The Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath has started a new support group for heart failure patients, offering them a chance to connect and share their experiences. The group, which recently held its first meeting, also provides patients with an opportunity to ask healthcare professionals any questions and receive advice about managing heart failure.
Sue Hounsell, a 61-year-old woman from Trowbridge, attended the first meeting. She said, “The meeting was really helpful. It’s great to talk to people who understand what I’m going through and share experiences with them. I also enjoyed the social side, and it’s reassuring to know I’m not alone in this.”
Sue, a former gym manager, first noticed her symptoms while working. “I’ve always been active, but I started feeling more out of breath when moving gym equipment,” she explained. “I couldn’t stop working because of my busy schedule, but I had to take frequent breaks. I also had pain in my abdomen, which caused swelling and discomfort.”
Sue’s condition worsened when she began having trouble breathing at night, especially when lying down. She decided to get checked and was seen by her GP, who sent her straight to the hospital.
“At RUH, I received excellent care. They took me for scans right away and ran several tests. It felt strange because I wasn’t in pain, but I struggled to breathe,” Sue recalled.
After spending two weeks at the hospital, doctors found that Sue had problems with two of her heart valves and that her heart wasn’t pumping blood effectively. She now takes medication to manage her heart failure symptoms.
“I still do light exercise and enjoy gardening, but I can only manage short sessions,” Sue shared. “I want others to know the symptoms of heart failure and to seek help early. The sooner you get treatment, the better.”
Heart failure occurs when the heart can’t pump blood properly. This often happens because the heart becomes too weak or stiff. It doesn’t mean the heart has stopped working; it just needs extra support to function better.
While heart failure is a long-term condition that worsens over time, it can often be managed for many years with proper care. Though it cannot usually be cured, treatment can help control symptoms and improve quality of life.
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