Ulla Magnusson, Sweden

„I feel like I have won the lottery!“

Ulla Magnusson, today 80 years old, was implanted with an Optimizer® device for cardiac contractility modulation treatment of her chronic heart failure at Karolinska university hospital two years ago.

Ulla describes how fatigue and shortness of breath started to take over her life about 5 years ago and how it affected her everyday living: “It was exhausting and frustrating! When I was out walking and encountered the slightest hill I was exhausted. Even vacuuming at home gave me shortness of breath.” Ulla also describes how her disease affected and limited her and her family: ”You know, when you don’t feel well and it just keeps getting worse…when everything is exhausting and you feel you can’t do it, then you just avoid doing things.”
Ulla, who loves nature and outdoor activities describes how her disease severely limited her chances to enjoy this, she just couldn’t handle any slopes or hills on the way when walking.

2 years ago Ulla got the chance to participate in a study with Cardiac contractility modulation (CCM™) which was conducted, among other sites, at Karolinska University Hospital in Solna, Sweden by Professor Cecilia Linde. Ulla is very pleased with the way she was treated at Karolinska University hospital.

Ulla describes how the therapy has affected her:
“It has affected me very positively! Now when I am out walking it happens that I stop, look back and wonder. I could never have imagined walking up the hill or just walking anywhere without being exhausted. Now I don’t even think about the hills and slopes anymore. I love outdoor life and then you need to be in good shape. Last year I went to Kanada and the Rocky Mountains and even though I didn’t go hiking with a backpack or so it was high altitude and I had to be able to keep up with the group. The relief of being able to keep up with such a group…! I would never have considered doing this before!”

When asking Ulla whether she would recommend Cardiac contractility modulation treatment for others in her situation the answer is: ”Yes absolutely I feel like I have won the lottery given the chance to participate in this study!”