Heart failure

[Esna]

Hi, my husband has just been informed that he has right sided heart failure (amongst other recent health issues). He was diagnosed with fluid on the lung in July/Sept 2018, had a thoracoscopy and the plural was packed, developed an atrial fibrillation. He is a Diabetic (2) controlled by diet and had a spinal stroke in 2012.

Can someone please tell me if there is a treatment available for his current complaint to help with his extremely poor breathlessness.

[Prada47]

Short answer is Yes I have Heart Failure and I take a cocktail of Meds. Entresto Bisoprolol, Isosorbide Mononitrate, Furosemide, Eplerenone, I also take Asprin, Clopidogrel, Omneprazole after having Stents and By Pass Surgery. With Heart Failure you need to know your Ejection Fraction and it is helpful to know your NYHA score 1 2 3 IV These give you an idea of how you are improving after starting on medication, Another thing you will find is what was the reason for the diagnosis, that has a bearing on the way forward i.e. intervention with a Pacemaker etc. Rest assured the diagnosis is not the end of the World it's just a start on another route through Life.

Regards

[Esna]

Thanks for your replies and advice. I know I should be speaking to the professionals but (Jo) we haven't been allocated a pro active team and the heart specialist who diagnosed my husband condition said there was no treatment available because it was right sided heart failure. He referred us back to Respiratory (where we have regular appointments anyway -because of the thickening of the LHS plural) but our consultant is away on holiday at the moment so I don't have a confirmed appointment.

Prada, never heard of Ejection Fraction so very helpful, I will be googling it so I can have an idea what it is and its importance thank you.

Next step is to phone our Consultants Secretary regarding an appointment, hopefully as soon as possible once he's back.

Again thank you for your replies.

Esna

[Lezzers in reply to Esna]

Hi Esna, sorry to hear bout your husband. My husband was s diagnosed with heart failure in 2012 although he's had a heart condition since 1997. I believe under the NICE guidelines your husband should be provided with a care plan, that should include a heart failure nurse if they are available in your area. Please ask your GP/cardiologist about it. Also, there is a heart failure charity called Pumping Marvellous, who are invaluable for support & advice. They also have a closed Facebook page for those who have heart failure, their family & carers, I highly recommend them to you as again like this forum they are brilliant for help, advice & support or even just a chat. Ps, please don't Google anything as the advice is usually incorrect, out of date or just not applicable & could just put the frighteners up you uneccessarily. Please do speak to the BHF nurses & the Pumping Marvellous foundation instead xx

[Esna in reply to Lezzers]

Thanks Lezzers for all the information ( which is what I'm so short of). I will definitely look into everything you have informed me of.

[Lezzers in reply to Esna]

Also, ejection faction is used to measure the rate blood leaves the heart. My husbands EF is 30 but not everyone with heart failure has low EF as some people have heart failure with preserved EF which means their EF is in the normal range, which again is a good reason not to Google!! I personally have no knowledge of your husbands particular condition but I hope you find the answers you need xx

[Fortepiano]

I do sympathise with you both, and definitely recommend you talk to the bhf helpline.

Most people here with heart failure have left-sided failure, which is not treated the same way as right-sided. Also right failure is more frequently a result of long-standing left failure, which is not the case not with your husband.

I think it is important to establish the cause of your husband's heart failure and then see if that can be treated: for example Pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid regurgitation can both cause right heart failure , but the first is a lung problem and the second is cardiac and treatment for them is different. In general lung problems are a more common cause.

Because your husband's problems are complex I would also suggest that you might consider a referral to a specialist tertiary heart and lung centre for a second opinion if you are not already at one - e.g. Papworth or the Royal Brompton. A private consultation costs about £250 and speeds things up. If you are at a distance, both have patient accomodation.

I hope at least that the treatment for your husband's pleural effusions has been successful. This is very hard for you both.

[Esna in reply to Fortepiano]

Thank you for your reply. My husband also has a Chronic (asbestos related) lung complaint.