heart failure

[Walkswim]

just diagnosed with acute (sudden) heart failure and woukd love to hear from others with this diagnosis

[Tos92]

Hi Walkswim

I’m very to hear about your recent diagnosis of heart failure.

I don’t have heart failure myself however, many do on this forum and I’m sure you’ll be happy to know that people can resume a normal life whilst on medication to improve heart failure.

I hope they come and offer their insights soon.

Good luck on your journey and let us know how you get on.

All the best.

Tos

[Jimbo53a]

Hi I have heart failure too. Diagnosed 2020 getting used to it now. Biggest thing I have had to learn is to listen to my body and learn to rest when I need to. It takes time but you do get there in the end. Talk with your heart failure nurse , cardiologist or GP about anything you are not sure on and remember everyone's journey is different. I have only been on here a few weeks but everyone is friendly. Oh and stay away from Dr Google.Hope this helps

James

[Cee-Cee1]

Hi Walkswim, it's lovely to meet you. Unfortunately I can't help with any information on heart failure but am sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis. There are a lot of members here who do have experience of it and hopefully some of them will be along to chat soon. Just wanted to send you a warm welcome to the forum. Carol

[Anon2023]

hi. I was diagnosed with heart failure last year. It’s taken a long time to come to terms with it and I take a lot of medication to stop it progressing further. There are tons of people on this forum with the same diagnosis who live long and full lives. The words “heart failure” are awful and can put the fear of God into us but it simply means that your heart isn’t functioning as well as it could be. There’s a brilliant website called pumping marvellous which explains everything in clear and easy terms, it reassured me when I read it. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions you might have and I, and I’m sure lots of other forum members, will do our best to answer. Best wishes. X

[Hidden]

What a horrible name Heart failure is, it's a bad blanket term that can cover so many parts that mean that the heart is not working to its full function.

As your journey continues you will find out exactly what yours is, your EF function being one of the main markers.

The mental side of it all is normal and can on some days seem out of control to many of us, good days, bad days but they are all extra days.

Good luck with it all and we are here to help in anyway we can

[EU95PTM]

Hello there, I’m sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis.

I too have heart failure. I was diagnosed just over a year ago following a heart attack. It took me a long time to get my head around it and start to come to terms with my “new normal”. In many ways I am still on that journey but it has got easier as time has passed. I expect you’ll be taking a cocktail of medications. I take 9 tablets a day and they have improved my ejection fraction (a measure of how well the heart is pumping) from 39% to 56% (low normal level). The biggest recommendation I can make is join the “Pumping Marvellous” Facebook group or take a look at their website. There’s lots of information and a supportive peer group. Wishing you all the best.

[uzininemm]

Hello Walkswim

I am 2 years young with my heart failure, just to add to what others have said.

The EF% of your heart function has been mentioned previously, but remember that normal % is 60% plus and not 100% so if you are diagnosed at 20% your heart isn't pumping at 1/5 of its ability.

First the bad news, there is no cure as yet, the good news as others have and will say is with the right meds/eating well/exercising to your ability, managing your fluid intake and listening to your med team (that will cover the other points) there is a good life to be had.

When you offered heart rehab do take it, it s very beneficial and if you haven't been offered it do ask for it, you won't regret it.

It will take time but you will get there, do remember you are unlikely to be able to do what you were doing before, I know this is easier said than done but don't dwell on that as there will be plenty you still/can do.

All the best.

[Walkswim in reply to uzininemm]

thank you

So helpful

[Redfox70]

Hello Walkswim, Welcome to the club no one wants to be a member of! I too have been diagnosed with heart failure. My diagnosis came in Feb 2022 and was unexpected, I thought the breathlessness I was experiencing was a chest infection! I have greatly improved ( ejection fraction has gone from 15% to approx 50%) by taking the medication, exercising within guidelines and following the advice of the Cardiologist and Heart Failure nurses, so much so that the nurses want to discharge me. The psychological side of things i'm still working on. There is lots of support out there as mentioned in previous posts and lots of knowledgable people on here that can give advice. I also get the Heart Matters magazine from the BHF, which comes every few months and is free. Best wishes

[Ewloe]

I love the name walkswim- as since my heart attack ( it’ll be 2yrs on the 29th of this month), and subsequent diagnosis of left sided heart failure ( EF was 40% then improved to 46%), Ive gradually rebuilt my fitness level and now swim twice a week 1 mile+ each time, walk as much as I can at times 5-7k ( depends on weather), do Pilates for my arthritis, attend a well-being class and give it my all, do a bit of gym stuff, play badminton once a week and do walking football which is great fun. I wear an Apple Watch and can see how I’m improving- and still am improving. It’s a slower process than it used to be but I’m always looking to be moving forward.

I’ve had to accept that my exercise is different to before my HA, and mental health has a big impact on your physical health and how you approach it. So be patient with yourself, give yourself time to recover and accept the changes life has thrown your way but you can still live and enjoy life. I’ll be off to walking football in a minute then tomorrow I’m taking my 4yr old grandson to an inflatable park. - that’s hard work for me now but with my husband as my tag team It’s like an intense exercise session 😂😂. But I can do it. You’ll get there. Good luck.

[uzininemm in reply to Ewloe]

Great to hear you are doing walking football, Ewloe, it is something I did think of asking the cardiologist if i could do it, but forgot😗, because they do sessions at the gym I go to and I thought of trying it.

I take it the other players are aware of your heart condition (I suppose I am concerned about any rough and tumble that could happen). Do you are able to have plenty of breaks when you feel like it?

[Ewloe in reply to uzininemm]

yes to plenty of breaks. Everyone there has a health condition of some sort. And it’s taken if anyone of us needs to sit down for a bit it’s okay and no one else blinks an eye. Depending who’s playing they have a 3 touch rule at times and it slows the game down. Good warm ups and cool downs. Some people come and watch first before joining in. It’s worth a look.

[uzininemm in reply to Ewloe]

Thanks very much. will take a look at my local gym.

[Silvasava]

Welcome Walkswim. Sorry to read of your diagnosis. I'm another one who hates the term HF. I would prefer Impaired Heart Function as the term HF can leave people in shock and panic. As others have said don't Google as much of it is very out of date and alarming. Modern medications, surgical procedures and appliances can greatly improve quality of life but can take a while to be tailored to you. Plenty of support on here and can also recommend Pumping Marvelous, a terrific support for us 'Hearties' Good luck x

[Deejay62]

Hi Walkswim I’m sorry to hear about your diagnoses. I’m not sure from your post what stage you’re actually at and what your heart function is.

I have heart failure and I’ve had it now for 20 years. I will admit when I was told I was in my early 40s and I thought that was the end. My ejection fraction (EF) was actually 43%. It’s gone to 10% in the past and it’s now 23% due to the cocktail of heart failure medications I’ve been given. So you can see even with a heart function of 23%. I can still manage to do things and live a life, because I’m alive.

If you can speak to your cardiologist and heart failure nurses about how you’re feeling it will help you a lot. Also you can talk to us for support.

Don’t ever feel alone. It’s normal to feel all kinds of emotions. Over the years I’ve gone from highs to low vice versa, it’s normal to have lots of feelings, but it’s better to talk when you do.

I was sent on the BHF website by my cardiologist originally, because I’m no longer interested in transplant when my heart gets worse. Depending on your situation transplant might also be an option. All the best

[Walkswim in reply to Deejay62]

hi Deejay62

Thank you for your reply.

My heart is currently working at less than 30 percent

I’m able to walk a reasonable distance so the fluid medicine is working

Once I get the Echocardiogram results I’ll have a better idea of what I’m facing

I will keep myself positive and active and I now know to rest if I need to

I’m finding this forum so helpful and caring

You’ve done well - 20 years - I hope I get that nant

All the best

[Deejay62 in reply to Walkswim]

You will be ok, all you have to do is remember to ask questions about things worrying you concerning your heart, once you get the results from the echo. Let us know how you get on. All the best.