Heart failure

[cazxx1]

my hubby was doignosed with heart failure last year ..he was fine up till a couple of months ago but now everywhere we go he gets very anxious he seems to have heartburn a lot and can't wait to get home he is 64 and had to give up work. I'm really worried about him . Has anyone else suffered

[Hidden]

Dear Cazxx1,

How very sad to hear of your husbands feeling and also on how that must impact on yours as well.

Anxiety {in my view} is one of the most unknown feeling that a human can have, and after working for a mental health team for many years it still is not fully understood.

It’s easy to say don’t worry until you have all the facts and outcomes to your husbands condition, but that is what this dreadful anxiety does in its distorting and heightening way.

I think that it’s very important that you get hold of his dr and explain what your husband {and yourself} are going through before it builds {if it does} any further.

Good luck to the pair of you, you are both in my thoughts, it’s a journey well traveled with plenty of help on the way if you ask for it.

[cazxx1 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou so much for your quick response xx

[Hidden]

So sorry to read of your husbands struggles - my husband had valve surgery last year snd suffered complications and this summer was told he has heart failure Cardiologist and GP both agree the term heart failure is hideous and can over worry patients - failure sounds so extreme and life shortening where actually for many it’s the heart doesn’t function 100% correctly

Have they clearly explained what function your husbands heart is altered? Understanding the issue really helped my husband , myself and our 12 yr old

Daily life is altered for my husband- some days he doesn’t want to go out and see the world and that’s ok . But other days he feels physically able too

People live many years , some very long tears with HF but if not explained will make someone feel anxious

Covid adds to it as well

Encourage a chat with his GP , counsellor or even write to his cardiologist for a full explanation

All the best

[Becksagogo]

Anxiety seems to go hand in hand with heart issues. At 64 it feels as though your whole life has come to an end. You no longer feel like the man of the house able to provide for your family. And physically you can't do the things that you were once able to no matter how much chivvying you get from friends and family. Seek help from your GP with regards to his anxiety and his heartburn but most importantly treat him gently. He's lucky to have such a caring partner and I wish you both well.

[Fredxxx]

Hi Cazxx1

My cardio nurse suggested I look at this website. heartfailurematters.org/

I and my family, found it really useful to help understand Heart Failure.

[Snackjack in reply to Fredxxx]

Thank you that is a really helpful link, I have Heart Failure and not doing so well, I have had a look on the link and there is lots to read that may help me. xx

[Putterguy]

Anxiety comes with the HF. I too was like your husband, I just couldn’t be bothered, became house bound never wanted to go out. I thought I was a strong minded person so couldn’t accept what had happened to me. My HF team were excellent in understanding my anxiety. I had a couple of trips to A&E with it and a stay over. It took me 6 months to finally admit I needed someone to talk to. I was fairly lucky that I could afford a private physiologist. Unfortunately sometimes it is difficult to express to your partner /wife how you feel and it is easier to talk to someone who is away from your situation. I have now luckily come to the top of the NHS waiting list and am now under a physiologist who specialises with HF patients. I have been having appointments for the last 3 months, first weekly then fortnightly and now monthly. My wife asks me after every session what did you talk about today and I couldn’t tell you! Just everything an hours worth of rambling on, me not the physiologist! I now get out everyday, play my beloved golf 3 times a week ( now have buggy), we go out for lunch, been away for a week in wet Wales and planning further trips. You have no idea how glad I am that my brother talked me into seeing someone. I am just about there with accepting what has happened to me but I think I still have a long way to go. There will be challenges ahead, but I think I’m in a better place now to deal with them. If you can try and get him to see someone as I found it invaluable. There is always the good people on this site that will give great advice and support. Good luck to you both and don’t give up, there is life after HF.

[Curryandchips]

I am the same age as your husband and have HCM. Its not fun having a dodgy heart. Every day you are reminded of the limitations this condition brings. A couple of point for your husband to consider.

The term Heart Failure is not helpful. Your heart is a pump that has developed a fault. Usually they can mitigate the fault if not fix it altogether. There are new drugs and procedures coming online every couple of months.

I was told by a GP that I had 10 years to live. This turns out to have been a wrong, cruel and stupid remark. The use of drugs and pacemakers has dropped my HF from Serious to Moderate. I am confident that I will live a near normal lifespan.

People with HF are under the microscope. The NHS will look after you and deal with issues before they become a problem

I have found that sleep is a great restorative, just an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon (I'm retired). I treat my heart a a muscle, gentle exercise and plenty of rest.

I have often thought there was a need for counseling - it might be something your husband wants to consider.

take Care

[Prada47]

Hello when I had a Heart attack in 1982 I was scared as well . I wouldn't drive any distance without knowing if there was a Hospital on the route !!! Another thing was I would buy Trebor Mints I bet no one in the medical profession knew how a Trebor Mint could stabilise your Heart when you feel a little panic attack coming on !!!

It took a few months to overcome these weird thoughts, but overcome them you do. I have worked all over the World until I retired in 2004. In some remote locations it was 100s of miles to the nearest medical facilities and sometimes even a helicopter ride away !! So don't despair it's been almost 40 years and I don't worry anymore lol

Regards

[cazxx1]

Thankyou all so much for you comments and advice means the world to me xxxx