Heart Failure

[poppit1946]

I have asthma and yesterday was not well at all and ambulance was sent out to check on my symptoms as i was coughing up froth (white) and it now turns out the paramedics spoke to my surgery and they then spoke to the doctor available and because of other symptoms I have it was agreed that I had heart failure, the awaiting appointment for the cardiologist has to be brought forward in a hurry as I do have an ongoing heart valve problem. Any suggestions from this site would be most helpful in my handling it. (I am partially disabled walk with crutches and am 72 yrs young ha ha)

[Carnival567]

Poor you, I hope things improve soon. The ambulance personnel are really good aren’t they? xx

[poppit1946 in reply to Carnival567]

Thanks yes they are, they stayed and made me a drink, took my washing out of the machine and hung it on the air dryer for me, phoned my husband to update him. Can not fault them at all.

[Kristicats]

Hi poppit1946

Lovely name😄

Hope your cardiologist gets on top of the problem pronto and you are feeling fitter soon. 72 is just a number , not considered ‘old’ nowadays (sorry cheeky ) I’m sure keeping as active as you can is your priority to keep your heart and lungs working as well as possible . Please let us know how you get on with the cardiologist. Did you do cardio rehab in the past ? Lovely people with great support and advice. Keep well, look after you Cx

[poppit1946 in reply to Kristicats]

A long time ago when I was 18 and had a heart attack but not since then just other tests including stress test and all the usual echo's. This has come on all of a sudden so will have to wait and see, the doctors stopped my blood pressure pill on advice from the hospital and I have gone down hill fast since then, swelling up, breathing probs etc. so maybe that was the wrong advice given to my doctor. Am hanging in there, my poor hubby is working long hours and can not get cover so he is worrying at work even though I have said you know me I will be ok. Thanks for the reply and support

[Kristicats in reply to poppit1946]

Perhaps you should question re your blood pressure tablets if things have got worse since not taking them. Do you have a home BP monitor to keep check? Do not hesitate to see your GP or even go to A&E if you are worried re your heart.( things tend to get sorted quicker I.e tests etc that way) after all that’s what they are there for. Hope things settle down and you get some answers ASAP.

[poppit1946 in reply to Kristicats]

Just come back out of hospital yet again with the problem, this time they agreed that there is a problem with having taken me off Losartan and are suggesting to my doctor that I restart at a low dose. Passed out on them on in the hospital after they tried laying down standing up routine (so now the doctor believed me) Have taken sputum for testing and more urine for testing. My bloods have a clotting problem, but as I am already on warfarin they will check that out.

On receiving my discharge papers it has been suggested by a neurologist that I have never seen but has read the notes of the doctor who did not believe me that I should a psychiatrist.

The Consultant who saw me with a senior nurse before I was discharged said that was ridiculous as I was not in need of that kind of review. To ask my doctor to refer me to neurologist via the normal outpatients entry as she thought I should be seen and to keep the cardiologist appointment in November.

To take it easy in the mean time, make an appointment with my own doctor for a weeks time and if I feel or get any worse to return to the hospital straight away not wait till I collapse again. Was sorry the other doctor treated me the way she did on my admittance.

To me sorry is not good enough to be virtually called a lair or a hypochondriac is not on in any shape or form.

[Kristicats in reply to poppit1946]

What a mixed message we get when several professionals are involved!🙄Write things down as they happen and are said by the doctors so you don’t get confused by all this and would probably be clearer if you need to go back in hospital as often only half the story is taken onboard by each ‘professional ‘ you see.

Please do not hesitate to get immediate help if needed don’t leave anything to chance with heart or breathing problems. Hope things settle and become clearer. Good luck with the November appointment. Take good care of you. Cx