Heart failure newbie

[HerbertGusset]

Hello, I was suddenly diagnosed with AF & heart failure having become unwell about 6 weeks ago, 2 weeks after retiring from business at age 73, having been extremely fit and active (though not a gym bunny) and busy with acting as carer for my wife who has MS and increasing needs. I am just getting mentally adjusted to life as a person with heart failure - and I don't like it! I'm taking Bisoprolol, Digoxin and the one that scares me, Apixaban. Can anyone reassure me - preferably positively - about life going forward, please?

[Love100cats]

Just take one day at a time. A heart failure diagnosis is so hard to take in. Mine was 9 months ago. I find that the meds instead of being a nuisance have put my heart back on track. My heart slowed, beats more regular, a little stronger. The Apixaban is urgent for me as I already had one stroke. It took months before I really felt the benefits but I sleep lying down, I'm not breathless, I have no pain just an occasional ectopic beat. So just hang on in there taking one step at a time.

[HerbertGusset in reply to Love100cats]

Thank you so much for your encouragement. The meds are doing a great job, for sure, with my insanely racing heart rate now reined in and ticking over nicely. I actually don’t feel bad, just terribly short of energy but not breathless now and sleeping like a log - except when my wife wakes me to help her with nocturnal visits to the loo. Just had an echocardiogram today, now waiting for news of what it reveals. The technician said it showed “some damage”. This feels like the start of a journey, leading where...?

[Lezzers]

Hi, sorry to hear of your diagnosis. The term "heart failure" is too scary, think of it instead as simply your heart isn't pumping as well as it could do, it needs a bit of help. My husband was diagnosed with HF in 2012 but he'd had a heart condition since 1997. The info on this site is invaluable & you can also phone the heart nurses for advice. Have you been referred to a heart failure nurse, if not ask for a referral as per NICE guidelines. You can also contact the Pumping Marvellous heart failure charity who are fantastic for advice & help. They also have a closed Facebook group which again is great for help, support advice or just a rant.

[HerbertGusset in reply to Lezzers]

Scary indeed! And coming to terms with a new phase of life. Yes, I’ve been sent an appointment letter to meet the HF nurse on 1 May. Am amazed by the NHS care that kicked in the moment the practice nurse checked my pulse, immediately did an ECG, and pretty much pushed me through the GP’s door; he instantly gave me an AF diagnosis and we were away, with a few days in hospital and so it carries on. Highly impressive. I’ll take a look at Pumping Marvellous, thanks for the tip.

[Hidden]

Hi know Where you are coming from I have only got afib since sept2018 and I was so scared did not want to go out I had just retiredin july 2018 now 6months on feel so much better on apixaban and bisoprolol there are working and life is getting better little steps you will get there

[Zac11]

After I was diagnosed with AF, a subsequent echocardiogram revealed a clot in one of my ventricles, but luckily I'd already been put on Apixaban and it dispersed the clot after a few weeks so I was able to have a cardioversion to restore sinus rhythm. Been on it a year now and no noticeable side effects. Can't say the same for the Ramipril and Bisoprolol, though I'm now on a reduced minimum dose of the latter,1.25mg, as my pulse rate was too low on 2.5mgs at <40; and I can live with the Ramipril side effects - mainly an occasional tickly cough.

[Dockdog]

Hi, yes it is worrying to be given this diagnosis of HF and I still, one year later worry about it . Apixiban is a really nasty drug but essential to thin the blood and with better control than Warfarin. I was able to drop that after 6 months and switch to daily low aspirin. I still take bisopropol but on a low dose and hope my cardiologist will permit me to drop it now my post op Pericardectomy has reached 12 months. I am still breathless and I think that the latter tablet also causes lethargy. Please take each day as it comes and feel fortunate that at least you have a diagnosis and care going on long term. I hope, as I hope and do, that you will feel improvement over time and the anxiety will fade too. I am approaching my mid 70's and like you was very active until a few years back so I share that sense of frustration but keep your mind active and do what you can to exercise as much as possible. Very best wishes.

[Qualipop]

Can't give any details but hope it helps that my mum was diagnosed with heart failure at 24 after severe illness during pregnancy with me. She lived to 69 with no problems apart from some shortness of breath on inclines and medical refusal to have a general anaesthetic. She had a hip replacement with an epidural. as this was from the 1940s onward she never had any treatment for it.