I've recently found out that i'm in heart failure after just a few days of breathlessness which has not happened since. Just got the results from MRI and CT scans and it appears iv'e had an heart attack at some point.
I'am completely and totally devastated by this news as i didn't even think there could possibly be anything wrong with me.
I have my 3rd appointment with the cardiac nurse on Wednesday and i dread to think what more is he going to tell me.
I really can't get my head around any of this and very much doubt i ever will.
Thanks for reading my post.
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tandycute
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Sorry to hear you've been diagnosed with heart failure.
First of all, don't panic, it is a horrible shock when you're told you've got heart failure, It's a terrible term, I prefer to call it impaired heart function.
It means that you're heart isn't pumping as much blood as it should. The amount of blood pumped is called the ejection fraction. A normal EF is anything over 55%, between 40 and 55 is a low EF, and under 40% is classed as heart failure.
However, while these numbers are a basic identifier of HF, the doctors are really more concerned with how their patient manages with HF, for this they use the New York Heart Association classification system, link below:-
Have a chat with your cardiac nurse next week, try not to get too disturbed by this, easier said that done I know.
There area number pf people on this forum who are leading full active lives 20 years after being diagnosed with HF, and if you're not on them already there are a number of medications that control and manage the condition really well
Hi don't panic. Just get the right medication and try and put it to the back of your mind. Keep going forward. I've had CAS
cardio artery spasms all my life I'm now 69. I was treated for asthma for a year then told I didn't have asthma. Then doc decided it was COPD. I THOUGHT GREAT I'M DYING. After tests he decided I didn't have that either. Never been able to climb hills or stairs. But find ways to manage. Don't let it ruin your future. Or try not to. My best wishes Lyn
Hi tandycute, theres absolutely no reason why you can't continue enjoying life, going out, holidays etc. A friend and her husband who has HF went to Haweii last year and are planning to go to florida next year. My husband has HF, was diagnosed in 2012 & fitted with an ICD, he was 57. Spiritofthefloyd is completely right when he says there are people in the forum leading very active lifes having had HF for over 20 years, the key is healthy diet, exercise (as guided by your medical team) and the meds. I get you don't to talk about it, talking about it makes it real but HF really only means your heart needs a bit of help pumping.
I was diagnosed with heart failure in August. Walked out of cardiologists in utter shock I thought I be discharged but since then I’ve got more info and it’s not as devastating as it sounds
Go on a web site called pumping marvellous lot of info there for you to help you come to terms with it
I was in a similar position to you and the diagnosis was a shock to me too.I won't go on about medication etc as it has already been said. I think it is important to remember this is a condition not the end, which can be managed. I was diagnosed in April still waiting to know why as MRI is taking a while.
At first I did get upset when visiting the heart nurse in the ACU as i felt i did not belong there with all these poorly people that i could not identify with but i had to get over that for my own wellbeing.
I went on holiday to Zante in July, I would be lying if I said I was not anxious but I was sensible not too much heat and rested. I am back to work but not overdoing it and try not to get stressed. I refuse to look at any website apart from this one.
As everyone has said stay positive that is the way forward.
Tanycute. I’m the same age as you and was diagnosed with AF a couple of years ago. Recently it’s been more noticeable and I am out of breath a little. So although heart failure has not been diagnosed....yet I feel similar concerns as you. It would be great to have a ‘blether’ over a cuppa with people like you and me along with an expert who could explain things, give advice and look after our heart health. A bit like the diabetic clinic. What do you think?
Heart Failure is a lousy term for a Heart that just needs a little looking after.
I was diagnosed in 2015 after having by pass surgery with an EF of 27 % so Severe H F
Since 2015 I have had a couple of stents and a lot of medication I now have an EF of 43 % and Moderate H F so there is light at the end of the tunnel. Yes I do have problems with being short of breath but otherwise things are not to difficult to cope with. I do listen to what I am told ( well most of the time ) and life goes on. I am 72 and sometimes I reflect on how lucky I am to be here, after quite a few of my friends have passed on with various other problems long before reaching 72. I think what I am trying to say is that it's not the end of the world being diagnosed, it's just life will take on a slightly different direction !! This is a good forum with lots of advice, please don't use Dr Google he is a very confusing Dr with lots of bad and out of date advice.
Hi tandycute, I remember when my husband was first diagnosed with HF we were so shocked & scared. Please don't use Google for information, I made the mistake of doing that and wished I hadn't, most of the information is either out of date, not applicable or just totally wrong.
I would highly recommend you have a look at the patient led heart failure charity Pumping Marvellous, I think someone mentioned them previously. The website is fantastic for info, symptoms to look out for, what to ask at appts etc. The charity & the support from their closed facebook group have helped us enormously. Also the BHF nurses are always a phone call away if you need them for advice or to help make sense of what's going on.
I'm very much like you. I was diagnosed with heart failure a year ago, aged 55. I was fit, healthy life style, worked full time, enjoyed walking the pembrokeshire coastal path, where I live, and yoga. It was a complete and utter shock. I made the mistake of searching Google and ended up depressed and even more anxious. I've only just had my MRI and am still waiting for the results, these delays haven't made things any easier. However, I'm still reasonably fit, I still walk the coastal path with my dogs, I still do yoga, I still work, albeit I've cut my hours to 4 days a week. In May I went for three weeks in my campervan, with my husband, around France and Spain, we went walking and cycling, exactly what we would always have done. I don't consult Google, sticking instead to the websites mentioned already. I'm still coming to terms with the diagnosis and been scared and down along the way, but in all honesty my life hasn't changed that much. I've made some minor Improvements to my diet, cut my working hours and try to slow down and take it easy when I need to. I've started to explore early retirement for both me and my husband and we are planning to take off in our campervan around Europe for 6 months from September 2020. I've learnt this diagnosis is not the end of anything.
I've been through phases of not coping well at all. Being scared all the time. I haven't had the best experience with the NHS here, delays - very severe ones - including waiting a year and counting for an MRI and its report, and miscommunication between my consultant and nurse. I think everyone is just overstretched in the NHS, here anyway. I'm probably going to seek a private consultation when my MRI report is ready. The psychological impact of the diagnosis hasn't been addressed and neither have I been given any reassurance from my medical team, but I have seen a counsellor privately and that has helped a lot with learning to live with the uncertainty. If you are able, I'd seek out psychological support. For me it's been money well spent. The psychological impact for me has been the worse aspect. I still fear I won't see my son graduate University in 2 years time or get any retirement for instance. Hence I'm making plans to retire as soon as I can. Joining this forum has been helpful as there are people here many years down the line from diagnosis of heart failure and that has given me more hope than anything. I hope to be here in 10 years plus, giving the same hope to newly diagnosed people.
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. You are not alone and I hope like me you find this forum helpful. My heart attack last month came out of the blue and really shocked and distressed me. But hey we are still here! Try and take comfort in the fact that the doctors and nurses know about your condition and will provide the advice, medication and support you need. I won’t lie, getting over the mental shock is not easy and will take a while and you’ll have good and bad days but you will come to terms with it. My brother in n law has had the same condition as you for many years and is enjoying a god life including travelling and going out etc. Be strong and follow all the advice and I’m sure you will be fine. I don’t know if you are still working but if you are think about retirement- it really does take the pressure off!
63? Oh to be only 63! You are young and your body will heal, but i suspect your mind has suffered more. The mix of emotions, the anger, the disappointment, the turmoil of it all, and worst of all the imaginings of scenarios and future events. There is only one cure for this and it is time, and support. The cure - acceptance that life might be different. Once you come to terms, realise that life is a bumpy road, and get the support of people like us, life's not so bad. Stop thinking so much, our imaginations will be the death us. Take care.
Dr esselstyn diet is not suitable for everyone with Heart failure. Diet, exercise etc should be discussed with the poster's medical team, as with HF especially when newly diagnosed, one size does not fit all. Excellent advice regarding relaxation videos.
Why do you think Dr Esselstyn's diet is in some way unsuitable, plus I "suggested" that the OP look at it, indeed look at his entire argument based on his immense experience over many decades?
True, I missed all important exercise from my posting but that was covered by others.
We've been through this many times before, it serves no purpose in keep going over the same issue & does not help the original poster in anyway. However, the ethos of the forum is to support and share our experiences, I'm not aware that you have experience of heart failure. Please be mindful tandycute has recently been diagnosed & vulnerable right now, the best advice is given by his/her medical team.
Hi, isn't this a fantastic group! I had a heart 'incident' in June, after spending a week in hospital, I left feeling fine, but without a full diagnosis as I was waiting for an MRI scan and then the results so I had about 8 weeks till I was told that I had had a heart attack but with no lasting damage to my heart function, phew! It's a difficult time, getting your head around not being 'right' but I'd say take your time, take advantage of every health care professional you can, do as your told and stay positive.
Hi I bet u r absolutely terrified at the min but try and be strong, it is amazing wat they can do now . And now u r gonna be checked and monitored and given wat meds or procedure needed to keep u healthy and strong, have faith and trust the drs they honestly know exactly wat they have to do and it’s good thing u bein treated rather then continuing with your life with a problem u don’t know about, give it a little time and I promise u will be on here comforting someone else who is experiencing a problem similar to wat u have gone through ❤️👍xx
found my self in the same place as you 3 years ago have since worked out it was 10 years previous i had had the heart attack i have since had 1 more but it is possible to have a normal life i have a friend who has been living with this condition for over 20 years you just have to take life at a slower pace and try to avoid stress.
Heart failure is a) not 'mostly in your head' and b) there is not a dietary cure.
Lezzers only said that one size doesn't fit all and that it's best to get medical advice on diet and lifestyle as every individual is different. I don't know why you'd be offended by her very sensible comment.
It's very patronising to call someone 'dearest' in this context.
First of all I am not rising to your PC claim that "dearest" is a patronising term, where I come from it is a term of indearment, end of.
Secondly, perhaps I should clarify that the "aftermath following treament" of a CVD incident mainly is in the head. I wasn't suggesting it was a purely a psychosomatic disease. Although stress itself does contribute directly to the disease, hence the importance of avoiding it.
Dr Esselsytn shows much eveidence that his diet "cures" CVD and heart failure is a direct result of this disease.
Quote:- "Q. How does coronary artery disease cause heart failure?
A. Coronary artery disease is a disease of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to your heart. It decreases blood flow to your heart muscle. If the arteries narrow or get blocked, your heart becomes starved for oxygen and nutrients and can't pump as well."
I disagree Khonkean, heart failure is when the heart is damaged and cannot repair itself thus forming scar tissue. This damage cannot be reversed ( at present) by any known treatment.
Yes, I graciously accept your point Dolphin in terms of improvement of EF. My point was more directed at the cause of Heart Failure in terms of damage, scar tissue and the reversal of such damage. I didn’t mention EF in my reply.
Of course I don’t, but from my own experience ( after a heart attack) I had an echo ( as per NICE guidelines) to investigate my Left ventricular diastolic function for signs of disfunction. This would either be impaired ( heart failure) or preserved.
On asking why this was necessary the consultant cardiologist informed me that my HA had caused irreversible damage which forms scar tissue rather than repairing itself.
I merely responded to this point. I didn’t mention that LVDF can’t improve.
Hi you. Perfectly normal reaction, me too and my son. However things do settle emotionally, just give yourself chance to take it all. You know the saying "there's life after a divorce" same applies to this. Just do as they suggest and let the medications support your heart. Live a healthy life but live xxxx
Be gentle with yourself. Give yourself the space for all your emotions. Joining this very lovely forum is a great start to begin thinking about accepting your diagnosis or at least finding your way to living with it. Keep posting, keep reading other posters and don’t forget to go out for a walk every day x
Of course you are in shock and denial. You've just been faced with your own mortality. Perfectly normal. But hear this. My mother was diagnosed with heart failure and multiple organ damage when pregnant with me in her early 20s. She had full blown eclampsia followed 8 yrs later by another pregnancy with eclampsia which damaged her heart even further. . Back then, in the 1940s, there was no treatment for it. It was a case of just get on with it. She was given no tablets or other tests ever and was just told she could never have a general anaesthetic. At 65 she had a hip replacement under epidural. She was 69 when she died. So she lived almost 50 years with no treatment and heart failure. IT's a horrible term. It isn't failing and suddenly going to give up. It's just not as strong as it should be but there is now a lot of treatment and lifestyle changes that can improve your heart function.
Pretty sure there was no medication. When I was born there was no NHS either. I don't think she would even have thought to ask and her doctor didn't offer anything. She just got on with living. Her only complaints were arthritis; she was in a lot of pain and getting out of breath on gentle slopes.
I think I will leave it to the OP to decide. IMO a special diet is better than drugs. I have to take some drugs because I have stents, but anything I can do to reduce them has to be good news.
Diet focuses mainly on Obstructive coronary artery disease it is only one type of heart disease. Albeit the most common.
Those with congenital heart disease, pre eclampsia, peri partum cardiomypathy and other Cardiomyopathies, Heart failure rhythm disorders, clotting issues, inherited high cholesterol, non obstructive coronary artery disease such as spontaneous coronary artery dissection, microvascular and vasospastic angina , Takstubso syndrome have different types of heart disease which relay on surgical and medical intervention as well as Life style changes.
Lifestyle changes are an important component of maintaining our healthy hearts.
There is no size fits all no one cure all. We are individuals with individual needs which requires bespoke treatment and life style changes.
Glad to see to many positive and helpful comments on here. I was diagnosed 3 yrs ago with an EF of 17 and a load of fluid on my lungs. 5 day stay in hospital while I was on 2 fluid tablets a day and restricted fluid intake. A stone in fluid came off! They think the HF was caused by chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer 12 yrs previously- or a viral infection.
I have an ICD (put in under GA) and apart from problems at the beginning with an infection all is good.
My EF is now 43% so my HF consultant is happy. I walk my dogs twice a day, regularly covering 5 or so miles a day. I do get tired, but know when to pace myself.
I do follow the BHF diet and am at Slimming World and aiming to lose the weight I put on while I was not very mobile.
We go on holiday a couple of times a year, mainly to Europe and have no problems.
I know it’s easy to be worried and frightened when you are first diagnosed, but we are all here to help and by telling you our experiences you can see there is light at the end of the tunnel. Presumably you have a HF nurse? Mine was a godsend and I saw her weekly in the beginning.
Did you get the BHF ‘bible’ given to you? I really relied on that for the first few months. It is a shock to get a diagnosis like this particularly if no one explains anything to you in the first place!
Hi. I’ve just been diagnosed with moderate heart failure but this was not such a shock as for you, as I had remained unwell after having a pacemaker fitted as an emergency two years ago. That however had been a huge shock and I found it very hard to cope with the feelings of helplessness and loss of control of my life. I paid for counselling sessions, as free sessions were not available for a year (!), and these really helped me come to terms with what had happened. An opportunity to talk at length with someone outside the NHS and my family about my feelings and worries was invaluable and I highly recommend it. I wish you well and hope you feel much better about things very soon. Helen.
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