therapist, I often conduct EKGs at the hospital. During a recent session with a kind gentleman in his 70s, the computer interpretation revealed an... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments11 comments
Trauma Experienced By a Heart PatientMany people do not really know the trauma a heart patient has to go through. Long hospital stays, doctor appointments, and many disappointments. It also begins to take a toll... By Olivia Rose3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Should I Be Pushing Myself in Cardiac Rehab?I was at cardiac rehab today and had an interesting conversation with the exercise physiologist. In fact, in case anyone is approved for cardiac rehab and is on the fence... By Morgan Drutchas3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments7 comments