Big Heart: Living Stories: Recent Episodes
David Bernobic
The name “Big Heart” has two meanings: It’s what physically happens to your heart when you have cardiomyopathy. It’s also what it takes to endure it, along with the many other hardships life can present. From cardiomyopathy to other challenges along the way, I initially thought having a big heart would be my biggest downfall. But I’ve learnt that it’s my biggest advantage, and in many ways has helped me be positive and live life well. I hope that through sharing my story and that of others, that you too can embrace your big heart.
This Episode I talk about my early diagnosis with Sub Aortic Stenosis and Coarctation , how that was corrected as a young child. Then as an Adult having to have surgery again to address Aortic stenosis and my journey to try and avoid open heart surgery for the 3rd time. The research lead me to finding out about Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.
This episode deals with challenging topics of depression and suicide, both of which personally have effected me during my life at different stages, loosing loved ones , being diagnosed with serious heart disease as a child then once again as an adult, all have a profound effect on your being. To survive a crisis I’ve learnt a few survival techniques that have served me well, once again I hope that my story can in someway resonate and maybe just help you.
In Episode Four of Big Heart: Living Stories, I delve into understanding the different perspectives people have when faced with a crisis. This understanding of perspective helped me navigate the frustration and sometime anger I had with friends and family at their seeming lack of understanding to my situation. Changing my perspective on my crisis helped me get clarity and enabled me to communicate how I was feeling to my friends and family with greater success.
I also talk about my new challenge dealing with Atrial Fribulation, what is is? how it effects me and can it be treated?
This journey with Atrial Fribulation also taught me to research, and ask questions , as treatments change, technology changes , medical science evolves.
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In Episode 3 of Big Heart: Living Stories I talk about coming home from hospital, and how it was very daunting for me, the fear of the unknown, being alone no longer with the safety net of the doctors and nurses!! Entering Cardiac rehab, learning about myself, learning to slow down , to take a breath, the do and the don'ts, when it came to diet, food ,exercise and all the new information being thrown at me, were all a challenge. I began to see living as a "New Normal". bigheart.myportfolio.com
In this Episode I discuss what happened after my Dilated Cardiomyopathy diagnosis. The way I felt, the stages of grieving I went through for my old self. How I almost gave up. Coming to terms with the changes that I now had to face, medications, the ongoing tests and the insecurity of what the “future” held ! Did I have a future? bigheart.myportfolio.com
This Episode discusses the beginning of my first living story about Cardiomyopathy. The events leading up up to my diagnosis . The warning signs leading up to my hospitalisation. The signs I ignored that my body was warning me with. Hopefully my story can help someone else out there recognize the signs of Cardiomyopathy and get medical attention before the problem has progressed. *In this episode I mention Broken heart syndrome and incorrectly call it Hashimotos Syndrome it is actually called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. bigheart.myportfolio.com