Profiles

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



Roger

Roger was diagnosed with AF ten years ago, and has not been able to work since due to his symptoms. He takes bisoprolol and warfarin and has had cardioversion and ablation procedures. He focuses on what he can do rather than what he cannot.

  • Background

    Roger is married and worked as a building and facilities manager until he was diagnosed with AF. Ethnic background/nationality: White.

  • Age at interview 60
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Jenny

    Jenny and James had never heard of AF, so when by chance Jenny noticed James irregular heartbeat, they dismissed it. James stroke turned both their lives upside down.' Jenny believes there should be a campaign to raise awareness of AF and stroke risk.

  • Background

    Jenny is an administrator within the property letting business and lives with her husband, James. She cared for James after he had a stroke due to undiagnosed AF. Ethnic background/nationality:...

  • Age at interview 55
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • James

    James was diagnosed with AF after he had a stroke which affected his right side. He had some irregular heartbeats a few weeks earlier but dismissed it. He has had one cardioversion and three ablations. He took warfarin before changing to rivaroxaban.

  • Background

    James is a surveyor and lives with his wife. He has one grown-up child. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 63
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Anne

    Anne had symptoms of AF for about six years before her diagnosis. Controlling her blood levels on warfarin was difficult. Now on rivaroxaban she has not had an episode of AF for two years. Other medication includes the beta blocker carvedilol.

  • Background

    Anne is a retired medical social worker and lives alone. She has three grown-up children and is a busy grandmother. Ethnic background/nationality: White.

  • Age at interview 71
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Carin

    Carin was given sotalol for her AF, but had side effects and stopped taking it after two years. After 18 months without an episode, she was upset to have one, and is now in permanent AF. Carin finds AF scary, and feels the condition is underestimated.

  • Background

    Carin is a retired nurse practitioner and lives with her husband. She has two grown up children. Ethnic background/nationality: White Dutch.

  • Age at interview 62
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Freda

    Freda first noticed symptoms lying in bed at night. She had to visit her GP a number of times before she was referred to a cardiologist. Her AF symptoms got worse after a long chest infection. Freda takes aspirin, plus a statin for high cholesterol.

  • Background

    Freda is a retired administrator and married with two grown-up children. Ethnic background/nationality: Japanese.

  • Age at interview 70
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Mary

    Mary has had palpitations for many years caused by a hiatus hernia. A recent episode lasting 5 hours led to hospitalisation. Against her consultant's wishes, she decided not to have cardioversion. She is currently taking warfarin and beta-blockers.

  • Background

    Mary is a retired teacher. She is widowed with one adult child. Ethnic background/nationality: White European (Italian).

  • Age at interview 84
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • David X

    David has had paroxysmal AF since 1999. He has had electrocardioversion, chemical cardioversion, and two catheter ablations In the past he has taken bisoprolol, clopidogrel, warfarin and rivaroxaban but now takes apixaban, flecainide and amlodipine.

  • Background

    David is a retired technical services manager within the electronics engineering industry. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

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

    Glyn was diagnosed with AF 8 years ago. Catheter ablations, a pacemaker, and antiarrhythmic medication have failed to control his AF. Unable to work, Glyn suffers anxiety and depression. He is critical of the standard of care he has received.

  • Background

    Glyn is a warehouseman. He is married with three children, including a teenage son with special needs. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 64
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Maggie

    An ablation restored sinus rhythm but Maggie still experiences arrhythmia and takes propafenone. Despite having had a minor stroke (TIA), she recently stopped taking aspirin after an intestinal bleed. AF has had a psychological impact on her life.

  • Background

    Maggie worked as a hotel manager but now works part-time as a medical receptionist. She is single. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 70
  • Sex/Gender Female