www.heart2hearts.co.uk

[chan.atkinson]

Hi all,
I am a second year medical student at the university of Warwick, and as part of my degree I need to write a dissertation on a subject of my choosing. I have chosen to write about cardiac transplant, and would like to talk to some patients who are either waiting for a heart tranplant, or have had a heart transplant, about their experiences, and the medical reasons for which they need(ed) a transplant etc.
As part of my dissertation I have to attach 3 case reports, and so some of the information I obtain may be used as part of my dissertation, although any such information would be assigned to initials only to maintain confidentiality. I am hoping that some of you will be able to help me with this!
I would be happy to speak to anyone that lives reasonably close to Leamington Spa, up to 50 miles radius, or if you live quite far away, it would be great if you email your story to me.
Thank you for your time in reading this, and I look forward to hearing from you.
_________________
Chantal Atkinson
2nd year Medical Student
Warwick Medical School

[cathy]

My son is waiting for a transplant, he got the LVAD in July 2008. He would be a good one to chat with. He is single and tryiing to do all he can alone but it takes a family to get thru this. CAthy

[jaxx]

HI there having had a lvad and knowing people who are on this live saving treatment i belive that family support is a majer thing in overcomming the emotional sopport you need. All i can say is i know how you feel and just hang in there and you will get your transplant hopefully very soon, I had my transplant in june 2008 at papworth hospital and after being very ill for a few months and being in hospital for about 9 months myself it is a testing time for you and your family but i hope it comes all good in the end. Take care and hopefully i will hear from you soon...
_________________
jw

[knight85]

hi all, god no's what section this ment to be under but hey, its b okay in here i think!
I was 16 when i was diagnosed with heart failure and valve damage, it changed my life so much and was so hard to get us to, with all the medications and things you cant do what you want to do ! but then i became stronger and carryed on with life as normal as possible which has been hard at times but you gota get on with it and think posative because we are still here and theres a lot more people what are a lot worse off, so always think posative, its dam hard sometimes but do try! any way im now 24 and got settled down with my partner but ever since we moved in together iv been getting weaker and weaker by the weeks and now faceing up2 another fitness tests whythenshaw hospital, and if the results arent good there then its an appiontment with the transplant team, which is absorlutely scarey as hell, even tho from day 1 the docs have said that the medication should work for up2 10years and then body would and might start rejecting the meds and the only out come was for a transplant, its absorlute nockt me for 10, and was just wondering if any1 could help me with a little bit of advise with things! im so scared about going for an op and maybe it not go good and 4 me not to see mi partner again and what she has to go through!!! gota give massive thanks to whythenshaw hospital to sister coppinger doctor brooks & williams and doctor best at burnley hospital there the best and helpt me so much Hope every what is going through all of these hard times get threw them with happyness and all the best to every1