Profiles

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



Andrew

Andrew has had asthma and eczema since childhood. In middle life he developed pancreatitis, which led to diabetes 18 years later. He also has heart disease, a disorder of the adrenal glands, and prostate cancer. He recently had his appendix removed.

  • Background

    Andrew is a catholic priest. He is married with two adult children. Ethnic Background: White British.

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

    He had a minor stroke in 2001 and spent 3 days in hospital. He is allergic to aspirin and it took time after the stroke to find a blood thinning drug that he could tolerate. He asked to be tested for diabetes because of his family history; he started on insulin 2 years ago.

  • Background

    David is widowed with one child. He is a retired tax specialist. Ethnic Background: White.

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

    Ronald has diabetes and heart problems and has had an operation to remove his gall bladder. He thinks he also has a hernia but this has never been investigated or treated. His diabetes was controlled by tablets until he moved onto insulin 7 years ago.

  • Background

    Ronald is married with one grown-up child. He is a retired electrical craftsman. Ethnic Background: White.

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

    Eric found out he had heart trouble whilst holidaying abroad a few years after he had been diagnosed with diabetes. However, an enlarged prostate causes him most problems and he has to plan routes with accessible toilets. He has recently discovered he has a stone in his bladder.

  • Background

    Eric is a retired television engineer and sales manager. He is married with two adult children. Ethnic Background: British.

  • Age at interview 84
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Gogs

    Gogs was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and then a related lung condition. Becoming ill in retirement came as a shock as she had previously been healthy and had little contact with health services. Her RA is poorly controlled and she worries about an uncertain prognosis.

  • Background

    Gogs is a former advanced nurse practitioner who lives with her husband and has 2 grown up children. Ethnic background: White British.

  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Graham

    Graham was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 20 years ago. He mainly copes without medication through his own exercise regimen. He developed labyrynthitis following an allergic reaction to eye drops in hospital, and also has an irregular heartbeat.

  • Background

    Graham lives with his wife and runs his own business. He has 2 grown up children. Graham is a tutor on the Expert Patients Programme and believes that people need...

  • Age at interview 66
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Pat

    Pat has diabetes, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), an abnormal heartbeat and has had a skin tumour removed. Whilst she considers herself well for her age, Pat experiences everyday problems from IBS and diabetes which have complicated other illnesses and treatments.

  • Background

    Pat is a retired psychologist who lives with her husband. She has 4 grown up children, 2 of whom work in medicine and can be referred to for advice. Ethnic...

  • Age at interview 80
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Fred

    Whilst Fred has heart disease, diabetes and arthritis, his main day-day problems stem from Meniere's Syndrome, which affects his hearing and is characterised by unpredictable attacks. Fred has been in hospital for many operations since his forties.

  • Background

    Fred is a retired inspection engineer. He lives with his wife and has three grown up children in their 50s. Ethnic background: White English.

  • Age at interview 85
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Amy

    Amy has chronic pain and fatigue, diabetes and asthma, and has experienced a brain injury. She spent 7 months in hospital in 2013 being treated for necrotising pancreatitis, a life changing event resulting in the removal of most of her pancreas.

  • Background

    Amy lives with her family. Her health problems mean she is currently unable to work. Ethnic background: White Welsh.

  • Age at interview 25
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • John

    John had a heart attack at 52 after which he retired. A spinal condition has the biggest impact on his life. He is not allowed to take some of the recommended treatments because of his other health conditions. John advises people to talk to others about their health problems and seek advice on the Internet.

  • Background

    John is a retired consultant in microbiology. He has volunteered for patients groups and acted as a hospital trust board member. He is married with one grown up child. Ethnic...

  • Age at interview 77
  • Sex/Gender Male