Heart Failure

[colthom]

Hi Steve
I am 56yrs old and have heart failure and type 2 insulin dependant
I had my first heart failure in 2001 and was diagnosed with cardimyoph, I had my second heart failure in2004. In 2013 I had a quadruple bypass this did not go to well and I suffered massive heart failure I was told that I was going to die and for my relatives to be sent for my wife asked for me to sent to Cardiff university hospital for them to help me I went to hospital and the consultant saved my life my heart was only functioning 15% but after 6 weeks in hospital and changes to my medications it is now at 35% thanks to the cardiac team in cardiff. I am getting about ok I take my time and don't walk very far I have learnt what my limitations are and don't push them I take lots of med . best advice I can give you is keep control of the fluid intake weigh everyday and watch your weight doesn't go up suddenly over a couple of days. Hope you improve and your quality of life is good.
I am still going strong and getting on with my life best way I know how without worrying about my condition to much

 

[Yorksman]

I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2002 and was in the very severe category. The likely cause was very high blood pressure. Medication brought that down and the DCM returned to normal, until last spring.

Although the blood pressure was normal, when the DCM returned I had developed an irregular heart beat. I ended up having an ICD fitted, some of my earlier BP meds being reduced and I also got two new drugs, digoxin and spironolatone, to control heart rate and fluid retention. The lung congestion has gone and I can sleep much better now and the fluid retention has disappeared. I walk 20 mins per day and cycle on a trainer 2 x 15 mins per day. Nothing mad, but I have a pulse monitor with an alarm set at 110. I don't want that ICD to have to revive me so I stay within cautious limits. I am more concerned with keeping things moving than striving to get fit.

Although losing weight won't cure the weakened heart muscle, which has become overstretched and is not as elastic as it used to be, it does mean that the heart is not required to do as much work as when you are carrying too much weight. So, it's worth doing, if you can avoid the exercise killing you Don't overdo it, as they say.

It's a question of taking things slowly and being patient. Don't rush, don't panic, avoid stress, do everything in your own time. Just think of doing nice things in the future and look forward to enjoying a new life. I won't be looking forward to mountain biking in the alps, which had been my wish, but I can still look forward to cycling the continental river routes, following the river flow in the downhill direction. It's not cheating. You don't have to make things hard as some people seem to think.

Oh, and avoid salt! But I guess they've drummed that into you already.