“My heart hasn’t stopped,” says Katrina
Busy working in her family’s air conditioning business in greater Geelong, Katrina Tenne had little idea she was about to confront a disease that had already wreaked havoc on her family.
In 2021, Katrina noticed she was becoming exhausted and breathless for no apparent reason. She says that even the simplest tasks, like pulling the car seatbelt, had become taxing, eventually prompting a visit to her GP.
Aware of Katrina’s family history of heart disease, the GP referred her to a cardiologist for a range of tests, including an ultrasound to measure the speed and direction of blood flow within the heart and vessels.
This test confirmed a diagnosis of heart failure – a condition where the heart is no longer able to pump a sufficient volume of blood around the body due to a damaged or weakened heart muscle.
Katrina says that even though heart failure ran in her family, having claimed the life of her grandfather in his early fifties and affecting both her sisters and younger brother, she was shocked by the diagnosis.
“While I understood the genetic risk of heart failure, I never thought it would affect me. I am only in my fifties and have always been so energetic and full of life.”
“It’s a terrible disease. On my worse days, it’s hard to get off the couch. It’s like you are operating with low batteries and don’t have the energy to even walk.”
“It can be frustrating knowing that I can’t do some of the things I would like to because my body is fatigued. Sometimes the only option is rest.”
“Now that I’ve come to terms with the diagnosis, I’m focused on what matters most to me and my family and that’s making the most of the good days.
“I’m also focused on staying active, eating well and following my doctors advice on taking my medication..."
Katrina acknowledges that the term ‘heart failure’ can be confronting and at times confusing, with people assuming her heart has all but failed and she is on her last legs.
“I explain to friends and family that my heart hasn’t stopped, rather it’s weakened and doesn’t pump as strongly as it used to. This means that oxygen doesn’t always get where it’s needed.”
Katrina’s words of advice to people living with heart failure are to remain positive, stick to the medicine that doctors prescribe and embrace the good days “when it feels like your batteries are fully charged”.