Just diagnosed with heart failure

[Scoopdogg]

Hi I’m 47 just been diagnosed with heart failure - 10% injection , just wondered if any of a similar age are on here ? Wondering about lifespan etc

[nantotwo]

Hi

I was the same age as you when I was diagnosed last March, it comes as a shock and for a while you think that is it! I would say do not research on the internet, use this website and pumping marvellous. Stay positive, listen to your heart nurse, attend all appointments,take your medication. Take life slowly do not get stressed, listen to your body and rest when you need. Try and be healthy with food diet and lifestyle. I wanted to go back to work quite soon that was right for me and my emotional well being but I took it slowly. I have to say I feel a lot healthier now with the right medication than I did before I was diagnosed. I think of heart failure as a condition I live with, that is part of me, not an illness.

[Scoopdogg in reply to nantotwo]

Thank you for taking the time to reply , your words are reassuring. May I ask - how well did you respond to meds and did you need a pacemaker ?

[Fluffybee]

Hi 👋

I’m sorry you’ve just had such an awful shock.

I don’t have the same condition as you, but if you ever want to let off steam about your condition or life itself you know where we are.

This is an incredible site to join.

Wishing you well.

[Scoopdogg in reply to Fluffybee]

Thank you - that’s so kind

[Joliv61]

Welcome to the club.

I’d second what Nantotwo says. Little steps at first and build up slowly. Listen to your cardiac nurses and rehab.

I was 59 and had my ha in November last year, so far I’ve lost 2 and1/2 stone almost and am my lightest weight this century., saying that sounds really odd...

Plenty of positive support in here.

But do be positive, you’re a winner, you’ve survived. You’ll probably have down days and think “why me.” But you can take control and make the changes needed to win.

Good luck on your journey I’m just a few months ahead of you.

[Scoopdogg in reply to Joliv61]

That’s really positive and well done you ! Hope you continue in the weight loss - as in all things a good attitude helps and that’s how I face things - thanks for commenting it’s really appreciated

[Joliv61]

And when we say little steps, I was told not to walk the dogs, and 2 minutes out/2 minutes back... there’s a variety of forums within health unlocked as well.

TTFN

[nantotwo]

Hi

First thing they had to do was check why I had heart failure which did take a while, ruling out heart disease, previous heart attack etc. Had MRI scan, for me my heart muscle was damaged they do not know why possibly always there or damaged by a virus. I spoke to a consultant this week and he has discussed wearing a heart monitor device for a couple of weeks to see if the heart is beating properly, he asked about blackouts, irregular heart beats etc, i have not experienced any.If so possibly have a ICU device fitted just to kick in if there is ever a problem. I believe that is different from a pacemaker and only a tiny gadget. I would imagine you have a journey ahead of you and for me it was getting the medication right and gradually upping the dose. You should be refered to the heart nurse they are excellent and very supportive. Write down any questions you have and take them along. Depending on where your heart nurse is based, mine was in the ACU department and where I had to wait was in the ward next to individual rooms, that at first was upsetting as these patients were very ill and I felt is that my future, I am not old I do not belong here. The nurse was very reasurring and eventually I felt okay about it. Although through this forum we know heart failure is quite common I did not personally know anyone with it and if you mention you have it, it is a conversation stopper, people do not know what to say! So in a way it is our job to educate people! Good luck!

[GracieOS]

Hi Scoopdogg, I was diagnosed with heart failure about 20 months ago now, aged 55. It was a complete shock, I thought my time was up. Not helped by the term 'heart failure' itself which sounds so dramatic. I wish another term could be used to reflect the fact that your heart has not failed but is just struggling to pump blood as effectively as it should and this functioning error can be improved. Also regarding EF readings normal is 55% +, not 100%. My EF on diagnosis was low 30s. A little over a year later it had improved to around 50, just below normal. I follow the advice of my heart failure nurse and take my medication religiously. I made some life style changes, pretty minor ones really like improved diet, less alcohol, gave up caffeine, and less stress (I reduced my working hours and have brought retirement plans forward). I also sort counselling, that really helped me come to terms with my diagnosis and see it not as a death sentence but a chronic health condition to live with. The diagnosis made me take stock of what was and was not important to me and dump all the unimportant stuff. While I still have ups and downs I'm so much better now and just get on with living life....

Very best wishes

[Scoopdogg in reply to GracieOS]

Gracie thanks so much - your story really resonates with me as I have been a counsellor and and desperately trying to counsel

Myself in here ! I love your positivity and we all know that in itself it is a huge factor - thanks you I really enjoyed your comment

[Bigbrian]

Hi I had an EF of 30 in April 2019, severe heart failure at 51 and felt like it was all over. So I took the meds exactly as prescribed, took time to recover, had a pacemaker fitted and now 13 months on from original diagnosis I have very mild if any heart failure and feel great, so there is light at the end of the tunnel and you are living in a time where medicine is at its peak, so do what the nurse/ doctor tells you and keep taking the tablets

[Scoopdogg in reply to Bigbrian]

Thanks for sharing brian - that’s good to know - and encouraging that’s you have made so much progress

[Charlpalp]

💕

[Charlpalp in reply to Charlpalp]

Can I ask what was your symptoms of heart failure and I’m so sorry for your news but this site is fab and I’m sure there is many people in your situation to reassure you

Xx

[Scoopdogg in reply to Charlpalp]

Hi just started having breathlessness 4 weeks ago - they found fluid in lungs and heart

[Vivi2711 in reply to Scoopdogg]

Restrict salt intake, avoid processed/ canned foods, restrict fluid intake and increase the dosage of your diuertic in consultation with your cardiologist.

If you are exercising daily sweat a little more by slating an exercise regimen with the approval of your cardiologist.

Add celery, parsley and bottle gourd which will potentiate diuresis.

[Vivi2711]

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

[Shimmer-sparkle]

Hi, I just got my diagnosis yesterday, I'm 40 and in complete shock. It was only found when I went for a pre op for a gallbladder operation. The consultant called and dropped the bombshell. I have just been started on meds and feel completely overwhelmed with it all.