Isabel’s LVAD Experience

Isabel’s LVAD Experience

Isabel lived with heart failure for 11 years before having a heart transplant in 2021. Self-care and self-management continue to be essential to her health. As part of her journey, Isabel lived with an LVAD. In this video, Isabel talks about what it is like to have one, what the day-to-day, and her tips and suggestions for others who are about to get an LVAD.

Medication Management

Medication Management

People with more complex medical needs, like heart failure, may require multiple medications throughout the day. To ensure the safe, consistent, and effective use of medications, it is important to have a system in place. Proper medication management has numerous advantages for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers:

Sex and Intimacy

Sex and Intimacy

Sexual relations and intimacy are important to your well-being and relationships. You are not alone in thinking about sex and heart failure. In fact, about 2 out of every 3 people living with heart failure experience some issue with sex and intimacy. Some of the issues you may encounter are likely as a result of reduced desire and difficulty in engaging in different sexual activities. 

Organizations and Resources

Organizations and Resources

Canadian Adult Congenital Heart Network pools the knowledge and experience of congenital heart disease professionals in Canada and creates a community of individuals committed to caring for adults with congenital heart disease. 
Canadian Cardiovascular Society is the national voice for cardiovascular clinicians and scientists.

Hello. My name is Paula. I live every day with heart failure.

Hello. My name is Paula. I live every day with heart failure.

I was born with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. HOCM for short. Basically, it means my heart muscle is too thick, making it harder to pump blood. In 2008, my doctor noticed the murmur associated with my HOCM was getting louder. In 2010, I had to undergo an open-heart surgery to relieve the obstruction. Unfortunately, I had to undergo a second open-heart surgery in 2012, as the first surgery in 2010 was unsuccessful. I was medically managed until 2020 when I underwent a third open-heart surgery to replace the aortic and mitral valves.