Hi iv recently been diagnosed with all of the above at 35 years of age. I went into the docs because I was suffering from shortness of breath and a real chesty cough. Iv never smoked so I thought it was a bit odd. Anyway got sent to A&E and ended up in hospital for 6 days. This as you can undersand has came as massive shock to me especially as I'm a fairly fit lad who has a very hard working job as a stone mason/ bricklayer and thought i was as fit as a fiddle! Iv quit drinking now on doctors orders and have to change my job because of the heavy lifting and continuous fast paced environent my job entails. Still waiting on cardiac MRI Scan to find out more. I just wanted to ask if anyone on here has had similar problems and how did they mentally overcome such changes in there life and if they ever got back to the way there lives was before. Any help woukd be greatly appreciated as I'm just a little stressed out at the minute. Thanks for your time.
Dilated cardio myopathy, severe LVSD ... - British Heart Fou...
Dilated cardio myopathy, severe LVSD and Atrial fibrillation at 35!
Hi Chris. Sorry to hear about your health problems. I can’t comment on your particular problem. Mine was a heart attack last year. But the emotional rollercoaster is the same. The shock. The change in lifestyle. The emotional impact. However it has improved with time and adaptation mentally and physically. I saw a health psychologist as well as a counsellor at my GP. The cardiac Rehab programme was very beneficial in giving confidence and getting fitter. try to take each day at a time and focus on each separate issue rather than everything all at once as that can be overwhelming for you. Maybe think about listing what you need to do as a priority. It will help you to focus on immediate plans as well as helping with a sense of accomplishment. I think there are different ways of coping with the mental/emotional impact. I’ve mentioned already the counselling. Exercise and focusing on a plan of action helps me. Also meditation and yoga. There are a number of apps available about mindfulness. BHF have got a list of support groups in each area so that might be an option. BHF website also has a whole set of resources that you can access as well as a helpline. This forum is also supportive. Not sure if any of this helps. Stay strong and do take care. Zena
Hi Zena thanks for the reply. Always nice to here other people's thoughts. Yes I will defo look into all the things you have said. It's only early in my diagnosis so I will keep you posted. Thanks again for your help. Very much appreciated.
Chris
Hiiiii I've got dilated cadiomypathy, heart failure atrial fabrilation had a icd fitted and back at work full time as a bus shunter so there's hope for you lol
Hahaha thanks!!! Glad to hear your back at work!! After I have my MRI they said they should be able to tell if my medication is working or not. If there not I will then have to look at an ICD possibly they said. One step at a time I suppose. Thanks for the reply
Hi Chris, I have severe LVSD and have had so many tests. ECG originally said I had LBBB but angiogram proved that wasn’t the case. (I’m sure all these tests have made me feel worse) I am now on a lot of meds, which seem to be controlling moser things, I now have to have a 24 Holter test to determine the next step. I have been off work for 3 months now but am starting a rehab course on Monday and hope to start work soon. Good luck with the next stage of your journey and remember there are even football players with heart conditions but are able to play at a high level. There is hope for us all x
Thank you! I am just gonna keep positive. Thanks for the help. Means a lot.
I was off work bout 5 months first time
God I hope I'm not off that long. It's been about 4 wks now. I feel fine. Apart from the shortness of breath. U wouldn't think they was anything wrong to look at me but the doctors said to at least wait until the MRI Scan. S hopefully this happens soon And I can go from there.
Hi Chris
I am on here as my husband started this exact same journey in Feb. Exactly the same as you thought he had a chest infection, had a heart rate of 170 caused by a virus . He has 23% output and severe LVSD. First thing to do ( and easy for me to say) don’t worry.... There’s many options for you some of which you probably won’t even get to. Your job is probably the biggest change you have to make and as you spend a lot of time there, it’s a life event. If you’re struggling mentally with it all you must get help, via your gp or speaking to your family and friends. It’s a major and unexpected event that’s happened to you however there’s help out there . My husband again is in the same scenario and fears the unknown . The good news is I joined this forum as you did and there’s so many folk on here willing to share advice and stories. I know it’s not me with this but I joined here as I was worried about the future . Turns out I got chatting to people who’ve been living with this for 23 years I’m some cases and have made a few minor adjustments to lifestyle. My husband has a “big” review on Monday following an MRI and echo . He feels really well in himself . I’ll keep you posted as to how he is 3 months on from his first diagnosis and hopefully it will help gauge where you could be. Hubby ( Andy) isn’t that far ahead of you so maybe could help if you can see that things will be ok moving forward? X
2 min
Hi Lynn yes that would be great. That's really helpful. You mentioned a virus there which I never thought of but last year I had a terrible one where I could hardly get out of the bed for almost 2 wks. I bet it could possibly have stemmed from that and not being on a proper diet and drinking maybe a little too much? Iv had to make changes so iv quit drinking these last few wks and had to cut sugar out as iv just found out I'm also diabetic!!! Like everything has came at once. My job like u say is the biggest change. Iv been doing my trade since I was 16 and always in work so to just stop after 19 years is hard. They also said i had about a 20% output so its very similar problem isnt it? But I can notice myself even with those little dietary changes I feel much better and a lot healthier. But thank you so much for the reply. And I will defo keep in touch and let you know how I'm getting on also. And your right the support on here is great. Again thanks and take care.
Do you know, I came across this site by chance and I was so pleased I found it. It’s been a godsend and the fact that complete strangers take the time to offer advice and their experience is just amazing. You can say anything on here that doesn’t worry your partner, or affect anyone really except you can be candid with those who are on here . My hubby is a typical bloke , he knows I’m on here and that I chat and tell him about conversations. He’s not a forum kind of guy even though I advise him otherwise ! Yes, Andys bloods came back and the only anomaly was a virus marker, which made sense to us as he too gets a really bad cold every December without fail. I actually picked up on his fast heart rate six months before he was symptomatic but he would have it and said it was incorrect. Low and behold when it did become a problem it had done long term damage. I assume they have done bloods for you however maybe any virus hadn’t showed due to the time passed? I really feel for your situation , it’s hard to tale on at such a young age however from messages I had on here it’s going to be well managed , monitored and there are options . So yeah you may have to stop drinking and adjust your diet .... andy is the same and misses a beer however we save that money and will have nice weekends away instead. You will be fine moving forward I know now it’s not as bad a scenario as it could be.
Yea I am starting to look at all the positives especially after being on here. Like you say everyone Is so supportive and as soon as I figure my own thing out I'll be here to offer any advice myself. Like your husband I'm a lads lad that loved havinga pint but once the docs told me I thought that's it I gotta sort my health out. I'm not bothered about the changes at moment just want to be healthy as I can be. I actually knew I had an irregular heartbeat when I was living in Canada. And they just said they would monitor it because even tho it was irregular and fast it was consistent!!!! Can u believe that? That was 3 years ago now. But when they weren't worried naturally I wasn't that worried as it's there job. How wrong was I?!!! If I got lookedfter properly then I might have had a different outcome but I suppose its all ifs and buts. I just couldn't believe they were so dismissive of it. Good job I came home or I might never have found out what was wrong hahaa. But I just gotta keep the head up and see what the specialists say an hopefully with the proper medication and right diet nd myself looking after myself properly there will be positives out of it all!!! Thanks again
Hi Chrisbarrett100 , welcome to the forum.
I have exactly the same diagnosis but after a lot of juggling have reached a point where my symptoms are under control with lots of medication.
Dilated cardiomyopathy can be linked to an individual’s genetic make-up so you may be asked to inform your siblings or children about your diagnosis so they can be checked.
Quite honestly I have found that I’m healthier since my diagnosis which sounds odd, but I eat well, don’t smoke and have cut out alcohol. I still take exercise although not as much as before, and I feel better than I did two years ago when my af and heart failure were first discovered.
The first year I found very depressing and thought that death was just around the corner, but once I got the meds sorted and realised that anxiety is a common side effect of heart failure, I actually felt so much better.
Come on here if you feel negative and there will be someone who will cheer you up and put a smile back on your face.
I spent nine weeks in hospital with sepsis and endocarditis, and would have gone stir crazy without the people on here and the af forum.
All the very best, and, easy to say, but don’t worry. X
Thanks a lot mate. I was only saying to my brother that I physically feel so much better already. I don't smoke Nyway never have but iv completely cut the drink out and all takeaway shit and am eating so much healthier. Its just the mental side where I feel down sometimes but at the moment I'm still quite positive if not still a bit shocked!!! But thank you so much. Everyone on here seems really helpful and it is great to be able to share and speak with other like u who have been through it all. Iv actually jut got my appointment for the cardiac MRI Scan next Wednesday so hopefully I can start figuring out what next sooner rather than later! Thanks mate
Hi Chris, I was diagnosed with heart failure when I was 31. Over the space of two days I received my diagnosis (entirely unexpected), had my baby delivered (nine weeks early) and found out I couldn't have any more children. It was so hard to be on a path to a certain future I had imagined and then suddenly it all changed, so I can definitely sympathise with the psychological impact this is having on you. I suppose (in a way!) I was lucky that I spent the first year post-diagnosis on maternity leave, so my life was changing in other ways anyway and it was a good time to reassess my priorities. Six years on and I've made a lot of changes to my life to accommodate my heart condition, but I'm very happy and still feel like me. Many of the changes I've made have brought their own positives too.
Having to change jobs is really tough, though. Are there any other roles within your company that you could move into? Or is there anything you've always fancied retraining in? Now would be a great time to make that move!
Hope your tests all go well and that the medication continues to work out for you. Best of luck 
Omg you have been through a lot. Your so positive after all that. That's inspirational. To keep so upbeat after all that must be hard to do then support your family on top of that? my hat goes off to you Laura it really does. Yes the work is tricky but it is what it is now I suppose. I will just have to adjust and figure it all out in the coming months. The people on this forum are brilliant. Thanks for all the welcoming and encouragement.
Hi Chrisbarrett100, I was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) when I was 33 after being admitted to A&E with an irregular heart beat (AF). I've been stable for 15 years now taking Ramipril and Bisoprolol. I'm lucky that my family, work and the medical staff have all been great to me over the years. They believe it is familial as my Dad had DCM. The stories from people on here are inspirational. There's people a lot worse off than me and that helps me stop feeling sorry for myself. I hope you can muddle through. You sound positive. I had to change jobs (not company). That's one of the benefits of working for a big employer. I had an MRI scan last year and was fitted with an ICD in December 2017. Like you I don't smoke but do have an occasional drink (love real ale). Definitely quality not quantity with everything. Keep on keeping on
Hi Dave thanks for the reply mate! That's exactly the meds I'm on along with apixiban and a couple others. Itsbso great to hear other people's stories and fills me with a lot of optimism. I'm optimistic anyway I think hahaa so just gonna keep 're chin up and it will al work out. I'm already looking at something lighter work wise and same as you my family is always there for me! I'm the youngest of 8 so I'm a spoilt little brat haha even tho I am 35! Thanks a lot Dave
Hi Chris
I am nearly an identical story. I am 37(diagnosed at 36). I have DCM with an EF of 33% and persistent runs of VT. I was diagnosed after feeling rough on a plane home from Italy... two weeks later I had an ICD and drug prescription list as long as my arm.
At present I cannot drive - due to appropriate ICD shocks (15 in 27mins) and have had to stop the following.
Alcohol
Caffeine
Salt
Sitting in sun
New job
Life is not exactly a barrel of laughs at present... but remember, it’s a good thing you have been diagnosed and the cardiologists will know what is best for you through all the nerves.
Chrisbarrett100 , how are things now? Any progress in your condition?
Look what I found today. I find it really exciting.
dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...
Cheers!
Hi
I have the exact same as yourself, with a heart EF of 33%.
I was diagnosed last year at 36... was in hospital 2 weeks... I had an ICD fitted as I suffer with lots of PVCs that cause Runs of VT.
I’m back at work, full time... I’m never going to run a marathon ... but to be honest I have very few symptoms.
I stopped all salt, caffeine, alcohol drank more water and lost 1 stone in weight... I feel much better for it.
Regards
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