September Social Check-In ☀️

[Amy-BHF]

Hello everyone,

The sun has (finally) come out, but now I'm feeling the heat! I'd love to share with you our information on keeping cool in the heat with heart conditions:

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

How do you cope with the heat at the moment?

I'm going to be taking some annual leave this month to visit family, so I'd like to welcome Luke from BHF into our community. He'll be working with our clinical nurses, moderators and customer care team to keep the community an enjoyable and safe space to support each other's experience.

Welcome, Luke! Luke_BHF

Warmly,

Amy at BHF

[Hidden]

Have a great family time AmyThanks for the cooling tips Im certainly struggling in the heat today, Im finding sparkling water with tiny dash of lime cordial a nice refreshment

Welcome Luke

[RufusScamp]

What is this "heat" of which you speak? Rain this morning, and just got over 20C this afternoon. I think I remember this sun thing!

[Qualipop in reply to RufusScamp]

We had a shower at 7.30am yesterday which simply covered my car with sand as well as the house windows and the plants. I had t o go out once the sun had moved round and hose everything down. - even turned the hose to a fine spray on myself.

[RufusScamp in reply to Qualipop]

My car is covered in fine sand too.

[Qualipop in reply to RufusScamp]

Well wash your screen before using the wipers or it will scratch. Papers said it had blown over from the Sahara again.

[RufusScamp in reply to Qualipop]

Thanks for that. I'll do it first thing tomorrow.

[Turnipgirl]

Today I decided I would be brave and get the 8.30 bus to Penarth where I had a job interview at 11.30am this morning and if I don't get the job I won't be heartbroken over it!

I enjoyed a lovely walk along the seafront and the cliff tops as well.

Coming home there was a crowded bus but I managed to survive it!

[Hidden in reply to Turnipgirl]

Good luck with the job, my Mum lived her later years in Cardiff where we loved to take her to Penarth for some sea air and an ice cream, or two lol , we also loved Coffee#1 and that Scandinavian bakery round the cornerHave a good day

[Blearyeyed in reply to Turnipgirl]

Sound lovely , it was very grey and muggy in North Wales yesterday but has brightened up again today so I'm just waiting for the midday heat to clear and hoping to go to walk on the beach myself. I'm even planning a bit of paddling.

Good luck with the job, even if you don't get it just taking the step of going for an interview and taking a bus is a big achievement.

Hugs , Bee

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Blearyeyed]

My bruv's coming to get me at 6:30pm tonight when he finishes work to go for a paddle an ice-cream and a drive! 😂

[Blearyeyed in reply to Cee-Cee1]

I've just got back from the beach too.The water was so lovely and warm I wish I'd been dressed for a swim .

I did manage to get in some exercise though and instead of paddling I went in knee deep and I did some aqua walking along the full length if the beach , great bit of low impact resistance training for my legs while keeping cool. Then I walked the beach again to dry off in the sun.

There was a lovely breeze and we got to walk a heron fishing in the turning tide.

No ice cream shop near my favourite beach , unfortunately, but I've made a nice strawberry quark mousse for after my dinner.

What flavour did you go for? And what's your favourite?

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Didn't get an ice-cream in the end, B, although vanilla's my favourite. We had a really nice drive through the mountains, went to the beach, he & I had a paddle while my amazing sis-in-law looked after our shoes. It was glorious and home in time for the final of Masterchef too. Lovely evening all in all. 😀

[currycurrycurry in reply to Cee-Cee1]

it was lovely to see Wynne wynning!! lol... im literally just into this group this morning and it's great that there's a social group as well as help and support for us people with heart problems!! ❤

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to currycurrycurry]

Hi Curry - it's lovely to see you here too! I was tickled pink with Wynne winning - he was my very favourite from the start - and I've always liked him. Carol

[Turnipgirl in reply to Blearyeyed]

Worst thing that happens at interview is you don't get the job and the sky won't come crashing down when that happens!

Thing is with job interviews more are disappointed than not!

[RaquelSpain]

I live in Spain and our heatwave in August was well in to the 40s. It is not the heat I find an issue but the humidity. I drink lots of water, not too cold as I find the cold hitting my stomach can make me feel queezy. I eat fruits and veg with a high water content, tomatoes, water melon, also Gazpacho soup, salads etc.

[Valentina98 in reply to RaquelSpain]

I'm half Spanish, my Mum is from Sevilla I lived there for a couple of years about 10 years ago

I had family saying it was too hot even for them.

I don't mind the hot weather it's humidity I don't like

V x

[RaquelSpain in reply to Valentina98]

It is the humidity that I have a problem with. The constant sweating, sleeping on a towel and not being able to get dry after a shower. You never feel comfortable and clean.

[Qualipop]

Well I have tried everything suggested on that link and still f eel really ill in the heat. Sweat just pours from my forehead and neck areas. I don't sweat anywhere else. When we had the last heatwave I ended up taking a sachet of dioralyte every couple of days. Even before heart problems I could never cope with it; well not the heat but the humidity. I had a holiday in California where I was really scared to go to the beach when it was in the 90s F but I was absolutely fine because it was a dry heat. It's the humidity that really gets me. How do you deal with that?

[Blearyeyed in reply to Qualipop]

Increasing your fluid intake and sometimes Electrolytes is a good idea if you do sweat a lot in hot weather and feel the symptoms of it ( as long as you know you haven't got a salt problem).I make a few little spritz bottled up of sparkling water (the cheap stuff) one plain and one with a little peppermint or lavender oil in and keep them in the fridge , then I pop them in my bag when I go out. I also put a lightweight chiffon scarf or bandana in my bag.

If I get hot I spritz the back of my neck , ankles and wrists to cool off and spritz the scarf to put round my neck , it helps to cool you down quickly ( much quicker than wetting your head) and reduce the sweating.

I also keep one of those battery mini fans in my go bag too.

I only wear light natural fabrics in the heat. And unlike Mad Dogs and Englishmen I keep out of the sun between 11.30 - 2.30.

[Qualipop in reply to Blearyeyed]

Tried all of those apart from the post above eating watermelon. I can only shop once a week. It will probably have gone by next Thursday. I'm not keen on taking dioralite every day. Just had to go out and hang up two shirts on the line and came in feeling sick.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Qualipop]

I know what you mean , my shopping delivery arrived at lunchtime, I planned it then because I knew it would be too hot to be outside at that time of day.Still , it's so warm I feel like I've done two hours of Cardio putting the stuff away.

[Qualipop in reply to Blearyeyed]

I Just did a load of washing and only hung two things out. I couldn't bear it. It's hot enough indoors to dry the rest.

[Blearyeyed]

Welcome Luke.I thought I'd add a suggestion here inspired by a post in the last few days for you and the Admin Team to read and consider.

People were asking if there are any face to face or online Heart Social Groups that they could join in their areas.

I did say that you can find out about these groups on the BHF website but I also remembered that many HU forums put up a post on HU to let people know when the different local groups meet ( online or face to face) so HU members can get the chance to join them more easily.

My question is , would it be possible for either you or Amy to put up a weekly Social Check in post instead of a monthly one including a list of all the local Heart social groups that have their meetings that week ,with the time and place included , so it's easy for us to see and possibly join up.

If anyone else reads this and likes the idea of having a post like that please press the like tab below so that Admin know others support this idea .

Thanks for your consideration, Bee

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Blearyeyed]

That's a great idea, Bee - I'd love to know if there's any groups in my locality in Northern Ireland.

[Ramilia in reply to Blearyeyed]

That's a good idea, Bee. Hopefully, Luke_BHF will see your post soon.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Ramilia]

Yes , hopefully , any little thing that can help make it easy on people getting the help they need is worth it, hugs , Bee

[Blearyeyed]

😆😆😆😆😆 very funny

[Yumz199725]

😅😂😂😂😂

[Valentina98 in reply to Yumz199725]

😂😂😂😂

[Beta70 in reply to Yumz199725]

Mother centipede to baby centipede "How many more times do I have to tell you to hurry up and get ready to go out splashing in puddles?" Baby centipede "I heard you the first time, I am just putting my wellies on!"

[Yumz199725 in reply to Beta70]

😆

[MyHF]

🎺 🪘 🎸 keep on rocking onemanbanned!! Living the dream!!😂

[Yumz199725]

Have the worst pain in my foot so bad i can't walk 😔💔. Some how still did 17, 000 steps, and before you say that's probably why it's not it hurt way before I did that many steps. If pain isn't gone by tomorrow I will be going to A&E 😭, so not the time for this I have my scan on Monday and cant even walk 😭. Honestly don't know what to do 😩😳😒😕. I can't put my full weight on my foot with out a sharp pain in my foot did 111 online said to go A&E so will be doing that tomorrow or should I say in a few hours. Gona try and sleep now.

[Tos92 in reply to Yumz199725]

How are you feeling today Yumz? Is the foot any better?

[Yumz199725 in reply to Tos92]

Hi tos i went to A&E was barely there for 5 minutes and they told me to leave and elevate my foot and put ibuprofen gel on my foot it's helping and I can actually walk with only a small amount of pain xx hope your keeping well ❤️

[Hidden]

Wow yumz199725 that's a pain. Strangely I used to find and still do at 73 after playing social tennis and covering 15000 + steps I would suddenly get a sharp pain in my foot and I could hardly walk! This would wear off after a while and I hope you experience a similar outcome.

As far as this hot weather is concerned I looked round the guys I play tennis with last Wednesday and took one look at them. They vary in age from 60 to 80 I've had a double Bypass John's had s triple Bypass half of them have stents and the government is advising us to stay indoors!

Anyway looks like the summer ends tomorrow and we can get back to clouds rain and the odd glimpse of the 🌞 sun!