Barbara

Age at interview: 66

Barbara is a 66-year-old woman with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, before receiving her formal COPD diagnosis, her COPD symptoms were not addressed because her doctor didn’t think it was necessary to test her for COPD. As Barbara’s COPD progressed, she kept pushing herself harder and harder to the point where she had a sudden cardiac arrest and ended up spending a month in the ICU. She experienced shortness of breath and after another cardiac arrest, she was diagnosed with heart failure. Heart failure has impacted all aspects of Barbara’s life. She was forced to leave her job and had to go on supplemental oxygen fulltime to save her lungs and heart. Living with heart failure, Barbara has to be extremely sensitive about how she’s feeling, her shortness of breath, her extreme fatigue, and her ability or inability to move around and do what needs to be done throughout the day. When her heart starts racing due to her shortness of breath, Barbara has to try to get her oxygen to the proper level and just wait until her heart rate goes down. She has since created a chronic illness peer support group on Facebook, called Catch Your Breath 60, where people can support each other as they are going through their illnesses. Barbara passed away in January 2024; our project team acknowledges and is grateful for her legacy and shared experiences in contributing to this project.

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More content

• Coping Strategies – Barbara
  Barbara learned how to use breathing to manage her symptoms and anxiety.
• Coping Strategies – Barbara
  Barbara talks about journaling to identify her symptoms.
• Mental Health & Emotional Support – Barbara
  Once Barbara realized the full impact of HF, it was the sorriest day of her life.
• Finding Information & Cardiac Rehab – Barbara
  Barbara talks about diet, exercise, and keeping positive.
• Finding Information & Cardiac Rehab – Barbara
  Barbara found respiratory rehab to be fabulous.
• Finding Information & Cardiac Rehab – Barbara
  Barbara journals her symptoms daily and then discusses with her doctor to learn.
• Reflections on Identity, Life and Death – Barbara
  Barbara was sure she'd have no value if she had to quit working.
• Care Delivery – Barbara
  Barbara attended virtual rehab multiple times, learning important skills to manage symptoms.
• Care Delivery – Barbara
  Barbara feels the healthcare system is broken, but sees herself as lucky.
• Impact on Work, School, Finances – Barbara
  Barbara felt replaced in '5 minutes'.