What’s in My Pre-Packed Hospital "Go Bag"When you are chronically ill, you’ll have seasons where you are constantly running around between different doctors appointments. At times, it even feels like trips to the ER aren’t that... By Amber Blackburn, RN3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
Acceptance of My DiagnosisWhen I was first diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, I never knew that my journey would end up changing the trajectory of my life. I didn't realize I was in heart... By Olivia Rose3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Staying Cool in the Summer HeatWith summer almost here, it's a good time to talk about tips for staying cool. For those who are newer to their heart failure journey, heat makes your heart work... By Morgan Drutchas3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
CHD BabyOn April 19, 1973, my young teenage mother was informed by her obstetrician that he saw signs of me being considered a "blue baby" or a baby with limited oxygen... By Leslie Castro3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Back to Basics, Heart Failure and Heart HealthA new heart failure diagnosis can feel so overwhelming. Clair talks about a few things she wishes she had known when she was first diagnosed: "Heart failure" is a phrase... By Clair G3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Living in Survival ModeI was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in 2014 at the age of 25. At that point in my life, I had finished grade school, high school, and college. According to... By Olivia Rose3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Women's Health Month: Spotlighting Patient Leaders With PPCMMay is designated as Women's Health Month. We want to raise awareness about heart failure and its impact on women's health. One form of heart failure that affects women is... By Heart-Failure.net Team2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
It All Came TogetherI was 17 years old when doctors told me I wouldn't be able to bear children. When I heard that news, it really didn't affect me at the time. I... By Kimberly Connell2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Pelvic Floor 101When I started taking Lasix, I started experiencing acute pelvic floor issues, including pain, pressure, sexual issues (pain during intercourse), and urinary urgency issues, among others. I have been going... By Morgan Drutchas3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
How I Survived Heart FailureMy name is Olivia, and I am a 2-time stroke survivor, former LVAD patient, and heart transplant recipient. I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2014 after suffering a stroke. I... By Olivia Rose2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Small Scale Gardening - Flowers in Your HeartGrowing plants in your mind and heart is as effective as growing them in your home. Often with heart failure, we may need to give up or downscale our major... By Clair G2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Let's Get in AweHeart failure has caused many of us to slow down, as we no longer have the same level of functionality as before. For instance, I have less energy, and the... By Morgan Drutchas2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
5 Things to Remember While In the HospitalAs a registered nurse (RN) for 15 years who has spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital over the last decade due to chronic illness, I have seen... By Amber Blackburn, RN3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments6 comments
Let's Discuss Nasal CannulasMany people with a heart failure history do not need home oxygen therapy. But there are some in this community who do benefit from it. A majority of those who... By John Bottrell3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
How to Eat Less Red MeatSome of us with heart failure may have stents, or for some other reason, have been told to try to limit the amount of saturated fat we eat. For me... By Morgan Drutchas2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
How To Stay PositiveStaying positive is something I struggle with and it is an everyday mental battle for me. It is so much easier to be negative, in my opinion, especially when it... By Olivia Rose3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Low Impact Movement for Your Heart HealthExercise when you have heart failure is one of those conversations that can truly go any which way. Many people have very strong opinions about this. What one person is... By Clair G3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments9 comments
Living in the MomentIn my experience, the "what if's" and future trajectory of my heart failure are sources of stress. And it's hard to forget that you are a heart failure patient given... By Morgan Drutchas3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
My Cardiac Rehab ExperienceAfter suffering my second stroke in December 2018, and my LVAD (left ventricular assist device) surgery in January 2019, I started being evaluated for cardiac rehab. According to the American... By Olivia Rose3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Finding A CommunityWhen I was first diagnosed with Postpartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) I was very confused, and I felt very alone and uncertain. When I searched for my condition on google, the prognosis... By Samantha Stinocher3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments