any advice????

[flower100]

Hi update on my husband who had a heart attack 12/12/12 just had follow up appt at hospital and told he has heart failure he will need 6 monthly monitoring and will be on medication, were in shock at the moment but any advice or information would be a great help as it was when he had the heart attack. Thanks in advance

[Aliwally]

heartfailurematters.org/EN/...

I don't know if this website will help you. It is a bit busy, but seems to include lots of practical advice including supporting the carer (so important and often forgotten).

All best wishes to you and your husband.

[flower100 in reply to Aliwally]

Thankyou I am going to have a look now.

[patch14]

Hello flower100, the fact that your husband is only having 6 monthly checks should let you know that they do not consider him at high risk. The phrase "heart failure" gives us laymen a heck of a shock but they have caught it early, he is on medication to help his heart and they are keeping an eye on him. The thing to do now is to take advice on diet (does you GP have a dietician on staff?) gentle excercise, with GP' guidance, and look forward. All the very best to you.

[flower100 in reply to patch14]

We have a follow up appt with the doctor next week. He is getting new medication but not sure what yet and he will be getting a visit from the cardio nurse who is going to organise a rehab programme for him.

His heart is permanently damaged after a heart attack 14 weeks ago.

[flower100 in reply to flower100]

Thankyou for your reply.x

[Glasgow42014]

Having heart failure means for some reason, your Husband's heart is not pumping blood around the body as well as it used to.

The most common reason is that his heart muscle has been damaged, for example, after a heart attack. It can be very frightening to that you or your Husband, whose close to you, has heart failure.

For many people 'heart failure' can be a debilitating condition where normal everyday tasks such as having a shower or a bath, shopping or simply playing with the children takes enormous energy and leaves him breathless and exhausted.

WHAT CAUSES HEART FAILURE?

There are lot's of reasons' why he might be diagnosed with heart failure. It can happen sudden, or it can happen slowly over months or even years. Some cause of heart failure are:

* A Heart attack

* High Blood Pressure

* Problems with valves in your husbands' Heart

* Cardiomyopathies diseases of the heart muscles

* Too much alcohol

* Congenital conditions - ones your husband was born with

HOW WILL HEART FAILURE AFFECT YOUR HUSBAND?

Not everyone experiences the same symptoms and everyone copes in different ways. He might feel out of breath, if he is physically active, or for some people when they are at rest.

He may also have 'swollen ankles and feet' and feel very tired. You may have to think about how he will cope if he is working, or if he needs to change his job ( that's of course he's working) Everyone is different, so its important that you speak to his GP and your 'Heart Failure Nurse' about what is best for your husband.

I am sending you a practical guide; on how to "live with heart failure:

bhf.org.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=...

I hope this meets with your approval?

[Glasgow42014]

Your heart is a powerful muscle that delivers blood and oxygen around your husbands' body through a regular pumping action. 'Heart failure' is the term we use to describe a set of symptoms that occur when the heart fails to deliver as much blood and oxygen around his body as it should.

There are many reasons why this may happen, including weakness and/or stiffness of the heart muscle. narrowed or leaking valves and abnormal heart rhythms.

The term 'Heart Failure' sounds pretty frightening, so it might be more helpful to think of it as: 'My heart is failing to work properly and needs medication to support how it works.'

[flower100 in reply to Glasgow42014]

Hi thanks for your reply the link you sent is really good thanks.

My husband had a heart attack 12/12/2012 and heart failure is the result he will see the consultant every 6 months and the doc is getting a cardio nurse sorted to get him started on a rehab programme we have been warned he may need a pacemaker or transplant later in life, he will also be on medication for life aswell the main thin is he is still with us hes only 54

[2squirrels]

I don't believe they have thought about what they have said to you. They know what they mean and should have given you a full explanation. They have told you he only needs check ups every 6 months which is very significant as if he was at serious risk it would be regularly and he would be on the transfer list and would have to carry a card to that effect. Ask for further information if you want to but they have wrongly worded his condition.

[flower100 in reply to 2squirrels]

Things are slowly sinking in now had a look at the sites people on here have recommended and odered some booklets from bhf.

I know damage is permanent now its just getting medication right and going on rehab programme so he can hopefully get back to work, then just see where life takes us.

Thankyou for taking the time to reply x

[Silversurfer4739]

i feel sad that you did not get a fuller explanation..not knowing is so much more worrying.

I was told I HAD HEART FAILURE RECENTLY,...caused by strong painkillers...

this showed up in a Blood test...

then I was sent for a Scan,which showed that I had Aortic Stenosis,(sticky valves)

I was told I would need Open Heart surgery sometime,]

I have to wait for an Appointment with the Surgeons,well,a month later no word?

so,I figure it is not urgent..

since then I have had 3 different painkillers,and ended up with original weak ones!!

but,better the pain, than killing me off with a stronger pill.....

Heart Failure does sound very dramatic....in my case?

every Family member had died from Heart Attacks,but,each had a reason,

.nothing suddenly happening.

tell the Doctors if you have Genetics with Heart problems,

they look closer at your condition....also...if you have been on very strong painkillers?

check everything out on Google.

just enter the question?in the Search box...you will be amazed at the amount of info. you will get.......Good Luck!

[flower100 in reply to Silversurfer4739]

Hi tahnks for your reply I`m sure in time things will settle down and his cardio nurse will give him more info when he starts the rehab sessions.

My husbands never been on pain killers his condition is a result from a heart attack.

Hope you are feeling well x

[Silversurfer4739]

Thanks Flower,

just tell him,

no pushing cars!!!!!!!!!any exertion can wait until Physio tells him what he is capable of...

my Hubby had a Heart attack?it never affected him again,he had to go through the Physio etc,because that's what you do,also,he had to watch a Porn film at the Heart Unit?#

just to test if he could have sex later on?,,,it was no problem....L.O.L.