downhearted 😂

[Jackabee]

I am feeling really downhearted (excuse the pun) I was diagnosed with heart failure in March after going into hospital with vertigo. I am 69 and have always walked the dog every day, exercised every day (Pilates, yoga, running, swimming, ballet, tap) and was a trapeze artist betweeen the ages of 50 and 61. I have never smoked, drunk alcohol or had a sweet tooth and have always eaten a heart healthy diet. I did have anorexia for ten years when I was younger. I have always had a heart healthy diet since ‘recovery’ from that. Sound a right bundle of laughs, don’tI? Anyway, I am trying to be brave and am on several meds. I recently started on Entresto and am on the middle dose but at my last visit to the cardiac nurse, the spironolactone was halved to 25mg because my potassium levels are apparently creeping up. I have been told to watch what I eat ( not good given my past) but there seems to be hardly anything healthy left for me to eat. Anything that is heart healthy has potassium ( nuts, one square of dark chocolate, kefir etc) and I am not keen on bread or pasta.I feel at a loss and very sad…

[CJ7CVD]

Morning. I'm 63 and diagnosed with HF last year. Like you I exercise, not overweight. After investigations it was discovered a hole in my heart..PFO...had let a blood clot through and this severely damaged my heart.I am on 1/2 tablet of spironolactone as I didn't tolerate a whole tablet. I'm also on Entresto and others.

If you use Facebook there's a great support group called Pumping Marvellous. You could request to join and request certain literature.

It was my heart failure nurse who told me about it. Take care.

[Czech_Mate]

Hi

A lot of what you are saying resonates with me.Why me? I'd always been proud of a slow resting heartbeat as a sign of fitness. Suddenly it's a problem, one or more of the valves are leaky and I was whipped into hospital to have a pacemaker fitted to make the heart beat at least at 60bpm.

There is so much to take in from various doctors and nurses, not easy when there is a language problem as well. Uncle Google is not much help either. Sometimes I feel blinded by the science and sometimes baffled by the bs.

I'm 66 and retired but had a part-time job for the village cutting grass etc. I've decided to give that up. It's alright at home doing things around the house and garden at my own pace; I can take a break, lie down or have a nap when I feel like it. Also I've signed up for a U3A course on forestry.

The other thing is how family and friends are taking it. When talking to me it's all: "you're OK, it's nothing to worry about etc.. But then I realise that behind my back the talk is about how serious my situation is.

It's something that we are going to have to cope with. That for me is more about what this site is for.

Good luck and don't let things (or people) grind you down.

[Eva58]

Hi there I'm just starting on this journey. I'm 63 years old, very active but have to have AVR fairly soon I am told. I'm scared but trying to stay calm for myself and my family. I'm awaiting angiography and also an initial letter from heart surgeon appointment. I'm on a waiting list. I'm also on Ramipril. I have found this forum helpful and informative. Sending you best wishes on your road to recovery too.

Regards

[Blackcatsooty]

Dear Jackabee

Welcome to the hearty site.

My word, what a healthy regime you have kept to.

Just think what a state you might be in if you had not exercised and kept a decent diet.

Anorexia is a horrid ailment but it need not affect your later life. Please do not dwell on sadness etc, please dwell on Pilates, running, trapezes, and all the wonderful exercises you have succeeded with.

Your dog deserves his walks so keep up the dog walking. Other than that, you could decide how much or how little exercise you do.

Very best wishes

An envious Sooty

[Jackabee]

Thank you everyone. It is good to be able to voice my fears. Much like Czech mate the family and friends don’t want to talk about it and say ‘it will be fine.’ Forestry course sounds great. You are of course right blackcatsooty, in saying that had I not had a healthy lifestyle, it could have been worse but maybe it would have been a tad more fun! 😂

[Batty55 in reply to Jackabee]

Hi Jackabee - people’s reactions are very strange aren’t they! My daughter won’t come and see me since my heart attack & subsequent heart failure. I have seen her 3 times at a relatives home but she won’t come to me. Very confusing.

[Jackabee in reply to Batty55]

Batty, that is very sad for you. I expect that she is frightened and so doesn’t know what to say but we need comfort and understanding of our situation from loved ones at this time, don’t we?