Hello. I am 57 year old female.Until a month ago I was ,I thought, fit and healthy, slim, lots of exercise, good diet.. It was found from an echocardiogram I have severe hypokinesis and left ventricle dysynchrony with a 35% ejection fraction. Am now waiting for a cardiac MRI.After feeling fine before I knew the shock has made me spiral. I've been struggling to function, have no appetite and not sleeping. I feel nauseous and dizzy and am struggling to get through each day. I have been prescribed ramipril and bisoprolol 1.25mg which I have only started taking in last week or so. I don't have high BP and my heart rate is very low so I am thinking the meds may not be of as much benefit to me as someone with higher BP or HR. Also there is little I can do in the way of lifestyle changes to help myself as I was already doing everything right. I am struggling to see my future now and can't imagine feeling like me again. Has anyone felt like this and improved with time. Just looking for some positive stories to keep me going and give me some hope. Thanks
Struggling with diagnosis.: Hello. I am... - British Heart Fou...
Struggling with diagnosis.
Many of us have been there. Your cardiologist will sort out your heart issues, but it sounds like you could use some help with the mental side of things, which can be quite crushing on its own. I'd recommend talking to your GP about what kind of help you might get for that.
I know many don't like the thought of antidepressants, but they were a God-send for me. I also got benefit from going to CBT.
Thank you for your reply. I have been considering starting antidepressants if things don't improve. Hope you are doing well now.
Hello. Just to say I feel your sense of anxiety and loss of what you thought was well-being. I've been investigated following the death last year of our son, suddenly, probably of an arrhythmia. What I thought were my occasional ectopic beats ( premature ventricular contractions)were a _lot_ of ectopic beats. Echocardiogram was suspicious for cardiomyopathy. MRI shows I have enlarged heart chambers but a good ejection fraction. I've been started on bisoprolol and ramipril and atorvastatin and aspirin when before I was fit, active BMI 22, normal cholesterol, good Mediterranean diet, normal BP and a resting HR of low 50s. On 1.25 mg bisoprolol my resting HR is 46. Still have ectopics but I think they are reluctant to increase the bisoprolol dose. ( I might push them a bit as I suspect I could have arrhythmia- induced cardiomyopathy). Like you I feel I've sudd nly gone from being a well 68-year-old to the top of the treatment escalator. So much for thinking I ought to be walking into the GP surgery to inquire in a leisurely manner if I ought to start a statin at some time!
Have you had a bad shock in recent months? Broken heart syndrome is real. It gets better.
All I can say is that you have fellow- travellers on your journey. Take heart, my friend.
Thank you for your reply. I am so sorry for the loss of your son. I haven't had a bad shock but do have a tendency to stress a lot over minor things so it may have played a part. It's good to hear I'm not alone in adjusting to loss of good health. I wish you well.
Hi there I too am very sorry to hear about the loss of your son. I lost mine 16 years ago and the impact truly is earth shattering. I thought after some years I was coping quite well but I retired almost 3 years ago and whether it's my age 68 or all the stress over the years but I feel my health has gone to pot despite a healthy lifestyle. In short please everyone don't underestimate the impact of stress in any form. Please reach out. Best regards to everyone suffering in this way.
So sorry about the loss of your son. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to live with. I wish you well. Take care.
Thank you so much x
Yes, for me the psychological side was the worst. We are all on different journeys, but I very much went through the helpless feelings of "why me?" I couldnt explain to people what was wrong because I didn't know myself. I thought that I'd been doing all the right things. It turns out that perhaps I was overdoing the endurance activities. My older brother and mother both had strokes which made me realise that there is also a genetic reason for my condition. Also the beta blocker I was put on caused me to have very weird dreams.
The beta blocker dose has been reduced and I've got more used to it now. I've come to accept my situation, that I have to take life at a slower pace and use the benefits that entails. I walk more than cycle these days (at a suitable pace, with suitable breaks); I read more than I did; I can still do an easy weight training workout; I've started going to yoga, which has taught me to listen to my body and how I feel. I accept what comes and am beginning to know the difference between taking a necessary break and being lazy.
It hasn't been easy, but my attitude has got a whole lot better.
Good luck on your journey. CM
Thanks for replying. Sounds like you have a really good balance and acceptance of your situation now. I hope to get to that point in the future.
Lots of us have been there, got the t-shirt, etc. I had a chest infection, they found I had severe heart failure out of the blue, EF 20%. Five years later, I am still around, limited only by an arthritic hip. It does mean meds for the forseeable, but it is capable of being managed. See if you can get on a cardio rehab course. Mine was very helpful.
Thank you
First of all, welcome and thankyou for reaching out. Most people on this forum has given advice and told us there experience in some ways of heart issues. I have reached out many times. From my experience taking Bisoprolol I use to get slow resting heart rate 48bpm to 55bpm, I was also taking Ramipril 1.25mg to help control my blood pressure but have to take it at night because of feeling light-headedness,my cardiology consultant said to me that my blood pressure needs to be no more 130/80 because I have been suffering from an Aortic Root dilation and ascending since March 2023, very scary 😢 I know how you are feeling because I feel the same as you do. Try and stay calm and positive but I know that it is not an easy task. Do you have any friends or family you can talk to about your struggles, it does help to try and get things out in the open as the saying goes. It does give a little relief but soon gets back to our normal. You are not alone, if you need to talk you can always reach out on this forum. Someone is always about to listen to your concerns. Take good care.
I remember to this day having a conversation with my sister, I was around 50, tail between my legs, telling her I had been having depressive episodes and had started taking an SSRI. She looked at me totally shocked…
Finally she comes out with “you’re only starting them now?” We went on to have a long talk about “stuff”. I don’t think I’d ever felt closer to her.
Hi there, I always look forward to your posts, so meaningful and so understanding. Really struggling at the moment with the understanding" why me" Had a letter from my cardiology consultant explaining that my Arotic root and ascending has grown another 2mm within 12months. So in 18months it has grown by 8mm. I can not get to sleep most days, like now. It's 2am and I need to get up at 6am. Chest tightness is more most days now and stopping me getting out and about. Can not plan anything like I use to, just take one day at a time and see where it leads too. No way to live really to be honest. No support with mental health issues at the moment, still on a waiting list to be seen. Hoping one day my mind can rest alittle from worrying because mu BP is starting to creep back up on an afternoon and needing back to 130/80 or lower advice from the cardiology consultant. I wish I wasn't in this situation, other health issues, rotator cuff tear on the right shoulder, high cholesterol levels, type 2 for the future been told by the doctor, water work problems due to tight foreskin, very painful, on waiting list to be seen. Life is so hard at the moment.
I am sorry to hear you are feeling similar to me although it's good to know I'm not alone. I do have wonderful support from my husband, family and friends but still feel somewhat alone with this, especially in middle of night when I can't sleep.
hi
sorry to hear you are not feel well, things will get better, im just wondering if have any suport or a heart failure nurse that they have got in contact with to help with medication changes, they are their to answer all your question. but what i can say is dont worry about your sleeping and eating, just eat when you want and sleep when you want, i have learnt that their is no rule book when it come to any sort of heart problems, heart failure, and just really go with what your body tells you, you hopefully will get the treatment and some answers. best of luck
megan
Hi, i know exactly how your feeling right now. Around 6 years ago i was diagnosed with severe heart failure after being out of breath for just a couple of days, but felt fine other than that. I was absolutely floored by the news as it was so out of the blue. I was so angry at the time and couldn't get my head around it at all because i thought i was fit and taken good care of myself. I began taking medication ( another first for me ) I was also given antidepressants mainly to help me sleep. After 18 months or so i was given another scan which showed i was now mild to moderate all due to taking meds! Nothing else had changed in my life apart from taking tablets every day.
I'm wishing you all the very best, there is light at the end of this dark tunnel that your in, honestly. x
Hi - I am also a 57 year old female and was diagnosed out of the blue earlier this year with Dilated Cardiomyopathy and LBBB. It was such a shock and really unexpected. I struggled to come to terms with it and didn’t want to talk to any family members about it as I didn’t want them to worry too (my husband is only one who knows). I called one of the cardiac nurses on the British Heart Foundation helpline and spoke to her at length about it and that really helped. Just being able to talk to someone in the know who explained everything in simple terms. I was very emotional on the call and she was really kind and reassuring. I’m on lots of medication now and still struggling with the diagnosis, but I’m much better than I was. Might be worth making that call yourself as a starting point, you’ll get the number on the BHF website. Sending good wishes as I know it’s hard, but you’re not alone. Stay strong 💪🏻
Thank you. Did you have symptoms and have they improved on medication? I think I have lbbb too although waiting for MRI to get get more information.
I had a feeling of extreme anxiety and sometimes some mild chest discomfort. Also a little bit breathless after climbing a flight of stairs. I take thyroxine for under active thyroid and it was found the dose was too high so it has been reduced (can cause high anxiety feelings). I am on beta blocker (bisoprolol 5mg), Ramipril 5mg and just had Dapagliflozin 10mg added. I am feeling fine now so hopefully everything is being controlled well by the medication. Good luck with the MRI - hope you don’t have to wait too long.
Hi Blandnab, 8 years ago at the age of 52 I went to the doctor's thinking that I had a chest infection. I was very physically fit, not overweight and a club runner with some very respectable times under my belt. Imagine the blow I received when I found out that I needed a quadruple heart bypass. To cut a long rambling story short, the year after the operation I ran both the Birmingham 10k and half marathon in good times beating my work colleagues who were half my age. My point is, life isn't fair but we all knew that as children. All we can do is pick ourselves up,, brush the dirt off and carry on the best we can. These are the experiences that shape us and make us appreciate life fully.
Good luck with the treatment and I hope all goes well
Phil.
sorry to hear about your situation, as with many of us here, this ha hit you hard and come as a shock. Rest assured that much as it doesn”t feel like it now, its a good thing that doctors have discovered this before its too late. Follow the process and take doctors advice, make a list of any concerns and update it as you go on. Please speak to your GP about your emotional health as there are lots of options.
You will get through this current state of fear and find your new normal xx
I can so relate to how you are feeling, my ‘curved ball’ was thrown at me a few months ago, I’m seeing the cardiologist on Monday to discuss very similar issues with my heart that you have. This forum is super supportive and really helps the with not feeling so alone. It’s been hard for my husband and daughter too, so I sometimes feel I need to adopt the ‘I’m fine’ stance to protect them. I take an SSRI and would recommend you chat to your GP about your mental health; our heart health is linked so much to our mental health. If you are struggling reach out to your local Mind group too as they will often be able to see you quicker than the NHS. What I’ve found the last month or so is; advocate for yourself, ask questions, seek out support when you need it … and know that you are not alone. Hang in there, there’s lots of help out there to look after, not only our hearts, but our mental health too … you’ve got this! 😘
Thank you. Yes I'm considering SSRIs. Have been on them before they just take a long time to kick in for me and make my anxiety worse before it gets better and I've tried different ones. It is an option though if things don't improve.
I was prescribed Pregabalin for severe anxiety, it was a life changer and worked very quickly. Maybe worth discussing with your GP. Good luck.
Thanks. I will look into that.
like you, in 2022 , I was diagnosed with a mobitz block. At the time I was going through testing for long covid which included a 24 hour heart monitor. I was also fit and healthy long walks, personal trainer and Pilates with no symptoms whatsoever. I saw a cardiologist and his first words were, You need a pacemaker. I was in complete shock. I had the pacemaker fitted within a month but still found it hard to accept. It was several months before I really recovered from the shock but with support of a good GP I am back to ‘ normal’. So take it a step and a time and find support from wherever you can. Good luck
Hi Blandnab, hope you’re having a good day.
I must admit, I found the sudden onset of mortality quite a shock when I got my diagnosis! The realisation that some things are out of your control isn’t easy so it’s no surprise that it takes some time to get your head around.
The fact you’re fit, healthy and look after yourself means you’ve actually had a really big impact. Without your lifestyle things could have been a lot worse and you’ll be giving yourself a great chance to be sorted. I look at some of the people around me and think it’s a good job I’ve got the heart problem because they’d really struggle!
There may need to be adjustments on the future but by the sounds of it everything you do can ensure they’re minor and not major.
Good luck on the journey, and it is a journey. Probably a few rocky bits along the way but you will get there.
I had a stent after a HA in Spain in2019. Suffered I think post traumatic stress very week but slowly I pulled myself out of the depression by keeping busy, hobbies good friends out of a big family two were great. So yes give it some time , diet very important I was recommended vegans diet but combine with fish. Little sugar as it increases inflammation… that’s the key inflammation.
Ginger turmeric orange juice.
My cardiologist put me on coenzyme Q and magnesium citrate. I’m on meds bisoprolol and statin with ramipril.
If your not happy with cardiologist get another
Good luck
Not exactly like you as I was overweight,but suddenly went into af,18months later,have large hole in heart from birth! Bisoprolol made my pulse go under 50 and back in sinus so it was reduced and stopped, it has a lot of side effects, unfortunately you have to have faith in drs
So many of us including me have stood where you are in a place of disbelief, thinking why me. I won't bore your with my details but my issues came as a bolt from the blue with no fault of my own with a general healthy lifestyle as a person that loved exercise. You have had a big shock and you need time to adjust. It is normal to feel down and start fixating on the wrong things. I know I did. You have had your mortality bought into short sharp focus and it is traumatic. You need to take your meds and get any support you need. I became more calm once I realised that everyone walking this earth is minutes away from total health change. Nobody lives with "certainty " and to stress myself really achieved nothing. Hope you feel better soon.
This feels like a big shock. It is not the same but I was shocked when my cardiologist advised a pacemaker for my paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. It affected my sleeping. I found writing about feelings before bed helped me sleep. If I start thinking about whether or not to have a pacemaker in the night, I tell myself this is not the time for thinking about this and I imagine walking on the beach/ 5 things I can see, 4 things I can hear, 3things I can feel, 2 things I can smell and 1 thing I can taste. I find this helps. I also sought psychological help. This might be something you could talk to your Gp about.
I hope you know more and have a plan soon. Thinking of you.
good morning
I hope you are feeling a little better after the replies on here.
I’m 46 and had a heart attack in march 2024 my mental health has been in tatters a bit like yours, what I have found helps and I do hope this helps for yourself is talking to people who are close to you and not being scared of being honest or having a emotional breaking down in front of them. I have also self referred to mind matters for some counciling to help me get over my fears.
I will be honest with my experience I did not sleep properly for around 3-4 months but things are now settling down slowly my consultant has started taking me off my meds and unfortunately the side defects have not been fun for me but we are getting there, I’m still freaked out and scared everyday but I am thankful to wake up every morning also I say I love you to all the loved ones around me including my 2 children who are 3 and 8.
I hope things work out and just listen to the medical advice and pay no attention to the information online as it will not help you mentally (trust me I did it for a few months), good luck 🤞
Dear Blandnab, I just wanted to say that what you are thinking and feeling - we have all had very similar thoughts & feelings to one degree or another.Hearing you have heart issues is devastating and you feel all of a sudden very vulnerable, frightened, scared and alone.
It is all very difficult to comprehend and to process, resulting in issues like disturbed sleep, as you have found.
Talking through your fears and vulnerabilities is helpful though. The medication you are now having to take, is helping to protect your heart while you await further tests to find the reasons for your sudden loss of health.
You have done exactly the right thing, reaching out. Medical prognosis etc we, as untrained health professionals, are unable to give, unfortunately. What we are equipped to comment on though, is our own journeys and shared, and lived experiences, which may or may not coincide with your exact situation, but can be helpful nevertheless.
Please stay in touch and let us know how you are.
hi. I’ve got an EF of 26% I’ve had heart failure for 2 years now and I have been very well looked after. I do have other problems but I would be here all day explaining what happened. My heart rate is 44 and I have very low blood pressure. The medication you are given is for your heart so even if you don’t have high blood pressure you will still need those type of meds. If you feel not right then always tell your nurse. My meds have changed a few times. You may even be given a device to monitor your heart rhythm. Don’t beat yourself up about how you’re feeling…
You will have good days and you will have days that you just need to stay in bed. I’m always here if you need to chat. Take care 😊
hi, I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, you are totally normal in your reaction. I had palpitations early this year (female 49, teetotal, non smoking veggie) and put it down to menopause but went for a couple of private tests - echo and holster monitor ) as I was going on a cruise for a couple of weeks and am a worrier! They found severe aortic stenosis and a bicuspid valve (missing bit I was born without). This meant open heart surgery asap.
I had started taking low dose anti depressants a couple of months before due to anxiety so I think that helped. My health anxiety had been started a couple of years before, I put it down to lockdown/menopause but when I had my first appointment with the cardiologist he told me that heart issues - even that you are unaware of can cause anxiety. This made me feel a little bit better.
Anyway the news totally wiped me out, I swung from exhausted (through shock) to the awful waking constantly through the night with “the terror”. I couldn’t eat so bought some meal replacement shakes (the diet ones) so I could get something down if I really couldn’t eat food. I wore those little earphones at night and slept in them often, i found a podcast called the sleepy bookshelf which I listened to. It’s a series of books that are read out with an especially soothing voice designed to help you relax, each chapter is recapped at the start. I found it helped silence my mind going crazy! Plus even if you are awake at night you are in bed resting so it’s doing some good.
So I had the operation in May, and now I’m almost fully recovered. Not quite back to normal as there’s a few aches still but that could be medication related , I’m 50 in March and feel very lucky, life won’t be exactly the same, but I’m here. I’ll now pay to have a yearly private cardiology appointment for my own reassurance I think. But there is life in the other side. My hubby said something while I was in the midst of the worst of this at the start and that was that I need to focus on what I need to do to get through it, be it eating sleeping, talking to people , the big decisions about my health are not mine to make thats down to the experts. In my case they literally had my heart in their hands, you don’t get a lot more trust involved than that. I will say that along the way I felt nothing but kindness and support from everyone I encountered, I had nurses literally and figuratively holding my hand along the way.
I wish you all the best, no point in saying don’t worry of course, but if you need to talk we are all here to listen, take care x
Apart from the fact that I was 66 when my heart murmur was first identified you are describing my feelings and experience with the drugs.It sounds like you need to
Go back to your doctor about this. People are put on standard packages of drugs and then often have to have things tweaked to fit their body.
After my op I was put on bisoprolol and ramipril and also had your symptoms of dizziness etc I was dizzy and had double vision and talked to my GP.
My BP was getting too low so it was agreed to stop the ramipril.
Getting rid of the ramipril made a huge difference. Also try taking the bisoprolol after breakfast not before. One of its actions is it can lower blood sugar after taking and this helped me.
I also was slim, exercise a lot, had low BP and ate well. Never smoked etc. Are you angry that your body has "betrayed" you ? I was. It has been a huge mental readjustment ,in some ways harder than the physical.
18 months after the murmur was first discovered and 6 months post open heart surgery, having got the drugs sorted , I am coming to terms with things and getting back to being able to exercise as I was before .
But get those drugs sorted out.
Good luck
hi. I just posted a message of hope. I was diagnosed with severe heart failure out of the blue a little over 6 years ago. I was fit, exercised regularly, slim, healthy diet etc and only 55. It was a massive shock. But I’m still here and living a pretty normal lifestyle. I did choose to retire a little earlier than originally planned, that was the only real lifestyle choice for me as I was already doing all the so called healthy stuff. The mental health side for me was the toughest part. I really struggled. I found counselling helped me, I went private as the NHS wait was too long. I have come to accept my situation, my heart failure is well controlled and I still go hiking do yoga etc. life is good again.
Thank you all so much for your kind words and taking time to reply. I am overwhelmed by how supportive this group is. I hope once I am feeling better I can be of some support to others like me.
Been there. Really understand. Cardiology is very advanced these days and much can be done. From my own experience I found that focusing on the treatment plan as a plan - a way forward - helped. You are starting from a good position in that , from what you've said, you look after your health brilliantly and that is already giving your body a level of resilience. I'm hazarding a guess that the meds you've been put on are an immediate way to address your diagnosis rather than a permanent situation and I'm sure it'll be sorted out out. Sending empathy and hopes you find the right help for the emotional/mental aspect.
Hi there, you can see that there's an awful lot of us who've been in your situation at the start of diagnosis, feeling shocked.I'm a 58 year old female, was diagnosed 2 years ago with dilated cardiomyopathy, & mitral annular disjunction (leaky mitral valve), with an EF of 52%.
I was equally shocked as I was a marathon runner as I thought running was healthy! After feeling palpitations, having high heart rate spikes (202bpm) and faintness during training, I went through all the cardiac tests.
In short, they found I had a dangerous arrthymia called VT (ventricular tachycardia) which put me in danger of sudden cardiac arrest. So I was told to halt my running and put on Bisoprolol and Ramipril to keep my heart rate low and even.
Being a runner my heart rate was low anyway but this seem to keep it consistent.
In March this year, I had an ablation which was successful, and now I'm back to run walking which I'm happy with.
But yes, mentally it certainly does affect you. It certainly makes you think of your mortality, that's only natural when it's your heart that's been failing.
My cardiac anxiety was sky high through all this, you can't help but feel vulnerable and scared. That was the point I felt I needed to take control of my mental health before it started to spiral down, which looked quite easy given the situation.
I decided I needed counselling of some sort. I joined a cardiomyopathy group which was helpful, and also most importantly booked myself a counsellor just to talk out my fears. This helped enormously and the other thing that helped was to stay being social with what you did before. So you still feel valued. I still met my running friends and started a walking group, and we all meet together at the pub afterwards.
I now have become a Run Director at my local parkrun which gives me enormous pleasure and a sense of gratitude, that I'm doing something worthwhile , for myself and other likeminded people.
I know my competitive days are over, and am grateful just to be doing what I can by run walking, whilst still taking my medication and knowing that I'll be kept on eye on by my cardiology team.
I have now stopped counselling because my mental health is much stronger now, but know that I can return to counselling should I need it again.
So...you do have a choice how you view your situation.
Good luck with your journey and keep a positive head. 👌🥰
Good morning....I can already see from lots of your replies that they are so encouraging which are a what you will get from this forum. I think if you are fit and healthy and you get any heart diagnosis, it comes as a massive shock. I know it did with me and initially my thoughts were how long have I got left...am I going to deteriorate quickly? After the initial shock, then the long wait for surgery that cured my valve problem but not the damage it had done, I armed myself with information from reliable sources and tried to find out what the future held and discovered that it's not as bad as we initially think. Heart medications now are fantastic and many of us are able to lead fairly normal lives with a few adjustments to suit. I used to be very fit and active. I don't have the same mobility now but I still exercise and do most things...just at a bit of a slower pace. It took a while to gradually get back to some normality but apart from my heart issue I am generally feeling very well and I've come to the conclusion that there are many other things that can 'see us off' so I look after my heart health as best I can, keep my fingers crossed and actually now get through most days without really thinking about what's wrong with me. In saying all of this, obviously I do realise that some people don't cope well with their diagnosis and may need some extra help in dealing with it and I do hope that you feel you are able to do that if necessary. I hope you get more answers from your scan and cardiologist that might calm any fears down for you. It is all very daunting initially but you will see from the forum that people are still here and living their lives many years after being diagnosed and I hope you find some encouragement and calm from your replies. Take care xxx
Hi Blandnab, your post resonated so much (although my heart issues slightly different - we are all on a different but also the same journey). It has really helped me reading all the positive posts of how well many are doing after their world has turned upside down (me included). As others have said, you really have a better starting point to wellness again due to your previous fitness. The mental side is a different challenge altogether, I am a very positive person & my glass is always half full but I can still have wobbly days. Just wanted to say be kind to yourself, raise any issues with your medical team - your body has to get used to your meds. Wishing you all the very very best 😁😁👍
The technology to diagnose stuff is fantastic now, 10 yrs ago I had 2 stents fitted and take thr same drugs as you (at the time I didn't know I had an issue) and annual check shows that I am good. The most important thing is not to allow it to define you at all, they are modifying their thinking on heart conditions particularly angina. All my relatives mum and dad had heart conditions and I outlive them by 10 years....It's normal to worry and in some ways it makes things worse....but if you clear your mind accept as a challenge, keep doing what works for you but not under any circumstances let it define who you are.....
I have a terminal issue not heart related but I categorically refuse to let it dominate me, the upshot is my condition has slowed down..
It's easy to thing oh dear , forget that treat it as one of lifes challenges and you will do fine.
Finally when dealing with your medical team challange and ask questions so many just accept what they say and they can be over cautious sometimes ....
Good luck , be who you are not what your illness is.
Trev
Hi sending hugs last year 14th September 2023 to be precise. I felt the bottom of my world had fallen out. I was 49 and told I had severe Heart Failure with 20% Function. (My heart rate would drop to 29 beats per minute) I thought that was it I would die. Fast forward to January 2024 after taking all the medication the doctors my Function had increased to 32%.
So honestly just trust the process overtime the drs will add new medication until your on the optimum levels and you will get better.
Now a year after diagnosis I am considering a Difib being fitted. It won't improve or worsen my health but would be a life saver if I needed a shock.
And the positive I gained from the conversation with my cardiology Dr was due to my age it would need battery changing several times throughout my life. Battery lasts 6 to 10 years. So basically he's saying I have a long life ahead of me
Best wishes
Shabana
That is good news Shabana. Did you have symptoms and do you feel better now?
I had symptoms for several months. It's only been about 4 months that I have got my life back. Like you I thought it would never happen. But everyone here was amazing and told me it just takes time. And it's true
That is so helpful thank you. It gives me hope. Do you mind telling me what your symptoms were? I have had loss of appetite and sleep problems before my diagnosis and wonder if these are related to heart failure.
Yes I was exhausted all the time but couldn't sleep, I was also breathless all the time in July 2023 I was admitted to hospital as oxygen was at 82%. So original drs were looking at Respiratory issues. But obviously found none. I did lose some weight before diagnosis. So yes I think your symptoms are related
Thanks. It's good to know there's a chance they can improve. You've made me feel better.
Your welcome, I use to be in tears everytime I talked about it. Then I found this forum and it's so supportive.
From being fully active to getting breathless, so GP ordered an echo. Afterwards I was told I had a hole in my heart which floored me. However the #NHS sorted me out with MRI scans etc during 2020, and I had my hole repaired with 2 patches - it was a difficult one with strings across it - in 2022. I still have a slight hole ( 98% repair) but I am back out doing what I enjoy. The cardiologists will sort you out. Chat to your GP and see if there is any CBT etc available. You will enjoy life again!
a bit older than you by 10 years, my experience very similar, go to gym, fairly healthy diet, don’t smoke.
My journey began over 2 years ago of which I’ve already detailed in other posts, however having visited the cardiologist I’ve been told I have to a bypass.
To be honest I took it hard as I argued my case for stents but this has been ruled out, and this is particularly hard when you hear of people having heart attacks, blocked arteries having them fitted.
I personally took the diagnosis as a defeat and mentally it was a pull as I’ve never taken medication had a couple of routine day ops but nothing on this scale, I think my initial reaction this is going to age me.
I’m now waiting for the op and it won’t be till next year.
My solution was to fully understand my condition, I’ve looked at the online information from all genuine sources and reconciled myself to what lies ahead, spoken and speaking to others who’ve experienced the same procedure and made a conscious decision to carry on as normal, going to the gym, walking and even have a trip planned to Spain for the New Year.
Take care and the best of luck with your journey .
in
Take a deep breath and come at this from a different point of view. They found the problem and are working a plan to fix it. We have all heard the classic tale of the super athletic person who just keeled over dead. That won't happen to you because they found the problem in time. Heart issues are silent killers. Make a list of the things you have to be grateful for. I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma last November. Started Chemotherapy in January, had a Stem Cell Transplant in May. I am on the Heart hub because of severe high blood pressure. Come to learn the cancer was attacking my kidneys. Now my blood pressure is normal and my heart is fine. The original plan was for my best friend to come help me recover after stem cell. Her husband ended up with a genetic heart defect and had to have open heart surgery. That was back in May. They came for a visit (they live far away) this past month, and best friend's hubby looks better than he has in decades.
One thing to be aware of are the side-effects of BP meds. They sneak up on you. Buy a nice little journal and keep track of your BP. Take this with you to every doctor visit. That way they can keep track of the BP meds. I developed a chronic cough on a high dose of Losartan, but when the dose was cut in half this past month the cough went away. The doctor was very grateful for the journal with my BP. Without that knowledge she would not have been able to reduce the dose with assurance she was heading in the right direction.
BP meds can cause fatigue, depression, constipation. Don't look at this as the end, look at this as a new beginning. If I can do this after what I have been through, you can too. I think about dying, but I also think about living, and that is the part I need to focus on. Anxiety and depression are so hard on your body. They make heart issues worse, and are also hard on your immune system. Find a hobby and embrace it. I play a video game, sew, and collect vintage fragrance. I love to cook, and post stem cell it was the first thing I wanted the energy to do. I do what I can and leave the rest. Embrace being alive. You will get through this and come out on the other side a stronger person.
Hi there,
I had heart failure 2 years ago, I'm 80 now! I had an MRI scan, and all the tests that go with heart failure. My EF was only 17% which was very low. I'm also very fit and was shocked like you when I heard the news from the heart consultant. However, once I had accepted the fact that I had severe heart failure, I have never looked back. The consultant and nurses were brilliant and like you, put on the same medication as you as well as some more. They have worked wonders and I can honestly say that after a few months on the medication, I have had no side affects and I now just have checkups every year. I don't know whether I have been lucky but I have tried to keep a positive mind and just take each day as it comes.
I hope this helps a little bit - just stay positive and trust the consultants. You will improve in a few months time. I know it's not easy and I do sympathize with you.
Take care.
Hi there , I am sorry to hear what you have gone through after being so fit all these years. To be honest I have not heard the term HYPOKINESIA relating to heart. That's a term conected to Parkinsons disease. However it's good thing that you are having a cardiac MRI which will point out something which have been missed. This may have been a shock to but I can assure you that you are not psychiatrically depressed and do not need any medication for it. Ejection Factor is low. Hopefully cardiac MRI will give an answer. I am at a loss why you have been given 2 types of medication for hypertension. We will get o the bottom of it. Regards
Hi nilmonisokdar
You're absolutely right when you say hypokinesia is related to Parkinson's disease, however the op is referring to Hypokinesis which is where the contractility of the heart is impaired. The heart is took stiff to pump properly hence the ramapril & bisoprolol to help the heart to function.
So confusing to have 2 completely different medical conditions with almost identical names though
Hi there been exactly where you are, I got diagnosed with heart failure, angina and EF of 35% last year at the age of 49 years old. It has been a journey with the mental side! Thanks to this group and the replies from people made me feel slightly better. I managed to see a cardiology psychologist but I waited a year for it and it helped to a certain extent as I had started to come to realisation my life had changed from being a fit and healthy individual running 10kms 4 times a week and doing classes at the gym. I do still struggle with motivation of going to the gym cos of the angina pain and I haven’t been since March this year. If you can speak with your GP to try and see a mental heath professional will be good for you. I wish you the best and you will eventually accept it and focus on what you can do still ps my EF increased to 40% in May this year and I travelled to East and West coast Canada, Norway twice and recently returned from Gran Canaria, so things do get better. Good luck 🤗
I don't know anything about your condition, but I know that they prescribe Bisoprolol and Ramipril also for patients with low heart rate and blood pressure to get the heart kicking. The heart gets a signal with the medication that the heart rate is low and pumps better. That's how my cardiologist explained it to me. It's a bit of a balancing with dose etc., but it worked for me. I'm a year after the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. I was very poorly, but I can say I live a normal life now thanks to all the medication. They saved my life. My EF was at 10% and is now at 51%.
Thanks Christiane. That is a good explanation. Glad you've had such a good improvement. That is what I'm hoping for.
Im 82 male. 3 years ago I was given a pace maker because my heart rate was down low at night time.Maybe that is your answer. Its an easy opwration. All the best Colin.
I cannot comment on your heart condition, this is best left to your cardiologist, or GP, but I can understand how such unexpected health news, had thrown you off usual balance. Unfortunately we can discover, especially as we get older, that even if we do "everything right" this does not always guarantee the expected outcomes, and we can get some nasty surprises. We are especially vulnerable when it comes to heart issues, so it is easy to react with anxiety, especially before we know all the facts.
In such situation, the worst thing for our health is to panic. and the way you describe how you are feeling now, Blandnap, sounds very much like panic. Such panic causes stress and stress is no good for your heart. stressing about heart issues is just about the worst thing you can do for your heart as it increases your BP etc, etc. So if your want to help yourself in addition to all the things you already do, you need to try to de-stress. Make it your priority. Do whatever works best for you.
Distract yourself by doing anything that takes your mind away from whatever troubles you. Meet your friends (but not talk too much about your problems,) just have fun, dance, go for walks , whatever works. Join some new interest group, find new hobby, just keep busy. Find your yoga group, or best of all find your local meditation group, and practice meditation at home.
You can also, inquire about some voluntary organisations (find out about it at your library) and find some counselling or befriending service, that you can join, and then chat to them, and vent about what troubles you about your diagnosis, You need help. Until you get all medical information and treatment plan concentrate all your energy on finding help, in order to calm down and concentrate on getting better. De-stressing, handling your stress is your priority now. Keep coming here, people are amazing and always ready to help. Good luck.
Arnika
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply Arnika. I am trying some of what you suggest.
Don't ever give up. Keep faith and prayer and expect the Lord to be right on time, Amen.
anyone else feel like they are struggling in the hot weather
Seeing a cardiologist tomorrow
Struggling mentally. 
Newly diagnosed with hbp
