CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE.

[CPASPARKS]

I have been feeling really tired for several months. The past few days my feet and legs were swelling and I could not catch my breath.
Over the weekend I could not breath at all. That is a scary feeling.
I drove myself to the ER on Sunday afternoon. I did not have a heart attack according to the EKG. But after some tests and x-rays...the ER told told me that I have congestive heart failure.
That sounded pretty bad to me. But after researching on the web this morning...it appears to be something that can be managed but not reversed or cured.
The doctor put me on lasix and potassium. Told me to go on low-sodium and low-fat diet. Also told me to get with my primary care physician as soon as I can.
Does anyone here on the forum have this condition or a loved one with this condition?
Any advice would be helpful.

[madjack]

DAYUM, Kevin...so sorry to hear this...get the advice you need and get yourself well so we can camp together again...take care of yourself my friend so we can see ya around the campfire...I still have plenty of stories to tell ya!!!!!!!!!!
madjack

[elmo]

Hope you are feeling better soon. Now that you know what it is you will be able to fix it and will have more energy than you will know what to do with.

Get well soon!

Elmer

[halfdome, Danny]

Kevin, sorry to hear of your condition, fortunately we live in a day and age where heart conditions can be managed. Last month my sister-in-law was diagnosed with heart failure and she went a heart hospital in Mesa Arizona. They put a pacemaker in her and now has to have it done again since one lead has come loose. They think her condition may have been from a tooth extraction that infected the heart, who knows for sure. She will be going back to work soon though. Best to you, Danny

[George Kraus]

Kevin

I require a very low sodium diet, not for CHF, but there are people who by sticking to a low sodium diet have lived with CHF for many years. I have some great resources I can point you to and my wife has become an expert on sodium. It's in most of the foods we eat and many of them are high, but food can still taste good without it. I know many people who say they don't put salt of their food, that helps, but by putting down the salt shaker you reduce your daily sodium intake by 5 to 10%. There are varying figures, but they say the average American takes in about 4000 mg a day, I now consume 1000 mg or less per day. I would like to discuss this with you further, if your interested. Please PM me. Start by going to lowsodiumcooking.com.

George

[Podunkfla]

Kevin... Like George says... Lowering your sodium intake and a proper diet can go a long way toward making you feel better (and live longer). Losing excess weight is also well worth the effort and can take a lot of the stress off your heart. I wish you well my friend... I have been living with it about 5 years now.

There is more good info at the Heart Association site: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter. ... ifier=4585

[Guy]

Dear Kevin,

I have had CHF for the last for years. I live with the Lasix (Furosemide) diuretics and the potassium loss (easy to make up with foods too) Hope you like banannas, they are the best for potassium.

The only problem that gave me some problems is one of the potential side effects of the diuretics is you can get gout (a build up of uric acid) Gout hurts and must be avoided. It starts with a soreness in the big toe, and gets increasingly more painful. Look up gout and its treaments. One of the most important things to have on hand is cherry juice (concentrated) which really helps the uric acid to pass.

If you go all the way back in my posts aas to why I thought about a teardrop it was because I was sleeping a lot in my car during my travels and keeping your legs lower than your heart for a long time really is not too good for your CHF. So I thought getting a tear would help me when I slept.

I will PM my phone number so I can tell you some of the finer points. Just remember it is able to be lived with.

[mikeschn]

I think a good diet would make all the difference in the world...

Mike...

[Nytewyng]

From a medical point of view( Im an RN) Take the ER advice get with your family Doc. Low sodium diet , cut out the fats and absolutely get on an excercise program( if you family doc says thats Ok to do) No offense intended......but losing 35 or pounds will greatly reduce the stress on your heart not to mention you will feel alot better to boot...........

[Bobgorilla]

If you google potassium it tells you the foods with lots( check Linus Pauling Inst.), banannas are about 5th or so. Baked potatoes with skin are number 1. As in most things too much is dangerous also, so be careful!

[Steve_Cox]

Kevin,

CHF in itself can be mild to deadly, and often the diagnosis itself is vague in nature and often physicians don't agree just exactly what is or isn't included in the diagnosis. Beware of the cardiologist that spends most of your appointment time talking about sports and making sure you are administered tests on every piece of expensive equipment he has in his office. Some get so involved making sure they extract money from the insurance they often forget about getting you better. Often CHF is about the obvious lifestyle choices like diet and exercise, sometimes it is about genetics.

The usual heart irritants can make CHF deadly: arterial plaque, stress, smoking, old age, lack of exercise, overworked heart, and obesity. In genetic family history of CHF, the cause is a weak heart having thinner muscle walls than usual, and often weakened further by one or more of the above heart irritants. Arterial plaque lines the inside of the arteries that supply the heart and the rest of the body, meaning less blood gets to the heart itself, as well as the heart having to work harder to push blood through the thinner systemic arteries. The result is irregular heart beats causing inefficient blood pumping and a tired heart. Other than that, I really don't have much to offer except to say take care of yourself the best you can, and take what the cardio guy says with a grain of salt, just don't eat it.

[SteveH]

Kevin,

I'm sure glad you caught the situation in time, and you are now on the road to improvement.

[CPASPARKS]

I knew I could count on all my friends on here.

Thanks for all the info and encouragement. I will keep you posted when I get to the doctor.

[The Teardrop Nanny]

Dear Kevin,
The internet is a wonderful source to go to for information. I can relate to you my most recent experience with a loved one who had CHF:

It was smart to go to the ER when you felt "off". My brother, who just turned 55 this October, died the next month (Nov. 06) and he had been diagnosed with heart problems a year ago. During the last few months, which we did NOT know would be his last ones, he was experiencing many of the same symptoms you mentioned. He had been under the care of a doctor for his condition(s), and had numerous problems over the last year, especially in regards to regulating his medication(s). Monitor your meds and let the doctors know immediately when you have water retention, swelling (anywhere in the body) and shortness of breath.

My advice is to please heed the doctor's advice....my brother had other issues which contributed to his early demise, but the CHF turned out to be the number one cause at the very end. He made some lifestyle changes, but apparently not soon enough or severe enough. If you smoke and drink liquor during this period, don't change your diet, and won't exercise regularly, it can provide an avenue for CHF failure to become deadly. The others on the forum gave you their good advice. I gave much of the same to my brother, but in the end it is up to the individual to make and follow thru with the choices that are healthy ones for the body. I know my brother really wanted to live a full and long life, but because of his long time addictions, it was incredibly difficult for him to alter it. I wish the best to you in getting a handle on this problem. Asking for advice and deciding what to do with it will be an EXCELLENT start for you.

TDN
Joanie

[big earl]

kevin,
sorry to hear about the chf, my dad was told he had six months to live a little over six years ago when he was diagnosed, he went on dissability and started treatment, his dr. put him on among other meds, something he called the mirical pill, after about two years, he went back to work, first part time, and shortly after that, full time. the thing is, he never stopped smoking, and he didnt change his diet much, he did loose about thirty pounds, but the last test showed his heart working perfectly normal. I dont mean to imply you should smoke or not follow you Dr.s instuctions at all, but I would talk to him about the "MIRICAL PILL".
hope you feel better.