Susan2
20+ years since diagnosis
Age at interview: 60
Susan is a retired teacher who lives in Ontario with her husband. Susan’s heart issues began 32 years ago when she was just 28 years old. At the time she was one of just a few “young” heart patients on the heart unit. Genetic testing revealed that Susan’s family carried a gene that damaged the heart muscle – dilated cardiomyopathy. In the beginning Susan searched for programs that would help her get back on her feet, unfortunately there were not many programs the focused on those with issues related to the heart muscle. Susan manages her heart failure with medications. As well as CRT device which was implanted in 2022. Susan has been privileged to see many medical advances through her 30 plus years with heart failure she credits these advances with keeping her healthy such as remote monitoring programs, devices and medications. Susan says that in addition to a daughter, a wife and a teacher, heart failure is just another piece of who she is.
More content
- Stigma & Gender Bias – Susan2Susan2's heart diagnosis was missed while she was treated for pneumonia.
- Coping Strategies – Susan2Susan2's biggest lifestyle change was dietary changes - watching sodium and potassium.
- Finding Support – Susan2Susan2 recalls how nurses went above and beyond to help her celebrate her 5th wedding anniversary.
- Finding Information & Cardiac Rehab – Susan2Susan2 talks about difficulties locating and accessing cardiac rehab.
- Care Delivery – Susan2Susan2 talks about how her remote monitoring keeps her connected.
- Care Delivery – Susan2Susan2 describes how her local cardiologist works with her expert care team in a large urban centre.
- Diagnosis – Susan2Susan2's heart failure took months to diagnose as a young woman.
- Impact on Work, School, Finances – Susan2Susan2 talks about finding alternative funding as her benefit coverage is running out.
- Impact on Work, School, Finances – Susan2Susan2 took time off and dipped into savings to make it work.
- Heart Transplant – Susan2Susan2 describes the uncertainty of being on a transplant list.