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I found for sure I do have it and that I have two leaky valves, small ones but... also maybe sleep apnea with dismished oxygen levels... I will have a sleep study in a few days.. She also took blood for some tests...Then I guess we will go from there...
I am a little down right now and don't know which way to go really... just one day at a time I think...
Pam
Exercise Heart failure Weakness Heart attack Sleep apnea Stent Congestive heart failure
wow sounds like my diagnosis of 10 years ago. Do everything you can to eliminate salt/sodium in the diet. Add more fresh fruits and veggies, low fat diary products, more poultry and fish, more whole grains and less red meat. Read all the information you can on heart failure and of leaky valves. I did the sleep study in Feb/2008, I have mild sleep apnea. Cheer up it is not a death sentence some have reversed the symptoms. Heart failure simply put, is the heart's inability to pump blood efficiently to the lungs and to the rest of body. We are here to support you and you may rant and vent your frustrations, we all understand what you are going through. Take care Gammacygnus
Thank you so much, I am sure I will need to... and I will look up everything I can about it... I am trying to digest all this right now... It's so hard, I need to be 500 miles away taking care of my Dad but I know that it's no good going to care of him when I have to take care of myself first...
Pam
When I was admitted to get my BP and heart failure under control (almost 2 years ago), the cardiologist ordered an overnight O2 test (clip on the finger). Based on that, he immediately put me on night-time oxygen and scheduled me for a sleep study. The sleep study showed no classic sleep apnea, but reaffirmed my need for O2 while I sleep. The downside is this bulky machine -- and the upside is much improved sleep.
I am in better shape now than I have been in at least 15 years. I've lost over 150 lbs, work out daily, have my BP under control, watch my salt and sugar intake, eat a healthy well-balanced diet, and I'm a lot sassier and more confident besides. There have been (and still are) dark frustrating moments .... one of the hardest lessons for me has been to learn to accept my weaknesses rather than just be angry and frustrated by them.
August of last year a doctor stood at the foot of my hospital bed and told me I was dying. Congestive Heart failure, one leaky valve and fluid overload. Along with kidney "injury". They told my kidney function was down to 40%. They told me to limit fluid/sodium and start to eat better. Oh...and the kidney function would not return, we could only stop it. Last Monday my kidney doctor told me I was amazing, astounding and he doesn't know how I've done it. I lost 50 pounds. My kidney function is almost normal, blood pressure and great. And no where NEAR diabetic. They have suggested sleep apnea as a possible reason for the congestive heart failure. I have diastolic dsyfunction. And yes, 1 month ago I had an stent put in. But I am feeling better every day. It can be done. Just follow everything you are told to do. I write down and measure every drop of fluid that goes into my body and also every mg of sodium. And even "natural" fruits, vegatables and even eggs have sodium. You'd be surprised. Not a piece goes in my mouth unless I know how much sodium is in it. Tough in the beginning, but shortly you become a pro.
Thanks so much... I am starting to do that very thing... I am still processing it all... Thank you all for sharing it really helped me to know what you've went and are going through and what I need to do... Can you give me some sites to go to besides this one?
Thank you all again
There is a site called heart failure chat, good site with good people to talk to. American Heart Association
May 8, 2009 is the day I found out that I had Congestive Heart Failure due to extremely high blood pressure. My cardiologist also said because of the high BP I have what they call diastolic dysfunction a form of congestive heart failure. The first few days I walked around and didn't want to say anything especially at work. I was scared they would find a reason to let me go. All kinds of thoughts went through my head what if I got sick and lost my job.
I went from scared to tell anyone to being angry, resentful, back to being angry at myself for not watching what I ate. Mad at the doctors for doing echos every year and why they didn't find it sooner.
Right now, I am just tired of people asking me all the time why are you so out of breathe. It is very frustrating. My cardiologist wants me to have 6 weeks of cardiac rehab. The lady from the hospital called to talk to me about setting up my rehab appointments. She asked me when did you have your heart attack. When she found that I haven't had a heart attack yet she couldn't belive me and said well, I have to call your cardiologist back. The lady at the hospital rehab has not called me back yet.
Is it strange to have congestive heart failure without having an event or heart attack?
Absolutely not strange at all. A heart attack is like a clog in the pipes that causes a portion of the heart to not get oxygen. Heart failure is a weakness in the pumping of the heart that does allow the heart to provide enough blood to meet the body's needs ... hence the shortness of breath, buildup of fluids in your feet, ankles, legs, abdomen, .... even digestive problems if the digestive system isn't getting blood to do its job.
Both heart failure and heart attacks can increase the risk of the other .... and most of the lifestyle changes are the same.
Although there seems to be some different research on the appropriateness of cardiac rehab for HF, it seems like most of the "negative" research deals with older patients who are generally weaker anyway. In my cardiac rehab, approx. 40-50% of the patients were heart failure-related ... and our 6-week program included a couple of extra dietician consults. I also noticed that the HF patients had our oxygen levels monitored more closely during our exercise.
Karla
That will be something I will talk to my doctor and the rehab...
Thank you
Pam
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