Lise had classic HF symptoms but it took over a year to get a diagnosis.
Transcript
It was just a year of complete confusion. I went to a heart function clinic. And I still didn’t get what was going on with me. And it took me a while. I didn’t understand the scope of it. And going to the clinic didn’t help me at all. I still didn’t have a clue. But it was quite funny because every time I sat in the patients’ room I would look and there was a big huge sign. And it would say if you have these symptoms, you’re in heart failure. And it had all my classic symptoms – it has the bloating, the weight gain, the tiredness, the fatigue, the brain fog. It had everything and I’m going tick, tick and how come nobody figured that out? How come nobody figured out that I was in heart failure, yet there was a sign in all of these places saying here’s heart failure and a cardiologist couldn’t even figure it out?
More from: Lise
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- Mental Health & Emotional Support – LiseLise says there's nothing out there for mental health for women with HF or their families.
- Stigma & Gender Bias – LiseLise (and her doctor) worried that her symptoms were all in her head.
- Coping Strategies – LiseLise uses meditation to manage pain and anxiety.
- Coping Strategies – LiseLise adapted her approach to exercise and works within her limitations.
- Mental Health & Emotional Support – LiseLise has always had psychological services upon receiving a heart failure diagnosis.
- Finding Support – LiseLise describes how her sisters' medical expertise lead to her being taken seriously.
- Impact on Daily Life – LiseLise made modifications to her activities to continue living life to the fullest.
- Diagnosis – LiseLise had classic HF symptoms but it took over a year to get a diagnosis.
- Heart Transplant – LiseLise speaks about not feeling ready for a transplant.
- Early Symptoms – LiseLise talks about the weight gain she experienced prior to receiving a heart failure diagnosis.