Questions.

[Fawbs2312]

Good morning. I am new to the community after being diagnosed with heart failure on 6th Dec. I am 49 years old and feel like my life has been blown apart. I currently feel like I have been left just to deal with it. I cannot get straight answers from anywhere.

[Hidden]

Dear Fawbs2312

Hello and welcome to the forum.

What a powerful way to start your post to us and unfortunately it’s not the first time that this opening has been used.

First I must tell you that you are not alone, even more so now you have made yourself known to us.

Your profile is a little blank at this time and I can only presume that your heart journey has just started.

We will be here for you every step of the way, each and every procedure and examination that you have gone through { or about to } someone on here has already completed.

I hope you gain the support and knowledge that I do from this forum.

We are ready to help, are you ready to ask for it ?

You are in my thoughts.

[Fawbs2312 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Blue1958.

Thankyou very much for your reply. I am on 5 medications daily but I am waiting for CT angiogram . I am really looking for a prognosis which I cannot seem to get.

Again many thanks,

Sarah

[Hidden in reply to Fawbs2312]

Unfortunately your prognosis cannot be know until all your results are in front of your cardiologist and team.

No one on here is medically able to even presume your prognosis , but as soon as you have it then we can help you with your journey.

You are in my thoughts

[080311]

Morning Fawbs2312,

Welcome to the forum, can perfectly understand the feelings of your life being blown apart! I know when I was told I had heart problems if felt like the floor opened up under my feet.

Firstly the term Heart failure is so frightening, really it just means our pump needs a bit of help at the moment.

You should have a heart failure nurse, if not get back to your cardiologist and ask. You don’t say what medication you are on. This can take time to get use to and may need tweaking until they find the optimum dose.

Have you had all the normal tests done? These will give your cardiologist more information to start your treatment.

You can help yourself, healthy eating, if you smoke stop, and gentle walking. Taking your drugs as prescribed, one of the things I found was it was as if I had to learn a new language lots of words I had never heard before 😂 but you soon get your head around it.

Remember you are now a member of the Hearties family, any questions just post and someone will be along to try and help. If you just need to vent we can lend an ear and even a shoulder to lean on if that’s what you need.

You are not on your own, there are so many who have stood where you are and are willing to help.

Best wishes Pauline

[Fawbs2312]

Hi Pauline,

Many thanks for replying to me.

I am waiting for a CT angiogram which seems to be taking forever. I don't smoke and never have. Always been quite fit and healthy so it is totally out of the blue and a shock. I just want someone to give me a prognosis which I cannot seem to get an answer on.

Thankyou,

Sarah

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Fawbs2312]

Hello Fawbs2312,

You have had some really good advice already.

It can be bewildering when we are first confronted by our heart disease diagnosis.

There are lots of questions and what ifs.

Perhaps write your questions down, then discuss them with your Cardiologist during your appointment.

There are several other support groups which you may find helpful.

Pumping Marvellous and Cardiomyopathy UK.

pumpingmarvellous.org/

cardiomyopathy.org/

[Fawbs2312 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thankyou for your help

[080311 in reply to Fawbs2312]

Hi Sarah,

“Getting a prognosis” I am unclear as to what your looking for? If it’s treatment then after your angiogram your cardiologist will have a much better idea how to put your treatment program together. If you are asking how long you have got! A question we have all asked or at least thought about it’s a case of how long is a piece of string!!

There are so many here on the forum that have lived with their heart issues over many many years.

It’s not the end just the start of a new life with things we have to do to take care of ourselves. I always say when we have a diagnosis of a heart issue the life we knew flies out of the window and this new life flies in. We have medication to take healthy diet exercise to take. Doctors appointments blood tests! but you get used to it.

I had open heart surgery Aortic valve replaced and bypass done over 5 years ago. Without it I wouldn’t be here so I am so grateful every day to the medical team that worked so hard to give me a second chance.

Try to take it one step at a time, I know easier said than done.

Best wishes Pauline

[Heather1957]

The thing is we all know what it is like when we are told we have a problem with our heart, we expect instant medical attention, in reality it isn't like that.From 1 of my experiences I waited about 8/9 months from start of angina pain to bypass op and that was in 2017 pre Covid.

The angiogram will show what is going on inside the heart and then the cardiologist will have a better idea of what treatment is required.

We certainly don't expect to be kept waiting when we have been told we have heart failure sadly the reality is quite different!

As already pointed out to you, we are a community, one most of us would rather not be apart of (LOL) but we are here to support each other.

Hopefully now the holidays are over you won't have to wait much longer for your angiogram and once that has been done things will move faster.

If you have any questions ask away, hopefully someone will have the answer.

[Fawbs2312]

Very helpful thankyou so much.