New on here.

[Neil14]

Hi everyone,

Had a heart attack and stroke in December. Recovering well but have been told I have heart failure. Struggling with meds and finding it very difficult to deal with it mentally. Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks.

[Buddy00]

Heart failure is an umbrella term used if you have anything wrong with your heart. It can cover very minor conditions to major conditions. Depending on what your condition is and the medication you take you can still live a good life.

[Bruce67]

I had valve repair end of Dec 23, now awaiting an ICD implant ...and the mental struggles are worse than the physical for me!

[fishonabike]

i'm sorry to hear that you are struggling with this and hope you find some help from members here

Cardiomyopathy UK (cardiomyopathy.org/) also have some helpful info and videos and might have a more specific online forum for you too - they also have a helpline on weekdays staffed with specialist nurses

[BISHOPRIC]

I have about nine tablets for heart failure. List of side effects long as your arm but been taking them since last March and only had a few issues to deal with and kept me stable so better to try and manage than repeat of heart failure. Keep smiling and all the best

[beardy_chris]

Heart Failure is a scary diagnosis but it isn't as bad as it sounds. It 'just' means your heart isn't working as well as it could be. It doesn't mean it's about to stop. You aren't about to suddenly drop dead - or, at least, no more likely than the rest of us. You may be getting a variety of symptons depending on how serious your HF is - but keep a record of them so you can discuss them with your medical team.

It really isn't the End of the World! (Honest!)

[Qualipop]

Heart failure is a horrible horrible term. It does not mean your heart is suddenly going to fail. It means it's not working quite as well as it should, probably damage to the heart muscle caused by your heart attack. My mother developed heart failure in her 20s when she had eclampsia during pregnancy which damaged her heart . In the 1940s/50s there was no treatment at all but she lived a completely normal life and died when just short of 70. It depends on the amount of damage done but your medication can improve things. Talk to your GP about your medication if a specific one is causing problems. There are alternatives to pretty much every thing.

[Kwakkers]

Reeelaaaax! Welcome to the Club. Listen to what you are told and DO IT. We were told to give up `contact` sports.....footie, rugby, martial arts, etc. and swim. 13 years later I feel Terrific.

Me?

Five heart attacks, heart failure, cardiac arrest and aneurysm repair.....Yeehaa. You`ve been diagnosed so grab the new life and make it work.

Frank