The people we talked to passed on messages of advice to others, based on their own experience. People are all different and what works for one person might not work for someone else (see'Reaching acceptance'). Here are their comments:
* Take someone with you to consultations - two sets of ears are better than one.
* Prevention is better than cure so pay attention to diet and exercise.
* Do things that you always did, but take it more slowly.
* Do as you are told by the doctors; take your medicine and do as much exercise as possible.
* Think about what you can do to help yourself and always ask questions.
* Take each day as it comes; do what you can and leave what you can't manage.
* Don't spent your time worrying, stay determined and always try.
* Take care of your partner and main carer and be patient with him/her.
* Concentrate on living and don't dwell on the future.
* Don't be afraid.
* Have a cry if you feel like it.
* Try to face your condition head on and say to yourself “I'm going to make the best of my life as it is”.
* Don't let it make you an invalid. You're the same as everybody else and you're not alone.
* It will be with you all the time so you've got to learn to put it to the back of your mind.
* Carry on as normal and hope for the best!
* Learn to live with it and slow down.
* Don't let having heart failure rule your life; just get on with your life.
* Accept it because if you don't you'll be struggling all the way through.
Last reviewed March 2010.
