How to Adjust to a Diagnosis of Heart Failure“You have heart failure,” is the single worst phrase you ever want to hear. Getting a diagnosis of heart failure is one of the most shocking things you can hear...Reactions0reactionsComments21 comments
Spring CleaningI love spring. My favorite season, hands down. With the flowers bursting from the ground and trees coming to life, it is such a time of rebirth and renewal. I...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Community Views: Ways to Get Moving with Heart FailureRegular exercise is a cornerstone of maintaining a healthy heart, and we want to encourage you to get moving in any way possible! Exercise and heart failure can look different...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Low Sodium - Where To Start?From personal experience, adjusting to a low sodium diet can be overwhelming at first. As a newly diagnosed patient, once you start looking into it you realize that salt is...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Why Don't You Buy a Bigger House?To give some background information, my partner and I live in a teeny tiny house. The other day a well intentioned family member asked us when we are going to...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
It Is Happening to Them, TooYou have been diagnosed with heart failure. Firstly, I am sorry. I am sorry that it exists and that it has affected you directly. There is so much to unpack...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Mental Health TherapyWhen you go through something as traumatic as being diagnosed with something like heart failure, it changes your entire life. My first taste of this was when I suffered a...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Depression Is NormalEditor's Note: This article was written in summer 2023. Depression...for some reason even in 2023 it still feels like it is something you should not talk about. Something that is...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Explaining My Heart Journey to Medical StudentsLast August I was lucky enough to get a call from the University of Maryland Medical School. The emergency room physician was also a professor at the University of Maryland...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Battling Fatigue as a Result of Heart FailureMany of us have experienced the symptoms of heart failure. The hardest of which, I think, is fatigue and feeling exhausted. Sometimes being too tired to even get out of...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The New Meds Are Making Me Sick!I often see posts from people who are new to heart failure, or have switched their medicines, and remark that the new meds are making them feel terrible. And they...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Pushing Past the PainCan you recall a time you went for day surgery and did not get discharged until a week later? That was my experience with this last procedure I had, removing...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Setting Boundaries for My HealthMy whole life I have been a people pleaser and over the years this has often been to my detriment. As I have continued to take my health seriously, I have...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The Loss of Friendships Due to Heart FailureWe all know what it is like when we get the diagnosis of heart failure. It is a feeling of panic, uncertainty, and many other emotions. With everything changing in...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Consistently ExercisingOne of the directives I, along with many heart failure patients, have received from their cardiac medical team is consistent exercise is important. I can also tell you that I...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
When Would You Meet Me in the ERAs a respiratory therapist, I have a clear role in helping patients with heart failure. So, at what point would I be called to help you? Here’s what to know...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Interview with AVNRT PatientToday I was able to sit and talk with Laura Wyman, who is a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner. She has specialized in Pediatrics her entire career. I wanted to talk...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Pacing!What is pacing and why am I writing about it? To me, pacing is a skill set that requires acceptance and practice! It has been an essential skill set for...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle for a Healthy HeartAlmost everyone has heard about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, but some people still do not understand what that means. Does it mean we should only be eating salads...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Spreading Awareness for Heart FailureThroughout February, we recognize both Heart Failure Awareness Week and American Heart Month. Our Health Leaders have written articles about their experiences with heart failure and other heart conditions. Recently...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments