Another hurdle!

[LindaLittleBear]

I was admitted to hospital on Thursday via AE blood test indicated heart failure. Also have fluid build of approx 30kg over body and limbs..

I spent approx 16 hrs in AE, 10 hrs on the ward corridor with a privacy screen and then moved to a cupboard/ office. Last night I was eventually moved to a room 🥳

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Difficult times for the NHS and patients!

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Anyway it seems I have right side heart failure, likely induced by the radiotherapy I received for breast cancer treatment. Investigations on going.

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ATM I'm feeling rather sorry for myself 😔

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Not sure how much more my poor body and mind can take!

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Thank you for listening!

[Hidden]

oh Linda, we’ve been following your story for some time now. I’m so sorry you are in this position. Sending positive thoughts and prayers to you.

[LindaLittleBear in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! Much appreciated! xx

[Maxbar]

Sorry to hear this Linda hope you can get back on track soon. Sending all my best wishes x

[LindaLittleBear in reply to Maxbar]

Thank you! x

[Yumz199725]

Ahhh Linda you poor thing so sorry to hear what your going through 💔 😔 xx

[LindaLittleBear]

Thank you, I've been following your trials and tribulations. How are things with you? 🤗 😘

[Bluehope81]

Hi Linda you are so brave, and my thoughts are with you, hoping for good news in the future.

[LindaLittleBear in reply to Bluehope81]

Thank you!

[Butterfly65]

Hello Linda,

I think most of us would be feeling very sorry for ourselves if we'd been through what you have, ( just briefly read through your posts.)

Pleased you're in an actual hospital room now & hope you're receiving the best of care.

If you have fluid retention you'll likely be given diuretics via drip feed. I lost just over 1 & half stone in weight over 11 days whilst in hospital with HF last September.

They'll also likely want to give you an echocardiogram to give a more detailed picture of what's going on plus how well your hearts pumping blood around your body, also known as Ejection Fraction.

Mine was just 23% but had risen to 34% within two months after taking a cocktail of drugs.

Normal Ejection Fractions are around 55 to 65 %, not 100%, so try not to worry when you finally receive results like I did.

Nurses advised me not to leave hospital until I'd had an echocardiogram because there's a longer waiting list for outpatients, I had mine two days before I was discharged. Good luck, try not worry & rest as much as can. 💐

[LindaLittleBear in reply to Butterfly65]

Butterfly 65, thank you for sharing your experience.!All that you have said is happening. I've lost 10kg over the last 5 days.

They did and echo but want to do another one and say they don't yet know if it is the muscle or valve which is damaged.

I'm scared of being sent home with diuretics and being lost in the system 😕

In the meantime I have a nice big room and a bed hugger to keep me warm 🤗

How are you doing now? 💐

[Butterfly65 in reply to LindaLittleBear]

Don't be scared of being lost in the system. Make sure these things happen; If you have HF you should be given medication as well as diuretics, & before you're discharged a Heart Failure nurse should visit you with details of what happens next & you'll be given booklets about an online site called pumping marvellous. You can look that up now for helpful tips.

Since I was discharged I've had several appointments with HF nurses on either cardio investigations outpatients or ambulatory care,

where I'm regularly weighed, have bloods taken, have an ECG ( I have Afib too) & my blood pressure checked. I have low blood pressure & heart meds make it even lower.

Upon leaving hospital I was given a direct telephone number to HF nurses that I could ring if I had any concerns & I've seen cardiologist twice.

I'm currently waiting for a cardioversion to try to put my racing, irregular heartbeat back in normal sinus rhythm, & also for a CT Scan & maybe then an ablation plus a angiogram to rule out Coronary artery disease.

I had a cardio MRI back in October but was told the images were extremely blurred because of my racing irregular heartbeat. I'm currently taking seven different medications but some of those are for my Afib.

- Michelle

[Murderfan58]

I know you are going through an awful time and you must be feeling very low and frightened. But please keep fighting and hope you are being well cared for . I don't believe at life at any cost but quality of life is more important. For all your poor body has been through and going through they will get you feeling better but it's going to take time . When your body is hurting so much it effects your mental health and I know how hard it is to think positively but please never give give up fighting to live the life you want .

I know how annoyed I get at my own body and my recent stay spilt over 2 hospitals last month has taken me time to feel myself again but I have lost some strength in my arms but fighting hard to build it up.

I hope you have family and friends who really around you and their love will keep you going . I don't know if you are married or have a partner I hope you do . But keep fighting for them as loving and being loved is so precious and will get you through the toughest times.

You are a brave and tough lady you have gotten through having cancer and you will get through this . 🌹

[Sambobs17]

hello LindaLittleBear, so sorry you have been through the ‘mill’ just hope your feeling a bit better now? you have been pushed through the limits it’s no wonder you feel like you do. On the positive side be it that you had to be on corridors side rooms etc. they got you presumably on the right treatment that has helped your heart regain its strength which is the main thing - having worked in the NHS I’ve seen how over the years many things have declined I’m seriously worried at the moment when hospitals are told they cannot renew/fix parts of there hospitals and the fact new hospitals to be built have been put so far back it’s diabolical, especially when it seems money is going to some things that I’m thinking ‘why’? Sorry not meaning to sound political just a very frustrated patient as I’m sure a lot of people are on here - we know our NHS is straining it needs serious help starting with re building rant over- take care LindaLittleBear hope your feeling much better soon 😊

[Asti7]

You'll pull through. Similar happened to me. Breast cancer 2019 with radiotherapy.Covid and heart failure 2020. On medication for life , pulled through and living a good life.Definitely more sedately but appreciating every day as a gift.

[080311]

morning Linda,

Firstly let me say I am so sorry to read your post. I was 68 years of age and found myself in a very similar situation. Though my main issue was an aortic valve that wasn’t working properly. Needed a replacement valve and a bypass, but like you because I was in heart failure my heart was unable to pump the fluid out of my body. I was on a diuretic feed twice a day, I lost 69 lb in weight ( drastic way to lose weight!) but it was amazing. After 7 weeks in hospital I was able to have my surgery and now nearly 9 years later still here living my life after being given a second chance. They will get the excess fluid from you and work out the best way of giving your heart the support it needs.

I am sending you all my best wishes.

Pauline

[Jetcat]

hi Linda, no wonder you’re feeling sorry for yourself when you’re going through so much. My sister law was in a very similar position to you and then they treat her HFwith meds and within a year she was a lot better. 👍❤️

[Blueferrero]

Sorry to hear this Linda, sending you all my best wishes x