Is there a cure for Heart Failure?

[DizzyD]

Hello everyone, hope everyone on here is doing well and on the road to recovery.

Wish I could say the same for myself but I am hanging on and live in hope that my HF will get better and enable me to lead a more functional life.

Please try to understand that my brain does not work very well after I had a stroke (brain clot due to afib) April gone. Cannot recall appropriate words...struggle to put sentences together...unable to recognise friends let alone recall their names, hence hope you can understand what I have written.

Since June last year I have been in constant afib 24/7 and was so weak I could barely walk. I was only taking anti coagulant....not allowed any anti arrthymia or rate control meds due to severe reactions. Basically, I was house bound on my own. One day I decided to try and get a GP appointment because I suspected that I had Heart Failure. Was lucky enough to get one. At the consult GP asked what she could do for me and I replied "I want a blood test to see if I have HF.

Blood test result indicating HF was 3970 the previous year it was 670. Was not contacted for follow up consult with GP. Have not even seen a cardiologist. Hence, I went private and several tests have revealed that I have constant afib, severe Tricuspid valve damage along with mitral valve damage. I am booked into LHCH for three surgical procedures to treat/repair AFib, Tricuspid and mitral valve 20 Feb this year. I have 10% chance of not surviving the surgery which according to my doctor/surgeon is quite high. I choose to focus on the 90% chance of survival.

Here goes, I am getting to point of this post. I asked the surgeon if HF levels shown above would improve after surgery. He did not answer me. His reply was "Lets put it this way. You will feel a lot better after surgery"

In all honestly, I know there is no cure for HF. I suspect HF has occurred to the extreme due to lack of treatment for afib since 2020. Question is does anyone know if HF can improve whereby I will be able to trek in the great outdoors again like I used to do?

It's costing me about 80,000 or more for the surgery...had to sell my home to get the money. Do believe if I had to go on NHS waiting list I would get much worse waiting for surgery.

What do you lovely people think?

[Rosie1066]

Regular exercise and healthy eating can help your HF.

[Ageingfast]

hello Dizzy

I had a stroke late 2014 but didn’t get to hospital fast enough for thrombolizing. It takes years to recover from the worst of a stroke so hang on to get your recovery.

I also needed a replacement aortic valve in about 2022 and chose to go private. £43,000 but it was well worth it. What fabulous treatment. Two years on I was fully recovered and life was pretty fabulous.

But I still have odd throw backs to the stroke damage.

I am 78.

Best wishes

Sooty

[santino44]

You say 'test result indicating HF was 3970 the previous year it was 670'. Does this relate to NT-ProBNP Test blood test score?

My HF Dianogsis was after a Cardiac Arrest (HFrEF) with a LVSD EF of 30% NYHA Class II this was 5 years ago. As of 2025 if asked how I feel I would question the diagnosis of HF as i do not experience the symptoms I am happy with my medication and undertake Phyical activity every day 12,000+ steps each day. Personally never took any notice of NT-ProBNP Tests as I focused on how I feel/Quality of life Outcomes that I decide.

Best Wishes

[Bumpitybump]

To answer your first and last question. First of all, all improvements in your heart condition and general heart health will be a contributory factor towards mitigating Heart Failure. Secondly what do I think? (If I am a lovely person) I think you are admirable in your proactive approach to working towards helping your heart to improve. I understand that heart function can certainly increase again, I also understand that the term Heart Failure is a bit of a misnomer, many people living with the term for many years. I think 90% survival odds are pretty dam good. You are finding away forward - inspirational!

[AmatureKnitter]

Do you know what your ejection fraction is? When both my father (now in HF) and I were diagnosed with arrythmia I started researching and found papers on PubMed describing a study where patients suffering HF with reduced EF due to AF saw around 15% improvement when back in NSR.

The study ended after a month, but I wonder what the outcomes would be in patients who went on to do cardiac rehab programs. My local leisure centre has cardiac rehab specialists and they've said increased activity is a big contributor to improvements in HF.

Fingers crossed for your surgery and your path to recovery.

[DiyChas]

No. There is no cure for HF. So I have been told by my cardiologist.Research has shown me you may die of something else well before HF.

90% success is something I would always go for.

What surprises me is health in the UK sounds much like the USA!

It's hard to understand your surgery will cost you $80k.

[K1955]

Hi Dizzy.

I was first diagnosed with heart failure in 2012 which resulted in a quadruple bypass in 2013. Better understanding of HF has dramatically improved the survival rates and following a healthier lifestyle greatly helps.

Also participating in the cardiac rehabilitation programme ensures you are on the right track. You should be able to at least do gentle exrecises within the limits of your body.

Best wishes