Isabella
Isabella was diagnosed with heart failure around twenty years ago. Her GP is also a cardiac specialist and looks after her care. Her condition has remained steady so her treatment has consisted of taken an ACE inhibitor and a beta blocker. Isabella hasn’t been affected by side effects. Recently Isabella has complained of breathlessness and tiredness but she is unsure whether it is the result of her condition or her age.
Isabella forgot the date when she was diagnosed with heart failure (HF) but says that it must have been around twenty years ago. She was in her sixties then and caring for her late husband who was ill and needed full-time support. She took the medication prescribed to her by the cardiologist but wasn’t very concern for her own condition. She was too busy looking after her husband. She feels that now she has slowed down’ but describes herself as someone able to do most things in comparison to others her own age.
After her diagnosis she used to attend check-up appointments at the hospital but her GP is a specialist cardiologist and she prefers to be looked after by him. She attends regular cardiology reviews at her GP surgery and occasionally makes additional appointments if she is feeling short of breath or experiencing a bit of pain. She has regular blood tests and her GP/cardiologist specialist told her that if the blood results were fine she was not going to be hearing from him. Every six to twelve months she attends the hospital clinic for scans, x-rays or other tests if and when are needed.
Isabella takes medication that helps with her shortness of breath but also manages by pacing herself and stopping what she is doing and just relaxing. She complains of tiredness and fatigue but thinks that maybe it is more related to age than heart failure. She has had no side effects from her medication. She has had hip replacement surgery.
The impact of heart failure on her quality of life appears to be minimal. At 85, Isabella is able to look after herself. She does all her housework (cleaning, cooking, and shopping) and she weekly walks about one to three miles downhill to go shopping but takes the bus on her way back. She used to walk up the hill but now she finds it difficult. Once a week she works as a volunteer in a church community group and once a month she goes out with friends and ex-colleagues for a meal or other social activities.
Her attitude has been to accept her condition and to work with it but not let it restrict her life. When her husband was alive and in good health, they used to travel abroad a lot – something she enjoyed very much. But as her husband condition deteriorated he couldn’t fly anymore so they started to take holiday in the UK instead. She continues holidaying in the UK with friends.