Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Anne

Anne was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and heart failure 2¬Ω years ago after experiencing breathlessness on exertion. She has a biventricular pacemaker and receives a weekly automated telephone call from a specialist nurse to check how she is.

  • Background

    Anne is married with adult children. She is a retired sick children’s nurse. Ethnic background: White British.

  • Age at interview 73
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Philip

    Philip developed breathlessness and tiredness after having two heart attacks and a cardiac arrest. He takes multiple medicines, has had lots of stents fitted, a defibrillator implanted, and his heart function has been improved by an experimental stem cell treatment.

  • Background

    Philip is married and used to work as a facilities manager but was forced to stop working ten years ago after having a cardiac arrest as he was considered a...

  • Age at interview 52
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Roger

    Roger was diagnosed with heart failure 18 months ago after complaining of breathlessness on lying down, and having a heart attack. He had previously been diagnosed with COPD. As part of research into telemonitoring he has measured his weight and blood pressure daily.

  • Background

    Roger is married with grown up children. He works as a painter and decorator has reduced his working hours as a result of his health problems. Ethnic background: White British.

  • Age at interview 68
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Rose

    Rose was diagnosed with heart failure after a heart attack 14 years ago. She has an implanted defibrillator to regulate her heart beat, which is monitored by a machine at her bedside. She is visited at home by a specialist nurse once a month.

  • Background

    Rose is widowed with four grown up children. She used to work as a mailing hand encloser but was forced to retire eight years ago because her poor health prevented...

  • Age at interview 65
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Norman and his wife Elaine

    Norman has lived with heart failure for many years. He is on his second pacemaker and is due to have an operation soon to try to re-establish a blood supply to the damaged part of his heart. He is on multiple medicines and uses oxygen. Despite the limitations that his conditions brings, Norman tries to maintain a positive outlook.

  • Background

    Norman is a retired taxi proprietor. He is married to Elaine and they have grown up children. Ethnic background: White British.

  • Age at interview 73
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Beth

    Beth was diagnosed with heart failure 4 years ago after becoming breathless and increasingly tired. She has since had two heart attacks and developed angina and vascular disease in her legs. Inflammatory arthritis causes her constant pain and limits her mobility.

  • Background

    Beth is divorced and has grown up children. She had to give up her paid job as an NHS administrator because of her health problems but now does part time...

  • Age at interview 57
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Richard

    Richard was diagnosed with heart failure in 2006 after becoming breathless and tired. He had had a heart attack 16 years previously and has had two operations on his heart. His heart failure is currently well controlled with medicines and he is happy with the way it is managed but feels frustrated that his condition limits his activities.

  • Background

    Richard is a retired university teacher. He is widowed and has grown-up children. Ethnic background: White English.

  • Age at interview 70
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Peter

    Two years ago Peter developed breathlessness at night and fluid retention. A blood test revealed heart failure. He had previously had three heart attacks and been treated for atrial fibrillation. He attends nurse led heart clinics several times a year and also sees a cardiologist annually.

  • Background

    Peter is a retired university tutor and is married with grown up children. Ethnic background: White English.

  • Age at interview 67
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Sab

    Sab thinks that the investigation of a chest pain saved him from a heart attack that was about to happen. He had several tests including an ECG and an angiogram. The angiogram confirmed that he had coronary artery disease. Six months ago he underwent Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery (CABG). He joined his local cardiac rehabilitation programme and increased his exercise routine gradually Sab was originally interview for heart attack but some of his experiences like what it's like having an angiogram and an angioplasty are also relevant to heart failure patients.

  • Background

    Sab is married with four grown up children and several grandchildren. He is semi-retired and works occasionally as a minibus driving assessor for his county council. Ethnic background Asian.

  • Age at interview 65
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Mahendra

    Mahendra was first diagnosed with endocarditis and in 1994 had major heart surgery to replace the Mitral and Aortic valves. His symptoms of palpitations, breathlessness and dizziness were managed with medication and regular check-ups but they gradually began to worsen. In 2007, Mahendra had an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) fitted to help with his symptoms.

  • Background

    Divorced, lives on his own and has a network of family and friends in the area where he lives. He went back to work full-time as a security officer after...

  • Age at interview 59
  • Sex/Gender Male