Using a Fitbit allows Louise to set walking goals and monitor her heart rate.
Written testimony
Disabled with Lupus, I’m limited in the activities I can do. I happened to buy a Fitbit the previous summer to encourage me to walk. When my cardiologist told me that I had Heart Failure in April 2020, I was stunned. I knew that all I could do was walk. I knew my Fitbit would tell me how I was doing, so I set a little goal to do 2,000 steps a day. I was feeling fine, and changed it fairly soon to 5,000 a day, and then 7,500. I could see my steps on the watch every day, and noticed that I could also see my heart rate as I walked. Something I had never thought about. I was amazed at what technology can do.
When COVID hit, many people looked for alternatives to the gym, myself not included. I heard about an online challenge that one could do and receive a medal on completion. I could choose a distance in a variety of countries, and also set the timeframe. The app would download my activity daily and show my progress. I needed to be motivated and accountable, so I chose a route and signed up. Yes, of course I thought I could walk the 1332km Ring Road around Iceland in one year! It’s now a work in progress. I never realized how important my walking would be in keeping me alive.
More content
- Advice for Women Experiencing Heart Failure – LouiseLouise said her biggest downfall was that she didn't ask for help from others.
- COVID Challenges – LouiseLouise relocated to a new city and could not see a cardiologist due to COVID.
- Surgery and Devices – LouiseLouise shares her story about being unsure about what device she had implanted.
- Surgery and Devices – LouiseLouise turns to Facebook for help with her ICD.
- Diagnosis – LouiseLouise was well into treatment before she heard the term 'heart failure'.
- Access – LouiseLouise describes the impact of having no cardiologists where she lives.
- Coping Strategies – LouiseUsing a Fitbit allows Louise to set walking goals and monitor her heart rate.