Living with cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure

Discuss your experiences living with cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.

Discussions

Help. To many things to think about

By ElaineFrances · Posted yesterday at 11:17 pm
0 replies
Hi, I am a 67 year old female who was just told that I need a Defibrillator, and I am scared to death. EF is now at 18% and the DR says it will not get better. If that is the truth, why put yourself through ...

ICD

By Statuesque1 · New reply yesterday at 9:23 am
17 replies
I would like to meet someone who has had an ICD implanted. I have been told I need such a device and am not sure I will get it ...

A small request for a member here Barrylover49

By MissMPB · New reply May 22, 2013
31 replies
Hello Ladies, Hope you are all well today. Please pray for my sister Laura. She is a member here. She has been in the hospital 10 days. Her EF is 15% and she has been told her heart is as weak as a new ...

Change in Dosage

By cynthiaE · New reply May 22, 2013
11 replies
Hello all: Well Friday when I saw my cardio he increased my coreg dose to 6.25 twice a day. On Saturday I had a headache, on Sunday still headache and my arm started hurting sort of like a slight dull ...

New diagnosis..life changes..job search

By Gidget55 · New reply May 21, 2013
11 replies
I am a Home Care Nurse..recently diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy/Heart Failure/V-Tach and had an ICD placed 2 weeks ago...this all happened in a week..diagnosis/meds/ICD.. EF of 10. Had previously been ...

CHF and pregnancy

By sha26 · New reply May 18, 2013
2 replies
Do anyone know someone or have any experience with having CHF and being pregnant? If so what was the outcome? I'm 26 years old with an ef of 27% and I'm currently 15 weeks pregnant. I really can't see ...

CHF and pregnancy

By sha26 · Posted May 18, 2013
0 replies
Do anyone know someone or have any experience with having CHF and being pregnant? If so what was the outcome? I'm 26 years old with an ef of 27% and I'm currently 15 weeks pregnant. I really can't see ...

Discouraged How to Improve EF

By ohara93 · New reply May 17, 2013
7 replies
I've been struggling with LBBB and fainting, severely erratic blood pressure and feeling horrible to the point of not being able to go to work more than a couple days a week. Today, I saw the cardiologist ...

Feeling enlarged heart

By Nattles9 · New reply May 3, 2013
5 replies
Just wondering if anyone experiences an ache or notices, typically after being more active, the heart being enlarged in the chest? My mum has DCm and CHF (recently diagnosed and on meds now- EF= 10-15 ...

Fluid retention

By Aprivett · New reply April 28, 2013
12 replies
Hello heart sisters! I've been having difficulty keeping fluid off. I know that a low sodium and restricted fluid intake are keys to the fluid control. But I'm wondering what it means... If I take 40mg ...

High RBC polycythemia

By Seeker2 · New reply April 28, 2013
1 reply
Anyone RBC's high? Do you feel disabled, unable to walk more than a few steps ...

Job interviews

By Gidget55 · New reply April 24, 2013
7 replies
Hi, I was wondering if anyone else has been faced with this when interviewing. I know you don't have to tell your health history..I was seeking new employment before my diagnosis 6 weeks ago. Now I am ...

Shocks and ICD's?

By Heftybag · New reply April 24, 2013
3 replies
My son, 37 years old, had an ICD implanted 3 months ago. His present cardiologist told him he thought they jumped the gun by giving him this defibrillator as he did not think my son's heart damage warranted ...

Low VEF and air travel, reaching mountains

By minaik · New reply April 23, 2013
5 replies
My VEF has been around 15 20 for last 18 Months. I want to undertake a trip to Himalayas with height up tp 13000-15000 Feet and Temperature around 5-10C What precautions are advised ...

Cardiomyopathy

By PostiveB · New reply April 23, 2013
4 replies
Just a question...I have cardiomyopathy and I'm very fatigues, feeling like I'm suffocating....I wake up several times during the night to go to the bathroom and I wake up at least 1 time during the night ...

Stomach troubles

By Aprivett · New reply April 17, 2013
6 replies
I have viral cardiomyopthy and CHF. My last echo indicated my EF was 30. I stil wearing a portable defibrillator. I have a day that I feel fantastic followed by a week of not so feeling well at all! After ...

chest discomfort despite improved EF

By carriewywoman · New reply April 16, 2013
4 replies
I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy (EF of 35) in late December. After being on an ACE inhibitor and beta blocker for four months, I've been told that my EF has improved almost 10 points. But my symptoms ...

Left ventricular dysfunction, systolic and diastolic failure anyone?

By Seeker2 · New reply April 10, 2013
10 replies
Does anyone else suffers from left ventricular dysfunction, systolic and diastolic failure. All are shown mild on echo, yet, I suffer severe symptoms. One example, I can't carry anything heavy, such as ...

Recent diagnosis and need support

By Marinade · New reply April 8, 2013
35 replies
Hello, I am new to this site and want to introduce myself. I am 58 and was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy (EF is 23%) and left branch bundle block 2 months ago. This came as a big shock since ...

Increased ejection fraction but heart muscle still weak?

By Katie1983 · New reply April 7, 2013
31 replies
So my ejection fraction has increased from 44% to the 55%-60% range. However my Cardio told me that my heart muscle is still showing that its weak and not contracting as strong as it should. He said that ...

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The information provided by this online support network through WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease and Inspire is for general informational purposes only. The information is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. If you are ill, or suspect that you are ill, see a doctor immediately. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease never recommends or endorses any specific physicians, products or treatments for any condition.