6 months review - No longer in HF - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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6 months review - No longer in HF

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image

I had a heart attack/cardiac arrest on 28th December 2018. Diagnosed with Heart Failure after Echo on 30th December and follow up Echo at the end of February gave EF of 30%

Reviewed on 10th April, suggested to have an ICD implanted as at a risk of an arrhythmia at some point in the future that could cause a further cardiac arrest.

The shock of all this was like nothing I've ever experienced in my life before. I listened, and I mean really listened to all the medical people who explained what I needed to change in my life. I listened and did what they said - stop smoking, cut down on drink, change diet, loose weight, exercise/get fitter, take medicines, don't get stressed.

I've done all of the above, and can honestly say I feel so much better than I've felt in years.

So, today I went back to Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital for my 6 month review, not really knowing what to expect, the last review came up with -"you need an ICD!" Met with my consultant, who looked through the records, asked how I felt etc. Explained the life style changes I'd made to which he replied, "Great you've been pro-active to your condition", listened to heart/chest, took blood pressure 152/81 (white coat syndrome again), and then said yes your heart has suffered some damage but I think you are asymptomatic , you no longer have heart failure and I'm going to discharge you, you'll still need to come to see the consultant who fitted your ICD and will see the pacing clinic every 12 months, but from my point of view, we've done everything we can and you're now fine, any questions?

Really wasn't expecting to hear that, so asked the question what if things went downhill? Got the answer no reason they should, just keep doing what you have been doing as regards lifestyle. The ICD is an insurance policy, he thought the change of it giving me a shock is less than 1%.

Came away on cloud 9. I'm actually more emotional after this meeting than I was after my heart attack.

I'm grateful to the people on this forum who have answered my questions and to everyone who has posted entries which have been so useful in helping me understand the issues around cardiac health matters. I will carry on offering my opinion (for what it's worth) on this forum, as all out comments on our conditions help other people who will suffer from a heart issue, and will carry on trying to learn more about matters of the heart.

To anyone out there who perhaps is not at present in the best place, please don't give up, you never know what is just around the corner.

Now I've promised myself a holiday once I got the nod that things were on the up - hopefully will also be sitting in the sun eating gelato in a few weeks time!

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SpiritoftheFloyd
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80 Replies
Rose54 profile image
Rose54

great news so happy for you

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toRose54

Thank you, totally over the moon

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers

Absolutely fantastic news Russell, so pleased for you. Definitely stick around, who am I gonna talk blood tests with if you're not here!!

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toLezzers

Thanks Lesley, really wasn't expecting that today, found it difficult to accept what he was saying at first, then he said, OK you've got a case of white coat syndrome, but if you had HF you're heart would find it almost impossible to get your BP up to 152, the fact that is has, tells me you're OK

Russell

NorthantsSteve profile image
NorthantsSteve

Brilliant news. Many congratulations.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toNorthantsSteve

Thank you, really was not expecting that today

That’s fantastic news 👍🏻

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to

Thank you, it's till sinking in!

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

Well that is just wonderful news!

Where are you planning to go on holiday?

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toMilkfairy

Thank you - still not quite absorbed it!

Planning to go to Tenerife next month for a bit of sun

Gladwyn profile image
Gladwyn

Fantastic news ! I have HF that I assumed was irreversible but you've shown it isn't! I'm very glad for you that all the hard work you put into your recovery has worked so now enjoy that well deserved holiday 😀😀😀

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toGladwyn

Thank you

Calliope153 profile image
Calliope153

wonderful - before the holiday suggest you buy a lottery ticket... ;)

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd

Now that's an idea!

lettingoffsteam profile image
lettingoffsteam

What brilliant news SpiritoftheFloyd, you are an inspiration to us all!

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply tolettingoffsteam

thank you

sasquot1 profile image
sasquot1

That’s wonderful news. You have given me hope that things can get better ( only 6 weeks after HA and struggling) I’ve started rehab at st caths today so feeling hopeful

Enjoy your holiday you deserve it x

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply tosasquot1

Thank you.

Hope you enjoy rehab in St Caths, they are a really helpful group of people. You will be amazed at how much you come on as a result of rehab.

I'm back there next Tuesday for a further stint following having an ICD fitted

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley

So thrilled for you.Well done xx

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply tocowparsley

Thank you

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd

Thank you.

Yes luck does play a part in it, the time of day when I rang 999 - 1.30am, quiet, ambulance here in 6 mins, having an amazing hospital - Liverpool Heart and Chest only 10 miles away - this all helped.

The event shocked me like nothing ever has, and once it had sunk in a bit I became keen to understand how to remedy my poor lifestyle and try to avoid any more trips in a van with blue lights on the roof. At the time of the Echos I was over weight ,unfit who smoked and had a terrible diet. 9 months later, good diet, weight down, no smoking, now got BMI of 21 and while not super fit, certainly fit. I was always hopeful that all this effort would add up to something, glad I stuck with it!

daveofpensby profile image
daveofpensby

Fantastic news well done keep it up

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply todaveofpensby

Thanks Dave

ChicagoGirl1961 profile image
ChicagoGirl1961

That is great news and I think your story will inspire others. Very happy for you, something very worthy of a celebration!

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toChicagoGirl1961

Thank you

Michaelaxx profile image
Michaelaxx

that is great news and a true inspiring story. what diet do you follow xx

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toMichaelaxx

Thank you.

Still working on fine adjustments to diet, but basically stopped all processed food, cook meals for scratch, no processed meat, almost no red meat, cut back on dairy, no chocs or cakes (sweet tooth) plenty of chicken/fish loads of veg, low carb

Janma123 profile image
Janma123

Wow - great news, Well done!

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toJanma123

Thank you

Redsea profile image
Redsea

Well done, what great news. Now enjoy life with lots of holidays. Take care of yourself.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toRedsea

Thank you, I plan to - my unexpected HA last December meant that 2 booked holidays planned for this year were cancelled, I'm now in catch up mode 😊

Redsea profile image
Redsea in reply toSpiritoftheFloyd

Hi Spirit of the Floyd, gutted we couldn't go to Egypt this year, I have missed it so much. We have had lots of mini getaways in this country since my 2 heart attacks at the end of May. Still finding it difficult some days as iam exhausted, think it must be the Meds. Looking forward to two more little holidays before the end of the year, only thing is we have spent a fortune in this country doing short breaks ! Could have been in my fabulous 5* in Egypt fora couple of months! The kids are worrying about their inheritance going down! Do I give a monkeys------- No! We are looking after us! Take care.xx

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toRedsea

Hi Redsea

I'd booked a holiday for 2 weeks to Cape Town and was due to fly exactly 5 weeks after my HA. I always liked a "What if" and looked up where the flight would have been at 1.30 in the morning (the time I rang 999), if I had had my HA 5 weeks later - not good! It would have been half way across the Sahara Desert. Being as I'm only 10 miles away from an excellent heart hospital and still almost didn't make it, if this had happened on the flight I'd have been toast! So in a way I wasn't too disappointed to have missed that holiday. On the plus side, still here, doing well - Cape Town and I will have our rendezvous sometime in the next 12 months

I hope you soon get a chance to get back to Egypt, stay well, stay positive.

thetidders profile image
thetidders

Wonderful news, Russell, so pleased for you. When you’ve finally finished cardiac rehab at St Caths & West Kirby you should be super fit 👍🏻.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply tothetidders

Hi Jean

Thanks, and the most surprising thins is that I'm actually enjoying gong to the gym - that is something that I really wasn't expecting!

Russell

Vivi2711 profile image
Vivi2711

That's great! It inspires us. All the best

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toVivi2711

Thank you

CPL593H profile image
CPL593H

Keep up the good work

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toCPL593H

Thanks, that's certainly the plan

Philc345 profile image
Philc345

Good man enjoy the holiday

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toPhilc345

Thank you, the promise of a holiday was a very good incentive

francesw47 profile image
francesw47

That's wonderful news...the best!! Well done you, you have clearly worked hard and kept it up. Please stick around to inspire others. Yours is one of those stories that really gives hope. Meanwhile have a great holiday in Tenerife and come back to us when you return with tales of sunny beaches!

Frances

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply tofrancesw47

Thank you, I've learnt a lot, not least - look after your body.

Trinityzero profile image
Trinityzero

That's brilliant. Really good news. NHS is amazing isn't it!

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toTrinityzero

Thank you. Yes they are amazing, I've been inspired by the countless NHS staff who have helped and encouraged me after my HA.

Plastow48 profile image
Plastow48

Great! Have a good holiday.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toPlastow48

Thank you, I will.

Brokenheart19 profile image
Brokenheart19

Great news, shows what positive mental attitude, diet and exercise can do for you. Well done.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toBrokenheart19

Thank you. I really was in the depth of despair last January, it was a case of do something or give up, I decided to do something

Nicky3 profile image
Nicky3

I am so happy for you go have that holiday and live your best life.

Nicky

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toNicky3

Thank you, been told I'm OK is like having your life reset to start again

Platypus6 profile image
Platypus6

Absolutely wonderful news well done.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toPlatypus6

Thank you

HHH2017 profile image
HHH2017

Wonderful news! Enjoy that well deserved holiday.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toHHH2017

Thank you

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop

How wonderful to hear such excellent news. Well done you. IT just shows it CAN be done. You made my day.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toQualipop

Thank you, having a HA is such a shock I can understand how people fall into a pit and can't climb out of it, but it can be done

Handel profile image
Handel

Nice one. Enjoy yourself, you deserve it!!

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toHandel

Thank you

Morleyone profile image
Morleyone

Great news enjoy your hoilday it's well deserved

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toMorleyone

Thank you

sharmapn profile image
sharmapn

Thanks. What exercises did you do? Did you take Entresto medicine?

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply tosharmapn

No I don't take Entresto, The beta blocker I'm on is Carvedilol.

After my HA I bought a treadmill and an exercise bike. As well as doing the 12 weeks in cardio rehab I try to do 60 to 90 minutes on my treadmill every day, either walking at 6.0 - 6.3 kph or running at 7 -8 kph. Also stopped smoking, drinking alcohol, completely changed diet - now cook meals from scratch, removed processed foods - especially thing like bacon/sausage, almost no red meat, restricted dairy, no chocolate/cakes, eat lots of chicken/fish and loads of veg, try to keep diet low carb

sharmapn profile image
sharmapn in reply toSpiritoftheFloyd

Thanks a lot. Can you share how much increase in your EJ fraction from 30.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply tosharmapn

40-45%, so borderline

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply toSpiritoftheFloyd

Brilliant news Russell that's quite an increase. Is it a case of the GP keeping an eye on you now or are you left to monitor yourself, apart from the ICD of course?

Sister is off to Tenerife tomorrow, have requested weather updates!

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toLezzers

Hi Lesley

Yes I've been asking myself questions about the Echo for a while. I know they're not 100% reliable and an echo under estimates while a MRI over estimates. Since completing cardio rehab I've been pushing myself further to see what was the threshold of exercise where I'd become breathless and start having angina like pains, but even with running on a treadmill at an incline of 6% and a speed of 8 kph - nothing!

I'll be passed back to GP to keep an eye on me, and I'll be monitoring myself quite a bit.

I'm currently browsing the internet for a holiday. ✈

Russell

SaraTwycross profile image
SaraTwycross

Thats amazing well done you, keep up the amazing work, hugs sara

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toSaraTwycross

Thank you

sharmapn profile image
sharmapn

Is it embarrassing to have ICD and go to work? How much maintain energy is needed for ICD?

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply tosharmapn

There's almost no maintenance, you have a home monitor which watches what your ICD is doing, you just need to visit the clinic once a year.

Emabrrassing! Absolutely not. The majority of people who have an ICD fitted see it as a badge marking the fact that they have had a cardiac arrest and they're still here. Without the advent of an ICD a lot of people who are alive wouldn't be.

sharmapn profile image
sharmapn

Maintenance

Cottagegardener profile image
Cottagegardener

So good to hear you are doing well! I too was discharged from Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital this week - they were very pleased with my progress (new aortic value)

So I’d say we’ve had a really good week!

Keep up the good work!

Kind regards and very best wishes

Cottagegardener 🌸

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toCottagegardener

Hello. I was wondering how you'd got on, we were both in Liverpool Heart and Chest on the same day!

It's great to hear that you're doing well and have also been discharged. I agree we've both had a really good week.

We're very lucky to have such an amazing hospital on our doorstep.

Best wishes for the future, stay well.

Russell

Becksagogo profile image
Becksagogo

How lovely to hear such positive news. Well done for your lifestyle changes. It's hard giving up everything at the same time!

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toBecksagogo

Thank you. Yes it was certainly a challenge giving up:- smoking, drinking, sweets, chocolate, cakes, fried breakfasts, chips, bacon, sausages,red meat (the list goes on)

Sarahd56 profile image
Sarahd56

That's great news! So every cloud has a silver lining. You took all the advice on board and now look where you are! I'm just starting out on my journey.Also changed eating habits , going to cardiac rehab, gave up smoking before this event. You keep doing what you're doing!!!!

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd

Thanks.

Changing the habits of a lifetime isn't easy, but it is worth it. You're making changes which is excellent, well done.

Exmoorwalker profile image
Exmoorwalker

Wonderful news, so pleased for you. A day of hope for all. Enjoy your holiday:)

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toExmoorwalker

Thank you

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