My mother is 48 and has CHF..Heart transplant or NOT?

[Beautiful700]

My mom has CHF and her heart has a moderate EF and the doctor says that she should think about having a heart transplant. As scary as that sounds to her she is thinking about doing it. I want to ask if she doesent get it done than will she have a chance at living with heart for the next 5 years? And how secure is a Heart surgery..I am scared that she will not wake up and if so how well do people live after they have had a heart implant?

[grendslori]

A heart transplant is not something you go into lightly. It is not a cure; it only extends life. I've known people who died on the table, I've known 2 people who have lived 10 years and have heard of one person who has made it 20 years. No one can give you a definate answer as to how long you will live for. You have to take ANTIrejection drugs for the rest of your life and that isn't easy to do. A transplanted heart can also go into CHF (that's happened to my daughter already 3 times in the almost 10 years with her new heart) You have to have constant bloodwork as well as biopsies. How well you live after your transplant depends on you. We've been through it.  

[GardeniaDreams]

First time I post here for some patients there is help for heart failure with a cardiac resynchronization pacemaker crt pacemaker also called CHF pacemaker one also needs a very good EP electrophysiology cardiologist as they specialize in this area and several heart medicines and daily diuretics. For 2 ot of 3 patients this really helps I was told.
In my own case and of course every patient is different , I do not need a heart/lung transplant anymore and I got back my quality of life I am forever grateful to my wonderful cardiologist who saved my life and gave me back quality of life.I am so glad I got this done which is a mayor difference to having a heart/lung transplant I am a new person.

[Encephalomalcia]

There will be rejection medication to take for the rest of her life for the new heart.  A new heart would give her a life.  A person can survive a long time with a new heart and feel good.  With the CHF, she will most likely not have a long lifespan and she is so young.  She will suffer a lot with the CHF and not feel good most of the time.  The medication for CHF will make her tired and she most likely will have a cough.  If she has cardiomyopathy with the CHF, she should seriously consider the heart transplant.  I know a lady that had a heart transplant and she had a good life afterwards and lived many many years.