Hi I’m Joan, I am 73 years old. I was diagnosed with Heart Failure in May this year and am still trying to come to terms with this. I recently saw my Consultant Cardiologist at my follow-up appointment following my diagnosis back in May. He was happy with the way I was progressing but I feel as though I am floundering in as much as I still don’t know how this diagnosis will affect my life from now
I was never given any advice on managing my condition and am not sure who I can contact to give me this advice.
Joan
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You Could you try contacting your GP to put you on a cardiac rehab course? If that's possible it would help you a great deal.In the meantime just look after yourself sensibly i.e diet and exercise. It's not the end of the world,and you've probably many more miles left in you yet. X
Hello Joan such an anxious time for you. Well done for contacting the forum. Its great that your cardiologist thinks your doing well, but that doesn't help settle your mind if there's no plan in place, at least for a few months, so you have time mentally to adjust. I agree with grayjay as to seeing your gp. Write down all your concerns before you go and make sure you write the answers down. Dont think you wont have time. A good gp will help you with this. Or take someone along with you if you can. If you are still not happy after this , ask your gp at the appointment to refer you back to your cardiologist.
Also look through the BHF website there's some helpful guides on there. Join a local heart support group, its a wonderful way to meet people with similar conditions who have been through what you are feeling. Contact the cardiac rehab team to see where you local one is.
You've done well, keep up with a healthy diet and regular exercise, remembering to give yourself a treat every now amd again, you will have earned it. Take care
Hi Joan, definitely start with your GP. If you ring the hospital you saw the cardiologist atand ask to speak to the cardiac nurse specialists, they usually make time to help. Hope this is a starting point for you. Stay cheerful and stay with us on here.
Hi I have heart failure, diagnosed nearly two years ago, I have a dedicated HF nurse who I can phone anytime with any worries or questions, he has a clinic in the town I live in which saves a lot of bother going to the hospital, he does all the bloods, blood pressure and of course reassurance, and can prescribe any changes in meds, you could ask your gp if they have this in your area, I am sure they must, if there is anything else you want to ask please message me, take care char cc
Why were you sent to see a Cardiologist ?? did you have other ongoing Heart problems prior to your Heart Failure Diagnosis.
Heart Failure is one of those terms designed to strike fear into people !! I just say I have a Wonky Heart that doesn't pump quite as good as it used to. Mind you most things to do with my body don't work as good as they used to. ( I'm 71 )
Hi Pravda. I was diagnosed last year with AF. Actually it was my chiropodist who picked this up during a mini medical when I visited her for the first last time after moving to South Wales. I was on medication (Edoxoban) to control this but when I was on a cruise in May I was not very well and could not sleep at night when I was lying down. I ended up sleeping on a chair with the balcony door open to get a breath. When I got home I was persuaded to go to A & E and was diagnosed with heart failure. I was admitted for 10 days. Before I left hospital I had a cardioversion to shock my heart back to a normal rhythm.
My recent visit to the Cardiology Consultant was a follow-up appointment.
Hi - I have read your response to Pravda and was interested to see what you said - my husband was admitted to A&E with heart failure and Atrial Fibrilation over christmas and came on on 5th Jan 2019 with no advice - his heart rate was between 145 and 165 - he had an angiogram and also the cardioversion to shock his heart into rhythm which it did. What we now are told is he has heart failure with moderate stenosis and one stent is required and possibly a valve in the future - how do you cope- I have just had to make 10 phone calls to find that I now have a referral to the heart failure team locally who will help - but for now - what does the future hold - he does need a stent but it's not urgent it's an `aside' they call it to his heart failure - he is frightened and 58 and I am 53 and we will lose our house, as our critical illness assurance won't pay out as it doesn't cover heart failure or stents - unbelievable. they tell me heart failure is only that the heart is failing to work properly but can he live to a normal age and have a moderate level of fitness as he seems to be okay not too breathless and coping physically ? I am very lost and wondered if you had any wise words I could pass onto him.
What other doctor would one see when you have HF? I ask this because my mother’s EP/cardiologist (she has a pacemaker) said she should see her GP for her HF. I thought this was odd. When I brought up her HF in a visit one day, I asked him if he was also seeing my mother as a cardiologist and he replied “I could”. Heart failure = cardiologist I always thought?
I believe that Heart Failure is a speciality within Cardiology. For my stents it was an Intervention Cardiologist and for my Heart Failure I am under a different Cardiologist who specialises in Heart Failure. I think I have that right, but sure someone will correct me if it's wrong.
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I certainly will take on board what you have said and contact my GP.
I'm off on a cruise soon and can't help feeling a little concerned as to how I will cope. Fingers crossed I will be fine. I am taking a recently acquired walking aid so I hope this helps.
Joan
P.s. I forgot to mention that on the day I was released from hospital I had a fall on my front steps and ended up back in A & E. I'm also on the waiting list for a new knee. I have been waiting almost a year so I am in constant pain.
You could contact the knee surgery people to see if you can take a cancellation. That might get you in quicker. You GP might be able to push them along too.
I would Jimmy but we are off on a cruise which was booked at the beginning of the year. I though my knee would be done by now but my consultant has left the hospital so I am now on another consultant's list. We are looking at the earliest January now and we all know what happens in January.
I’m having counselling due to my heart condition and had my heart condition my whole life so I deffo understand it’s hard to cope wiv. It makes me go quiet. I remember seeing a man st church being quiet who I sat near and was told he had onli just found out his heart wasn’t good so I understand it’s no different however long u’ve had the heart condition.
I was diagnosed with heart failure in April and it took me a while to realise that the term is far worse than the actual illness!
Like Chaz I was allocated a dedicated heart failure nurse who has been brilliant. Last time I saw the consultant she said that exercise was the best treatment but no heavy lifting or hard pushing. I find that the diet I was given when I left hospital, which encourages having carbohydrates for the slow release of energy, is right for me although others on the forum find other diets equally beneficial.
I hope that you have a super cruise. It sounds a wonderful way to recuperate!
Thank you Routemaster. I have started walking the dog again as often as I can. He is delighted. I already eat a good well balanced diet but I will have to add more carbohydrates as I only have a small amount of bread each day and also potatoes. I'm also trying very hard to loose weight which should help.
Hi Joan, I see your post was 3 months ago. I'm sorry I've missed it. I'm 77 and was diagnosed with heart failure 7 months ago. I have had such a struggle comming to terms with it. I'm a carer for my husband. I'm trying so hard to keep things going smoothly that I'm ignoring my own needs. I need a good cry for a start! But started reading information on Pumping Marvelous website and its made such a difference. I started right at the beginning and I could feel tears coming because I was getting some reassurance. Then I've been reading posts on this site and think 'how do they cope' because often they are younger than me and bigger mountains to climb. I hope you are starting to adjust. Mo.
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