An Interview with a CD patient - their story.

Conducted by our London Chapter founder, Feel Every Beat presents an interview we conducted with an anonymous patient who has been deeply affected by cardiovascular disease, as well as issues surrounding youth health equity.

Context:

The interviewee initially sought medical treatment after experiencing severe swelling in his knee. He was first misdiagnosed with arthritis affecting part of his body and later underwent knee replacement surgery in August 2016. Following complications from the procedure - which was itself incredibly complicated, he lost the ability to walk properly for a period of time. After several years of ongoing medical investigations and treatment, he was later diagnosed with heart disease and informed that he would require bypass surgery due to the seriousness of his condition. It was discovered that the condition he thought was concentrated in his knee had actually affected his whole body. This interview explores his resilient experiences with diagnosis, recovery, mental health support, healthcare communication, and the role of technology and patient services within cardiovascular care.

Q: How did you first find out that you had heart disease?

“At first, my knee became very swollen, and the hospital told me I needed a knee replacement. In August 2016, I underwent the operation, but unfortunately it was unsuccessful. After years of testing, the doctors eventually diagnosed me with arthritis and explained that it had affected not just my knees, but other parts of my body as well. A couple of years later, I was then diagnosed with heart disease. That was when my doctors told me that I would need a full bypass surgery, otherwise my condition could become critical. What made the whole experience difficult was that throughout the process, the explanations were often unclear, and it took years before I fully understood what was happening with my health.”

Q: What kind of advice or support were you given after your diagnosis?

“The main advice I received was to eat properly and take my medication on time. But apart from that, there was very little support for my day to day life. In terms of my mental health, I was mostly left to cope with everything on my own because there were no external support services offered to me. I believe hospitals should pay much more attention to mental health support, especially for patients dealing with serious heart conditions. This is even more important when the patient is young or is the main provider for their family. The emotional pressure can become overwhelming, but that side of the experience is often ignored.”

Q: Do you think your condition could have been identified or prevented earlier?

“Yes, absolutely. I believe there were earlier opportunities to prevent my condition from becoming worse. Even with the issues relating to my legs and arthritis, I feel that if my medical records had been reviewed more carefully and I had received the right attention earlier, some of what I went through could have been prevented. From my experience, the system often works by identifying a problem, giving a diagnosis, suggesting a treatment, and then continuing with that treatment once the patient givesconsent. But what happens to the patient afterwards, whether physically, emotionally, or financially, is often left for them to deal with alone.”

Q: Do you think hospital appointments and diagnosis processes sometimes take too long?

“Yes, I do. I think there are many situations where a patient’s condition can worsen while waiting for appointments, diagnosis, or treatment. There are different levels of seriousness when it comes to patients and their conditions, but sometimes doctors may not fully understand whether the patient themselves has understood how serious the situation actually is. Often, patients are given a diagnosis and medication, but there also needs to be more care and support mentally and emotionally.”

Q: Do you think the digital tools or apps recommended by hospitals are effective for patients?

“Personally, I did not find the apps and digital tools very useful. Technology today is very advanced, and I believe hospitals should make much better use of it. It should not only focus on the severity of a patient’s condition, but also help support their mental health and overall wellbeing.”

Q: Have you had access to any external support systems or services after your surgery?

“Not immediately after the surgery, no. But there are services available. In fact, my doctor recently sent me information about a group activity programme. Personally, I did not feel very interested in attending because I am not fully convinced it would be effective for me, but the services do exist. What I noticed is that it took quite a long time after my surgery for these kinds of support services to even be recommended to me. I believe healthcare systems should be much more advanced by now, especially with the level of technology we have today. Technology has developed so much, and I feel there is potential to support patients in far better ways than what currently exists. I also think younger patients especially need much more attention and support throughout the recovery process, both physically and mentally. Hopefully in the future the healthcare system will reach a much higher level in terms of patient care, communication, and support services.”

Closing Reflection - Written by Umavi Pagoda | Feel Every Beat London Chapter Founder |

Throughout the interview, the patient repeatedly highlighted the importance of clearer communication, earlier intervention, mental health support, and better use of technology within healthcare systems. While he acknowledged the medical treatment he received, he felt that much of the emotional and personal burden following diagnosis and surgery was left for patients to manage on their own.

He also expressed concern for younger patients and families dealing with long term cardiovascular conditions, emphasising the need for healthcare systems to become more patient focused, technologically advanced and emotionally supportive in the future.

This Article is intended for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice.