Latest diagnosis. After been diagnosed with A fib after an emergency visit to hospital 6 weeks ago I was put on beta blockers and blood anticoagulant. After experiencing months of breathlessness. Thought I had a chest infection.
No improvement! This appointment with the cardiologist I had an echocardiogram and found out I have heart failure. Damaged heart muscle. Might have had it for a long time. Total shock!! I thought I was a fit 72 year old previously never been on medication. Put on a low dose of enalapril maleate. Along with my AFib medication. Now feel I have a timebomb in my chest. Anyone had a similar experience
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Poorlizzie
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Sorry to hear this.There are degrees of heart failure and very good medication available so try not to panic Have you got more tests lined up- you need more information I think to know how serious this is
You may have had AF long before you noticed, which may have caused your heart failure. Those words heart failure do not mean you are going to have a shorter life than expected, it means your heart is not pumping quite how it should. We often say on this forum how alarming that name sounds and most agree that we think it should be called something a lot gentler. Someone on this forum was saying the other day they were very young when first diagnosed with heart failure, think they were in their 20's and now a similar age to you and me. So please stop that nagging worry in your head.
It's always a shock to hear that something isn't quite right with your heart. When I was first told that I had AF 17 years ago, I went into headless chicken mode, paying for a test because I thought it couldn't wait for a few months.
We are a friendly bunch on here and I welcome you to the forum, stay and you'll learn a lot.
My mum was diagnosed with heart failure when she was 24 after having me. She'd had eclampsia very bad which damaged her heart. Back then in the 1950s there was no treatment, she was simply told not to have a general anaesthetic. She never did get any treatment her whole life but she lived to be 69; had a hip replacement by epidural. She smoked like a chimney and the only problem ever was that she'd get a bit breathless on gentle inclines. She never even thought about it, just carried on with a perfectly normal life.
Bless her. When I was about 5 or 6 years old I took our milk can to my dad on the farm. I decided I'd run back home as fast as I possibly could. When my dad arrived home that day he said to me it's a good job you can run that fast, unbeknown to me the bull had got free and was chasing me.
Having been brought up on a farm I know how scary cows/bulls can be when they all run together, it's usually when they're young. Or can get very upset if someone walks into their field with a dog.
A country girl all my life. I know only too well. This was a herd of nosey young stirks; probably wouldn't have done anything but she did have two dogs with her. Didn't know t
That’s funny! My sisters and I met up several years ago at my grandfathers farm and we walked the fields for old time sake, LOL. My aunt and uncle lived a couple of farm fields behind my grandfather’s place. As we were walking back the whole herd of cattle decided we were something really interesting and wanted a closer look. As we turned to go back we see the whole herd charging toward us. Soon discovering diving under the barb wire fencing was no so easy as when we were 10.
Just to be quiet clear, Heart failure merely means that your heart is unable to cope with all the demands placed on it. There are plenty of treaments which can ensure a fairly normal life .
I think you'll find the answers to your post will help you come out of 'panic mode'. Of course, it's a shock when you are told - to be blunt people on the receiving end of such news think they will drop down dead and rush off to make funeral arrangements!
It's not like that.
BobD wrote
Just to be quiet clear, Heart failure merely means that your heart is unable to cope with all the demands placed on it. There are plenty of treaments which can ensure a fairly normal life
Jean wrote
Someone on this forum was saying the other day they were very young when first diagnosed with heart failure, think they were in their 20's and now a similar age to you and me. So please stop that nagging worry in your head
There's a good example of a forum member living 50+ years with it. Starting to make sense? Now let us break things down a little more.
Many people with heart failure lead a full, enjoyable life when the condition is managed with heart failure medications and healthy lifestyle changes..... The term “heart failure” makes it sound like the heart is no longer working at all and there’s nothing that can be done. Actually, heart failure means that the heart isn’t pumping as well as it should be (taken from online but I've lost the link).
What it really means is the heart can't keep up with its workload. HF doesn't mean your heart will stop working - it just means it needs some help and support to work better. This will often come by taking meds and making some simple lifestyle changes. Things like losing some weight (if your BMI is higher than it should be - lower than 25 is ideal) and eating a good diet. Certainly, stop smoking (if you do) and take alcohol in moderation.
Out of 'panic mode' yet? It would be a good thing if you are as your emotions will play a role in this. There are different stages of HF and you may be at an early stage - I don't know that - only your cardio can tell you the answer to that question. Don't jump the gun though and think the worst as it may turn out to be a far better prognosis than you think. Don't ask Dr Google about it as he tends to be very pessimistic about his diagnosis of such conditions and will scare you to death.
I don't want to sugarcoat this - it can be serious but the odds favour you. Below is a copy and paste taken from Living Well With Heart Failure. It may help you address the way you are feeling and help you to cope better with what has happened. The key sentence is 'for some people, Heart Failure symptoms are reversible with proper treatment'
Best wishes Paul
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Accepting your diagnosis
As you try to understand and accept what it means to have Heart Failure, you’ll probably feel a range of emotions. Your outlook on the future may also change, depending on your prognosis. Heart Failure can be mild or severe, and people respond differently to treatment. For some people, Heart Failure symptoms are reversible with proper treatment, yet for others, symptoms get worse over time. Managing your feelings is an important aspect of your care. The following are normal emotional stages after a diagnosis of Heart Failure:
Your initial reaction: Your initial reaction may be shock, disbelief, denial or numbness. For the first few months, you may have a hard time acknowledging your condition. It’s tough to be told you have Heart Failure.
Adjusting to your condition: For 3-12 months after your diagnosis, you may experience preoccupation, fear, anxiety or anger. You may struggle to integrate new routines into your daily life. From questions of “why me?” to “what if” you will probably move toward more acceptance of your condition. Throughout these emotional stages, be patient with yourself. Adjusting to life with Heart Failure is challenging, but many people have learned to accept their diagnosis and to lead lives filled with a renewed sense of purpose and hopefulness. With time, support and patience, you can too.
New habits become routine: When new habits become routine and your understanding of Heart Failure improves, you’ll probably begin to feel more peaceful about your diagnosis. You may get satisfaction from the adjustments you’ve made in your life and feel new resolve about the future.
I’m sorry to hear of your diagnosis and can understand how shocked and scared you must feel. You’ve had some excellent replies here already and, as others have said, heart failure is a very frightening term and the condition really should be renamed. I’m sharing my mother’s experience below, as her’s is quite similar to yours.
Mum was diagnosed with heart failure and AF just over ten years ago when she was 77. Like you, she was fit and active, took no medication and walked her dogs for miles every day. She put down to age the fact that she was slowing down and getting increasingly breathless. Then, like you, she thought she had a chest infection. Eventually she agreed to see the GP and got whipped into hospital for a week where the AF and heart failure were diagnosed. It was a complete shock but she was put on a cocktail of meds and, once out of hospital, resumed her activities. She’s 87 now and still going strong, thankfully and still keeping me in order😃
I did consult Dr Google initially and that was a big mistake, as mum’s lived experience has been very different to the gloom and doom that Dr Google predicted!
I hope her experience is of some comfort to you in that you can have a relatively normal life after diagnosis. As Jean says, there are lots of lovely, helpful people on the forum, so don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have. I also have AF and have learnt far more on here than any consultant has ever told me!
I cannot add anything to the excellent replies you have had ,especially regarding the "label" of heart "failure."I would prefer it to be termed " reduced heart efficiency" as a more accurate description.
Many people see much improvement with medication ,and it certainly isnt an automatic decline.
I wish medical practitioners took the time to say as much!
Hi Lizzie, it's such a shock isn't it. I was diagnosed at 73 , 3 years ago. I hate the term Heart failure it always sounds like the Sword of Damocles! I prefer Impaired heart Function which I feel is more accurate. Aside from all that please be reassured that there are treatments and medications that enable us to continue living our best lives.
You must be reeling right now but you have had some really good hope stories and advice. I will add another! My daughter's Italian husband's grandmother was taken to hospital at 83 suffering from difficulty breathing (here in the UK). The diagnosis was heart failure, and a doctor came who spoke Italian told her, whilst she was on her own, you have had a long and happy life and be grateful and implied her decline would be rapid. She was discharged, given medication and gradually, her life picked up again, she went out on her own for many years, and five years ago died shortly before her 98th birthday of extreme old age.
Once you have treatment and medication sorted out, life will start to look better. Sending you the very best wishes.
pumpingmarvellous.org was recommended to me by my heart failure specialist when I was diagnosed with HF earlier this year. Lots of information and advice.
Just wanted to say my old dad had heart failure for years and lived till he was 94 and didn’t die of it !! I agree when you hear those words you think oh god how long have I got !!
it’s great of you can switch off .. I cannot Iam a right baby even at nearly 70 .. I’ve suffered with the worst ectopic beats and some AF thrown in since I was 30… carted off to A&E so many times thinking this is it !!
I hope you get some reassurance on here.. it’s a great site ..
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