Our new cardiac arrest survivor booklet on Managing Fatigue after a Cardiac Arrest has just been released!
Donna Malley
We’re really proud of this booklet which has been written by our good friend and brain injury fatigue expert, Donna Malley. Donna is an Occupational Therapy Clinical Specialist and current Chair of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section Neurological Practice.
She has over 25 years’ experience working in the NHS and at the Oliver Zangwill Centre for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation where she developed her interest in fatigue. She has authored and co-authored a number of important publications regarding brain injury rehabilitation and fatigue and so is well placed to give advice on this subject.
The Booklet
Fatigue is clinically important, commonly misunderstood and the number one post-cardiac arrest sequelae that survivors report. This booklet aims to provide an overview of the current evidence base regarding factors contributing to persistent fatigue and the need for understanding an individual’s experience, the involvement of family and others, peer support and self-management.
The booklet talks about what fatigue is, why it occurs, how it affects survivor, how it can be managed and includes feedback from a survey that we recently undertook with over 200 survivors on their experience of fatigue.
This is an essential read for all cardiac arrest survivors and their families and is packed full of useful information and advice such as the following…
Initially, the booklet is available as a PDF which is downloadable on this page. If there is a requirement we will look into getting print copies made.
Feedback
We’ve had some great feedback from last nights preview in the SCA UK Facebook group but we’d love to hear your thoughts on this important publication for the cardiac arrest community.
Excellent leaflet and applicable to so many of us
Dawn
This a great booklet. Fatigue definitely was never mentioned to me at the outset and it’s only comparing side effects with others that I’ve been able to understand how common it is. I’ve never actually put it down to the SCA myself so that’s interesting. Had always put it down to my heart condition/meds.
Janey
Excellent information and advice. I wish employers would take account of this
Jonathan
just finished reading this and it coincides with everything I’ve learnt over the last year. So it makes me feel more relaxed about what I’ve learnt so far.
Richard
Design
A big thanks also goes out to Jo of Equalibrium Creative for her fantastic design work!
More on fatigue is available here.
After our first meet-up in February 2015, I realised I was not alone. It was the first time since my cardiac arrest the previous year that I had spoken face-to-face with someone who had experienced what I had. This was also true for my wife, who also happened to be my lifesaver. From that meet-up, the idea of SCA UK was born. Since then, we have achieved a considerable amount, primarily providing information, resources and support to others in a similar situation but also raising the profile of survivorship and the need for better post-discharge care. We are starting to get traction in this, and with the formation of the charity, I genuinely believe we have a bright future ahead and will make a significant difference in the lives of many who join our ranks.