All new to me so please be gentle 🙂Diagnosed 3 weeks ago after chest x Ray after attending A&E by ambulance due to breathlessness when lying down ... I don't seem as bad when sat/stood up ... aching pain in back and in-between shoulder blades most of the time ... waiting on consultant appointment to find out what is happening next ... what can I expect to happen next ???
Can I go back to work ???
Will it get worse quickly ???
That all sounds frightening and shocking. Were you given any medications to take when you left hospital?
If you can keep a diary of whatever symptoms you have - when, how long etc. include any changes you notice anywhere in your body and things like tiredness or changes in appetite. These may help the cardiologist work out what is underlying / causing the heart failure.
Look at Pumping Marvellous, Arrhythmia Alliance and British Heart Foundation for information about heart failure (everyone on here agrees it is a poor name heart inefficiency might be less frightening) rather than using a general search engine. Usually there are medicines that are used long-term to help the heart beat more efficiently which helps .
You may be advised to make some life style changes. Right now when it isn't known what is underlying your symptoms don't hesitate if you feel worse to ring 999 and go back into hospital. You don't say what your work is but unless it is highly physical you are likely to go back.
Thank you .... yes medication was given ... atorvastatin famotidine furosemide ramiprilI. i will start to keep a note of everything that occurs thanks again
These take a while to have their full impact and the body can take time to accept them and you can feel pretty lousy during this time. We kept our GP surgery up to date with my husband's symptoms using their online form and they picked up when my husband needed to go into hospital and make a referral to SDEC - same day emergency care. I drove him to the hospital and was admitted through this route. Saved going to A & E.
If you look at Related Posts you will find lots of other responses and thoughts.
Hi, I'm guessing if they've given you an initial diagnosis of Heart Failure based on an XRay, it's possible that you have fluid in your Lungs/Chest Cavity which is one of the causes.
See attached from the BHF.
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
From my experience, next step will be appt with a Cardiologist, followed by an Echocardiagram or MRI which should enable a better diagnosis. They'll be looking at factors such as Ejection Fraction which is a measurement on how efficient your heart is working. If HF, probably referred to Heart Failure Team, who will determine best meds for you. Possible Cardio Rehab in time.
Everyone is different, but, most hospitals will follow the 4 pillars for HF treatment.
Going back to work depends on many factors, not least how you respond to the meds.
I had been complaining of mid back ache and breathlessness when lying down and had a chest xray referred by GP.. then ended up in a&e suffering chest pain and vomiting with blood ... chest xray clear from Gp referral and consultant had another chest x Ray done also clear sent home and was put done to acid reflux ... 24 hours later in the middle of night couldn't breath again... ambulance to A&E for more tests and another chest x Ray... same consultant then apologises for getting it wrong diagnosis and tells me fluid on x ray heart failure prescribed medication and now waiting for appointment with consultant and more tests no doubt
I had a very similar experience April 23,had numerous scans,tests and X-rays.
Numerous heart defects were found and eventually had a ICD fitted and still suffering from breathing problems which have me up all hours.
Am on lots of medication for life now,it can all be a lot to absorb.
We are all different though and sometimes some medication will make you feel better.
You will always be monitored and looked after though and get the best care from NHS.
Our NHS staff are fantastic and should be paid accordingly 👍 The medication seems to be working at the moment as I await tests... scans etc ...
Hi I was originally diagnosed with heart issues failure and put on diuretics as I have had pleural/ pericardium effusion’s for over a year. I had the same symptoms as you. Eventually a new respiratory consultant took over and told me it wasn’t heart failure but some sort of autoimmune disease causing it and put me on prednisone with the help of a rheumatologist and fingers crossed the fluid has gone.
Keep an open mind, I’m still not out of the woods I’m waiting to see what my recent CT scan shows.
Good luck
Wendy xx
My problems started almost in a similar way! I had breathlessness after eating ice cream at home relaxing and developed into weakness. with some chest pain. I thought I will take myself upto hospital but could'nt even climb the stairs! So dragged myself into bed, fine in the morning-tried phoning GP, no luck, went to surgery and got to see GP who said if it happens again go straight to hospital. So the next morning I was at works car park and the same thing happened, straight upto hospital and stayed there for days, released after stents and new meds!
So all this happened within days of the first attack.
Wow .... it surprised me how quickly it happened and yours the same ...
Hi, Please dont get the wrong impression by some on here that H.failure, means you are on the way out, it does not, it means the heart isnt pumping quite as it should, My husband has had h.failure for 10 years now brought about by his COPD, as lung conditions will usually affect the heart, yes, he has bad breathlessness now, but it has taken years, he is now at end stage COPD, so must expect it so bad even walking a few steps, but as i say people think H.Failure diagnosis means death, it does not. wait until you see you Cardio, but until then try not to get too far ahead of yourself with worry.
Sadly for some people, my husband included who is approaching end of life HF, HF can/does mean death! I get that you're trying to reassure the OP which is great but please don't negate other people's experiences of HF because your husband's experience is different. It's incredibly hurtful for someone to be so dismissive of what is, for some, a very serious life limiting condition.
I am very sorry that your husband is at end stage COPD, that must be very difficult to deal with
Hello. no body is being dismissive of any condition i assure you the opposite Heart Failure basically is the same for everyone, it has stages doesnt it, but i get quite annoyed on these sites of peoples reply to others who need reassurance, always telling them of the worst side of things. Yes Heart Failure will probably be the reason why sufferers finally pass or what accompanying ill health it leads to, but too many think from initial diagnosis that is it, get their house in order, , because it is not, unless this is found at the very late stages.
I am sorry naturally for your own experience, i live on a knive edge daily with my own husband, the COPD is bad enough without H.F too. I too have heart disease, but consider lucky as to have reached 77 now before having any heart issues, but accept we all have to get old and what comes with it also, but above all to live for the day and for now as its all we have for sure.
Unfortunately, HF doesn't have stages at all! My husband's nurse actually told us last year that, unlike cancer where you know there are stages you go through, HF does not follow a pattern whatsoever. Some people can live with it a long time, others don't. Some people never worse others worsen very quickly, some people worsen & them improve!
I get that you get annoyed about people commenting on the worse side of HF but that's because there is a worse side of HF, ignoring that fact is dismissive! Consider how you would feel if someone posted something similar about your husband's medical condition. It's definitely not an 'older' person condition: my husband was only 57 when he was diagnosed, I've come to know and sadly lost a number of friends I've met through support groups, some of them barely in their 20's/30's. I too live on a knife edge, it's not been easy watching my husband struggling either as I have done for the last few years & I've only just reached retirement age!
However this discussion doesn't help the OP at all, I'll leave it at that & wish both you & your husband all the best.
I understand what you are saying and I take all the information in ... thank you
Oh that term heart failure really should be banned or at least changed to heart insufficiency. No it is NOT Failing, it is not going to get worse qu ickly and it is not going to suddenly stop. It means it's not working as well as it should and needs some help - ie medication. You should be told what your ejection fraction is; ie how well your heart pumps blood around. There's a post on here this morning whose EF was really low but is now completely up to normal. By the way normal is not 100%. It's more like 55 to 65. If you want to know more about heart failure, DO NOT Google it. Only look on the BHF website or the NHS site. It may help you to phone the BHF nurses; the number is on the main page of the website.
Why change the name of a condition that for a lot of people is progressive & life limiting, we don't change the name cancer because a lot of people are cured of it. Maybe there's a better term for those whose HF is mild & are asymptomatic, for those who have severe HF the terminology is correct.
And very sadly, for some, HF can worsen very quickly. That doesn't mean it will just that it can! nhs.uk/conditions/heart-fai....
Edit for the OP: this doesn't mean it will happen to you, today's meds are brilliant for helping the heart pump more effectively,.
Dear Dubman I fully understand how you must be feeling, it is very scary at this time for you. Everyone who is diagnosed with heart failure has different experiences of the condition. Many people on this site are very experienced at living with heart failure. They will tell you how it is. I couldn't have coped with my diagnosis in July 23 if it wasn't for the amazing people on this site who have way more experience than me. But I can say from experience that when you meet with your cardiologist they will do everything that they can to keep you going through education and treatment. I have had brilliant treatment so far. I had 9 months off work and returned in April and am driving everywhere. Over time you will learn more about your condition and how to look after yourself with it. Please keep in touch and keep asking questions. We are all here for you. Thank you. Lynn
Just from this first post that I wrote I have learnt so much and it is appreciated. I have read quite a bit on similar posts on here and also links that people have put up and also the BHF page .
I truly grateful for yours and all the other responses thanks
It's ok buddy, we are all going through the same things at different parts of our journeys. You will be ok. One day at a time one thing at a time. I am still learning new limitations. It is a constant learning curve. Most important thing for you ATM is that your condition has been picked up, and things can be sorted to help manage your condition. We are still here. We are the lucky ones
Diagnosed with heart failure.
Heart Failure
Heart failure
Heart Failure Nonsense
New here with diagnosed heart failure
