The Royal United Hospital in Bath has launched a new support group to bring together patients with heart failure to share their experiences of the illness.
The main entrance of the Royal United Hospital in Bath | Photo © RUH
The group, which recently held its first meeting, also gives patients the opportunity to ask clinical staff any questions they may have about heart failure and get advice.
Sue Hounsell, 61, from Trowbridge, was one of the patients to attend the first meeting.
She said: “The meeting was really good. It’s nice to be able to talk to people who know what you’re going through and share your experiences with them.
“I really enjoyed the social side too and it’s reassuring to know you’re not the only one going through this.”
Sue, a former gym manager, first noticed her symptoms while at work.
She said: “I’ve always been an active person, but I’d noticed that when I was moving equipment around at my gym that I was getting out of breath a bit more.
“I couldn’t stop work or take any time off as I had such a busy schedule, but I was having to sit down a lot more as I was continuously out of breath. I also had pain in my abdomen which was causing me discomfort and swelling.
“It was when I started having trouble breathing at night, especially when I was laying down, that I knew I had to get checked out.
“I got an emergency appointment with my GP and when he saw me he told me to go straight to the hospital.
“I went straight to the RUH, who were great. The care I received was exceptional – I was immediately taken straight for scans and had a lot of tests done too. It was strange, because I was never in pain at all, it was just the struggle to breathe.”
Sue spent two weeks at the RUH, where it was found she had problems with two of her heart valves and also that her heart wasn’t pumping blood around the body as effectively as it should.
Sue now takes medicine for her heart failure, which is helping to keep her symptoms under control.
“I still try to do some light exercise and do lots of gardening, which I love, but I can only do it for short periods of time, so it’s little and often.
“I’m really keen that people know what symptoms they should be looking out for and to make sure they seek help and advice as early as possible.
“The earlier heart failure is detected, the sooner you can get the treatment you need.”
Heart failure means that the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly. It usually happens because the heart has become too weak or stiff.
Heart failure does not mean your heart has stopped working. It means it needs some support to help it work better. It can occur at any age, but is most common in older people.
Heart failure is a long-term condition that tends to get gradually worse over time. While it cannot usually be cured, the symptoms can often be controlled for many years.
The main symptoms of heart failure are the ‘Three Fs’:
- Fighting for breath – breathlessness after activity or at rest
- Fatigue – feeling tired most of the time and finding exercise exhausting
- Fluid – swollen ankles and legs
Some people also experience other symptoms, such as a persistent cough, a fast heart rate and dizziness.
If you or someone you know are experiencing persistent or gradually worsening symptoms of heart failure, you should see your GP.
Tests can then be performed to check how well your heart is working, including scans and blood tests.
You can find more information on the NHS website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-failure/
