Heart failure symptoms

[tinjan]

My father had a massive heart attack in December 2016 & was only expected to live weeks - short months. All active treatment has been withdrawn but 9 months later he is still alive. He has severe heart failure but his only symptoms are extreme fatigue, leaving him bedbound, & some confusion. He is showing no breathlessness or swelling. I am starting to doubt the prognosis & wanted to know if all heart failure patients experience all the usual symptoms of fatigue, breathlessness & swelling? Can anybody enlighten me on what to expect in his final stages?

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hello tinjan, i am very sorry to hear of your fathers illness.

There are a few threads on here for heart failure healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

as some examples, the BHF have some information available too bhf.org.uk/heart-health/con...

They also have a helpline, 0300 330 3311 (similar cost to 01 or 02 numbers).

Phone lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Some of our members here also suffer from heart failure, I would expect pne to be along shortly with their own experiences

Mark

[tinjan in reply to skid112]

Thank you for your reply Mark. I will get in touch with the BHF for some advice.

[Helen_BHF]

Hi tinjan , so sorry to hear about your father. Just to echo what skid112 has said, please do give the BHF Heart Helpline a call. You can speak with our cardiac nurses who can give you some more information and support with this if you need it.

0300 330 3311or email [e-mail].

Really hope this helps. Take care.

[tinjan in reply to Helen_BHF]

Thank you for your reply Helen. I will contact them for advice.

[dickielex]

Symptoms seem to be very varied depending upon the medical history- and the physiology of the patient. None of us has all the symptoms and most of us have our own variations. The advice of others about chatting about your worries with the BHF is absolutely on target but I would also strongly advise making an appointment with his GP . In my experience they are always there to guide you through recognising what matters and what doesn't when it comes to cardiac cases and take the view that they would rather be bothered than ignored. I do hope things look up - for you both

[tinjan in reply to dickielex]

Thank you for your reply. Yes it does seem that everybody experiences different things. With my father because he is now receiving no active treatment and all meds have been withdrawn I had prepared myself for a faster decline. Thanks again for your comments.