recently told I have possible heart failure

[JaneFreya]

I have multiple issues: asthma, atrial fibrillation (permanent), underactive thyroid. I am on apixaban blood thinners.

This last year I have had a rather bloody uti followed in May by bleeding from my colon when I lost a considerable amount of blood, so I am now deficient in iron. And am taking iron supplements, but have not been consistent with this as I was unable to take them before and after several colostomy’s I’ve had to remove polyps etc. I also couldn’t take iron when I was in hospital in August with facial cellulitis due to antibiotics I was on. Consequently my iron reserves are still low.

Recently(September) I had a chest infection but have been left with a residual cough which wasn’t going away. I went back to gp who put me in for a blood test b-type natriuretic peptide and my results were 1109 no/L when range should be (0 to 400). The results say I have possible heart failure.

I am so worried and anxious about this

Can anyone reassure me?

[BeKind28-]

Hello

When people come on and see your post I know they will be able to reassure you as they have more knowledge than I do especially regarding the numbers

When you hear the word heart failure it sends us all in a flap but with the treatments they have now there is so much they can do so try and I know it is not easy till you get all the facts and what they can do to not worry to much

I hope you will get some more replies x

[devonian186]

The report should be quite comprehensive. The GP should have a copy and you need to ask them for a face to face appointment and ask them to interpret it in plain English and what should be the next course of action bearing in mind your other conditions.

[Czech_Mate]

Heart failure is a scary term. As far as I take it, it really means that the heart is not working as efficiently as it should and not that it has actually failed completely. Others will be able to fill you in on that. Getting our heads round these things is one of the hardest parts of this whole journey, isn't it?

[JaneFreya]

yes it’s the waiting to know what it actually means to me and my life style/ needs. Funnily enough I was feeling pretty good before I found this out and stress set my AFib on a bit of a roll in the mornings - I think it’s stress.

Thank you for your reassuring reply.