Relationships and intimacy may be a concern, particularly for those starting home mechanical ventilation therapy. Ian and Lynda share their experience on how they have adapted to Lynda’s ventilation needs, while retaining their close relationship and devotion to one another.
Patient Story - FatimaFatima is in her late 70s and lives in Streatham, South London. Her two daughters, Saida and Zahda live nearby, with Zahda being her Mum’s main carer. In March 2020, Fatima was admitted to hospital and initially, it was thought that she had...
Patient Story - RosemarieRosemarie is 76 and a widow who lives in Shepton Mallet in Somerset. She lives next door to her daughter and two grandsons but doesn’t like to take advantage of them living so close and she likes to be as independent as possible. She was first...
Patient Story - PatriciaPatricia, 71 is retired and lives in Leeds. However, she spent many years living in South Africa working as an Administration Manager for an oil company. It was while she was in South Africa that she was diagnosed with alpha one antitrypsin...
Patient Story - ThomasThomas (82) and his wife Carmen live in North Tyneside. After experiencing pneumonia over 20 years ago, Thomas developed emphysema and bronchiectasis and was then given a COPD diagnosis. Thomas’ COPD has got progressively worse over the years and...
Patient Story - PatiencePatience (68) is originally from Kent but now lives in Blyth, Northumberland and is treated by the team in Newcastle at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. She was diagnosed with COPD and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) in 2011. She had been...
Patient Story - GrahamGraham, 66 lives in Elland near Halifax and is a retired plumber. He is a widower and lives with his two dogs. His late wife was an auxiliary nurse working on a respiratory ward, and he credits her with giving him strength and support when he was...
Patient Story - AndrewAndrew, 63 is a retired kitchen porter who lives in Bedminster with his wife and two grown-up sons. He was diagnosed with severe COPD in early 2011 after being admitted to hospital on New Year’s Eve 2010 with a chest infection. Shortly afterwards...
Patient Story - GillGill is 66 and she has lived in Plymouth for the past 50 years having moved to the city initially to go to college. She has two children, Robert who lives with her and Rosie who lives nearby with her family. Before her retirement, Gill was a...
Patient Story - Sarah/Fleur
Patient Story - SamFull story to follow for Sam, please view the video below:
Patient Story - MichaelMy name is Michael, I am 63 years old and live in Malton in North Yorkshire with my partner who has more recently also become my carer. In the earlier part of my working life I had a variety of jobs but in my mid-thirties began a career in...
Patient Story - AzizaAziza lives in Scunthorpe was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy Type 2 in 1996 when she was seven. It is a condition which affects the muscles and the respiratory system, and Aziza has used home mechanical ventilation since her diagnosis. One of...
Patient Story - CathCath is in her late forties and lives in Middlesborough with her partner, Carolyn and one of their two grown up children, as well as their three cats. She was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, type two when she was four. Her condition means...
Patient Story - Ian/RachaelIan and Rachael Flatt live in Green Hammerton in between York, and Harrogate with their two daughters Charlie and Izzy, and their cocker spaniel Nealla. Ian was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019. The condition affects the...
Patient Story - ChrisChris was formally a full-time GP but seven years ago he was diagnosed with bi-lateral phrenic nerve palsy – the phrenic nerve essentially, controls the diaphragm – the bellows for the lungs - and when the nerve stops working, patients will have...
Patient Story - SheilaI am 81 years old, a widow and live with my son in the beautiful Northumbrian countryside. A few years ago, I began experiencing bouts of ‘zonking out’, sleeping on an evening after dinner. This became progressively worse, and I contacted the GP...