Pumping Marvellous

If you know what a Bounty Pack is then visualise this as a concept if you don’t put Bounty Pack into Google and you will find out about it. Pumping Marvellous has developed a Heart Failure Toolkit which will help Heart Failure patients along with their carers and families to manage this long term condition.  It is a lifelong toolkit for self-management.

We would like to have your thoughts and have therefore put the project out for consultation. We would like you to tell us what you think should go into this toolkit, what you would expect to see in this toolkit if you were a newly diagnosed patient, a carer or member of the family.

All feedback and recommendations are well received and hopefully we can pull as comprehensive a pack together and make a real difference to patients and the way they manage their Heart Failure in the community.

1,000,000 people in the UK suffer from Heart Failure and over 6,000,000 in the US. You may know one and if you do give some thought to some feedback that could make a real difference.

Contact us via a Facebook post  or email hearts@pumpingmarvellous.org or friend us on twitter @pumpinghearts and send us a DM.

Thanks for considering this, the Trustees.

First Aid is such an important part of everyday life and you never know when you will need it. Pumping Marvellous has teamed up with the British Red Cross to offer Heart Failure patients and their carers free to attend dedicated First Aid workshop days in Burnley. If you would like to book then please contact Pumping Marvellous via heart@pumpingmarvellous.org

Would you know how to help in an emergency? The British Red Cross website has videos so you can learn what to do in numerous first aid situations.

You will find a series of videos being posted on the site over the next couple of days which demonstrate simple first aid in difference situations. We hope you find this useful and we will being telling people of the days shortly so keep a look out. Remember it is free for Heart Failure patients and carers through Pumping Marvellous.

Heart FailurePatients survival kit in Winter

Pumping Marvellous for Heart Failure Patients

We have decided to re-post this post from last year as we recieved some good feedback from Heart Failure Nurses on how informative it was for Heart Failure Patients and Carers and how well it had been received. We have tinkered with it a little so we think this version is good to go for the whole of the winter period.

We will keep posting this throught the Winter Period and we will try and make this available in PDF format soon on our main site www.pumpingmarvellous.org

As you maybe aware cold weather is not good news for Heart Failure patients. We thought you may find this “tool kit” useful as it is important to look after yourself during the cold weather and winter months. Firstly before we give you advice you have to realise you are more vulnerable than others. Understand and accept it. When you have done this then carry on.

Pumping Marvellous Winter Heart Failure Tool Box

• Make sure you have had your regular seasonal flu jab at the Doctors, you should have also received a pneumonia jab as well.
• Hat, scarf and gloves – always carry these as they prevent you loosing heat at your extremities but also if you are on beta blockers you are more susceptible to cold fingers and toes.
• I know this may sound far fetched but make sure you have a fully charged mobile / cell phone with  you when you go out, if you don’t have a mobile / cell phone then tell your carer where you are going and what time you expect to be back, if you don’t have a carer tell your neighbour.
• If bad weather is expected and you have to make a car journey, make sure you take your tablets with you and a bottle of water to swill them down with.
• If you are susceptible to the cold air and get breathless – wrap a scarf around your face, it’s very fashionable with the Inuit
• Make sure if you are going out on that car journey you take a coat, hat and gloves, however short.
• Have a letter in the car with your up to date prescription and diagnosis just in case.
• The last thing you want to happen is get stuck in the snow in your car however there are a number items that may help you out, these include Snow Socks for your car tyres, body warming packsand snow shovels.
• If there is bad weather predicted make sure you have a stock of medicines so that if you can’t get to the Doctors or Pharmacy then you have sufficient stock.
• Make sure your car is prepared for the winter months reducing the risk of breaking down. Visit the RAC to find out more.
• I know this is a tough one to explain but if you are worrying about the cost of heating your house due to the ever rising fuel bills then go somewhere where you can keep warm like the pub/bar or the supermarket for a cup of coffee or a cafe and have a cup of tea. I know it’s not easy but it does make sense. If this is not possible, don’t heat the whole house/flat just heat the rooms you need.
• Wrap up warm in your house – fashion doesn’t make sense in the house nobody can see you so wear thick jumpers, a double layer of socks and thermal underwear. A lot of the discount clothing retailers are touting for your business at the moment and there are some really good deals on Winter clothing at the moment. Stores include Asda George, Primark, Matalan, Tesco Clothing, Sainsburys Clothing, TK Maxx and Peacocks, the list goes on…
• Make sure you have some of the basics in your kitchen cupboard. Pumping Marvellous top 10 essentials

1. Long Life Milk
2. Part Baked Bread Rolls
3. Low Salt Baked Beans
4. Low Salt tinned soup
5. Tinned fruit in juice not syrup
6. Frozen Vegetables in the freezer if you have a freezer or tinned vegetables in water
7. 10 litres of drinking water if your pipes freeze
8. Packets of Rice and Pasta with a good selection of spices
9. Tinned Tomatoes
10. Eggs

Make sure you explain to your carer how the cold effects you so they can pick up on the warning signs.

The motto is if the weather is too bad then it can wait.

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Don’t forget your Carer at Easter

It’s the little things that matter and an easter egg for your carer is a lovely token of your appreciation of the help they give you. So don’t forget about your Carer at Easter they have a life as well.

This was post that was suggested by my wife who is sat on the sofa next to me – better get to the shops then.

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Carers 12 Days of Christmas Special – Day 11

Get out once a week and go somewhere enjoyable. Visit the local coffee shop, take a class, visit a friend or just wander around doing some shopping or a stroll park. If your loved one needs constant attention, ask for help. You can find someone to give an hour a week to let you get out.

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Carers 12 Days of Christmas Special – Day 10

Stay connected with the outside world, even if it’s just by phone or online. Don’t isolate yourself. Talk to friends about something other than your situation. Stay interested in what would be going on in your life if you weren’t carer. It’s still there and you’re still a part of it.

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Carers 12 Days of Christmas Special – Day 9

Keep all your medical and dental appointments.

Do all you can to keep from getting sick. If you’re sick, you won’t be able to do what your loved one needs. Ask for help when you need it to get away and take care of your health.

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Carers 12 Days of Christmas Special – Day 8

Keep humor in your life.

Laughter is good medicine.

Find the humor in your situation when possible, watch a silly TV program or pop in a funny movie. Find things to laugh about with your loved one. They need joy too! Laughing quickens the pulse rate, stimulates the blood circulation, activates muscles, increases oxygen intake and helps you relax. If you’ve forgotten how to laugh, try to be around people who still know how.

Laughter’s contagious!

Carers 12 Days of Christmas Special – Day 7

As a carer, you need to communicate with many people to keep going. You’ve got to connect with family, friends, co-workers, employers, healthcare professionals, insurance companies and a loved one who may not be the same person he or she used to be. Constructive and effective communication is vital. When your communication is clear, assertive and constructive, you’re more likely to be heard and get the response you need. Your stress level and the added responsibilities are going to make it harder to stay focused, articulate your needs and feelings and make sure you understand what everyone is demanding from you. You’ll need to stay organized, have patience and control conflicting emotions. Here are some basic guidelines for good communication.

General Communication Tips

• Be assertive, honest and patient. You’ve got a long road ahead. You need support from your loved one and those who will be on your team.
• Use “I” messages rather than “you” messages. By saying “I feel angry” rather than “You made me angry,” you can express your feelings without blaming others or causing them to become defensive.
• Respect the rights and feelings of others. Don’t say something that will violate another person’s rights or intentionally hurt the person’s feelings. Recognise that the other person has the right to express feelings.
• Be clear and specific. Speak directly to the person. Don’t hint or hope the person will guess what you need. People are not mind readers. When you speak directly about what you need or feel, you take the risk that the other person might disagree or say no to your request, but your action also shows respect for the other person’s opinion. When both parties speak directly, the chances of reaching understanding are greater. Be a good listener. Listening is the most important aspect of communication.
• If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. If you’re not getting your point across, or you’re getting no response, try again later. Sometimes, it’s just not the right time.

Communicating With Your Loved One
It can be frustrating, sad and frightening. Even if your loved one can express himself or herself, there may be some type of role reversal involved when you become a caregiver. Print out these tips and add them to your notes to read over when you get frustrated.

Communicating With Your Family
The illness and dependency of a loved one can strain family relationships. Additional stress may result as family members sacrifice time and money as a result of caregiving. Emotions may run high when everyone is frightened and concerned about the situation, and nerves may be on edge. Roles may be reversed. The best intentions of families can sometimes lead to misunderstandings, resentment and fear. Start the process of good communication by holding a family meeting. Then minimize misunderstandings by keeping communication with family members open, honest and constructive.

Communicating With Healthcare Professionals
The relationship you build with the healthcare professionals caring for your loved one can make a big difference in your loved one’s recovery and in your ability to understand what you can and can’t control about the situation. It’s very important for you to build and nurture this relationship and for the doctors to clearly understand your role with the patient.

Communicating With Friends
Your friends want to know how you’re doing and how they can help. Don’t shut them out. You need them for emotional support and to help you keep living your life.

Communicating With Employers
You’ve got to keep your job, but it’s always being interrupted by your caregiving responsibilities. You’re tired, irritable and can’t focus on the work the way you used to. How are you going to balance work and be a carer? For some, it isn’t possible, and hundreds of thousands of caregivers have to adjust their work life to suit their caregiving role. However, if you can’t afford to lose your job, we’ve got some tips to help you educate your employer and remain a valuable contributor to the company without neglecting your loved one.

Communicating with Other Carer

This is a very important part of being a carer. Talking to others who are experiencing the same thing is more helpful than you can imagine. Strike up conversations at the doctor’s surgery while you’re waiting for your loved one. The person sitting next to you may be as overwhelmed as you are and could need to talk to someone as much as you do.  Pumping Marvellous offers Carer forums where carers can sit around a talk to other Carers in the same situation and share experiences, we also bring guest speakers as well who experts in areas of caring.

A big tip is – “Feel the fear and do it anyway”

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Carers 12 Days of Christmas Special – Day 6

Food is ever so important – you are what you eat

Stress can affect eating habits in different ways. Some people will eat anything they can get their hands on, particularly carbohydrates. Others tend to go into a “starvation” mode and not eat much at all. These are both normal reactions, as our bodies behave differently when we are chronically stressed. However, neither of these responses will help relieve stress or contribute to a healthy body and mind.

Maintaining good nutrition habits is tough for anyone, but it’s especially difficult for a carer. Often your loved one is on a special diet or has a particularly selective appetite. There may be other family members to feed, and your time and energy are certainly limited. But you’ve still got to eat correctly. Good nutrition is a habit that you have to consciously cultivate. It begins at the supermarket. Learn to read labels. Start buying foods that benefit your body and mind. If you don’t bring it home, you can’t eat it.

You can train yourself to eat right, one food at a time. Your goals should include foods low in saturated fat, transfat, cholesterol and sodium (salt), and lots of fruit and vegetables every day, whole-grain/high-fiber foods, lean meats, poultry, fish (at least twice per week), and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. You should also use monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Also, cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars and salt. If you’re not going to eat much, at least eat smart. Foods that have a lot of “bang-for-the-buck” include deeply colored fruits and veggies (e.g., spinach, broccoli, carrots, berries and peaches), whole-grain/high-fiber foods (e.g., whole-wheat, oats/oatmeal and brown rice), oily fish (e.g., salmon, trout and herring).

Vegetables and fruits are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber — and they’re low in calories. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables may help you control your weight and reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease by lowering your blood pressure. Eat deeply colored vegetables and fruits because they tend to be higher in vitamins and minerals than others.

Related articles

• Carers 12 Days of Christmas Special – Day 6 (pumpingmarvellous.com)
• Eating Your Way to Heart Health (everydayhealth.com)
• Helpful Hints to Instill Healthy Nutrition Habits for Children (prweb.com)