Hi, I have just been diagnosed with Heart Failure, when my Gp took Bloods He told me it was very elevated, and my ECG showed a few blips? Whatever that means, I am due for an Echocardiogram, next month, and I suppose this will tell how it is, well at least I am not dead yet, {sorry] bad joke.
Can anyone tell me what is elevated in the blood taken?
I wonder if it was the Brain Natriuretic Peptide?
Hi, Oyster, I think you could be right, The Doctor told me it was very elevated with the emphasis being on the elevated, It scared the life out of me, I was getting the worse heartburn pain I have ever had, It was so bad I was gripping my chest to try and stop it, No relief came, even why I tried Heartburn Medication.
I don't want to be alarmist or frighten you but if you are getting chest pain/discomfort of that severity particularly if you have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, pain going into your arms or jaw, feeling sweaty and clammy, palpitations etching you need to consider calling 999
Hi, Radagast I am really worried, it is not the chest pain I expected to have, It did not radiate down my arms or neck, It felt deep, It didn't last for long and I felt quite silly, I know with Heart Failure, men get pain Women get really severe Heartburn, Which Is what I have had for a while now, It was severe enough for me to hold myself and wait to see if it goes, I have had it on and off for weeks now, But am having an Echocardiogram on the 10th October, So hopefully I was. glad I told my Gp what was happening, otherwise who knows what would happen.
I'm not aware of any specific reason why women should get severe heartburn with heart failure
Any pain would typically be related to exertion and accompanied by shortness of breath. Did you feel any palpitations.
It is significant that the pain was not relieved by antacids? Have you had any episodes of pain since?
I think that interpretation of this blood test has to be in the context of your symptoms. What is more important is how you feel. Do you get short of breath, do your legs get swollen? I wonder if sometimes doctors focus too much on the test rather than the patient. The word holistic comes to mind.
Hi, Oyster, I have been very ill, From December until February, with that horrid flu bug last Christmas, When I had my pre-op assessment, the Nurse told me my heart was very tired, Then I found out that the flu jab I had last year was not any good, it did not work,{ thanks for nothing}
That is why I took longer than most to get well, However, I had told the Doctor what that nurse told me, and I was told there are a few funny blips on my ECG.
Jax,
The flu is no joke and you made it out of it!!! Did you get the flu shot this year? Hope all stays well.
Over 65's need to wait until mid October when a new one that will help protect us from three varieties rather than two becomes available. There is a fourth Flu that the vaccine is not available for yet.
I had the newFuad Tri------ one yesterday ,there was a session held at my medical centre, both types available.It came up on screen who got what,so it is available.From checking it online i think timing is down to when your surgery put in their orders earlier in the year.
We got that one yesterday!
Your doctor is ahead of the game.
Makes a change!!
I always have to check out the vaccines in advance to get one that is formaldehyde free as when I had skin testing it was the one jag I had a bad reaction to.
Hi, Seasider, Thanks, I have been told that over 65s has to have a stronger Vaccine, and we will be Colour coded, so 65 and over is purple, and all the rest yellow, The vaccine we get is supposed to be stronger, but only time will tell if it works.
Hi, Oyster, I feel very tired, not much stamina, I put it down to the illness I had, I am out of breath but not much, Although Yesterday I had a coughing fit, I put that down to the weather being damp, I could not take my new inhaler because in the Contradictions it says not to be taken if you have heart problems, So am waiting to ask the Pharmacy.
I would like to say a Big Thankyou to all you guys for helping me through this scary time.
With AFIB & CHF, from my experience, super critical to be on some anticoagulant like Eliquis along with beta blocker or ACE etc.
Afib and heart failure 
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