Aa
lost please help
I'm new to this site...well new to everything any help inspiration or advice would be apreciated. I got diagnosed with chf a week ago with an ejection percentage of 30 to 35. I'm 24 years old and have no idea what to think or do. I feel young and don't wanna die! I'm praying and hoping for anything! It was brought on by alcohol my cardeologist thinks. I still want kids, marrage, to be something. I just don't know
Jesus is right, IT IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE, and I'm sorry you are still in that frame of mind.
One thing for sure, we will all die at some point, but the term CHF basically means that your heart is having trouble removing the fluid from your system, and therefore you have congestion going on.
If you follow your doctor's directions, watch your diet, get as much excercise as you can without overtaxing yourself, and lose any excess weight, as well as any bad habits you have, you should go on living for a very long time.
I've had CHF for 5 1/2 years, and for that time I have made some big changes in my life. Now, I lead a normal life, and do everything I did before I was diagnosed. I used to think I was living with a black cloud over my head, but now the air has cleared and I'm not afraid anymore. There is life after diagnosis, but it largely depends on YOU and your frame of mind. Good luck.
One thing for sure, we will all die at some point, but the term CHF basically means that your heart is having trouble removing the fluid from your system, and therefore you have congestion going on.
If you follow your doctor's directions, watch your diet, get as much excercise as you can without overtaxing yourself, and lose any excess weight, as well as any bad habits you have, you should go on living for a very long time.
I've had CHF for 5 1/2 years, and for that time I have made some big changes in my life. Now, I lead a normal life, and do everything I did before I was diagnosed. I used to think I was living with a black cloud over my head, but now the air has cleared and I'm not afraid anymore. There is life after diagnosis, but it largely depends on YOU and your frame of mind. Good luck.
Are you overweight at all? Take your water pill. I lost like 25 pounds by taking my water pill. It is not all fat if you are overweight, a lot of it is just fluid inside your body.
As have been said, lT IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE.
yes even if you do not have it, for sure we all we die.
Jesus
yes even if you do not have it, for sure we all we die.
Jesus
I read on the internet that there is no cure for Congestive Heart Failure and that it is like a death sentence. Once you have it, you will surely die. I don't know if that is true or not. I have had it for two years now and my only wish is I want to do more without getiing so tired out so quickly. After two hours of walkiing, I am just too weak to do anything else and I have to go home and rest. My ejection factor is around 40 and I have had CHF for two years. I take Beta Blockers and someone at the pool told me to buy Omega-3 over the counter. It is supposed to make my heart stronger. It is fish oil. You better ask your doctor first. Good luck.
In addition to stopping salt, a good pair of compression stockings, at night, while you sleep, helps to keep the swelling down in your legs and feet. But, diurectics are worth their weight in gold to you, right now, along with a very low sodium diet.
The compression stockings can be bought at Walmart Pharmacy.
If you can do it, without losing your breath, walking, even inside your house, can help get the swelling out of you lower extremities, but ONLY if you can do it without losing your ability to get enough air.
The way to know whether you're getting enough air, or not, is to try carrying on a conversation. If you can't talk, without feeling like you need to breath deep, then you're doing too much, and you need to stop, rest for 20-45 minutes, and try again.
Keep us posted!
The compression stockings can be bought at Walmart Pharmacy.
If you can do it, without losing your breath, walking, even inside your house, can help get the swelling out of you lower extremities, but ONLY if you can do it without losing your ability to get enough air.
The way to know whether you're getting enough air, or not, is to try carrying on a conversation. If you can't talk, without feeling like you need to breath deep, then you're doing too much, and you need to stop, rest for 20-45 minutes, and try again.
Keep us posted!
I hope they also have place you on a good medication, imncluding diuretics to avoid that sudden increase in weight.
As I said, stopping salt intake can help you a lot.
Jesus
As I said, stopping salt intake can help you a lot.
Jesus
My ef has gone up to 55 left ventricle is alittle dialated. He says as long as I stay away from alcohol ill be good. So we will see.
This has to be the most scared I've been in my life. The worry and fear of it just going downhill or gooing to see my cardiologist and him saying it hasn't gotten any better or its worse. People tell me bc I'm young and bc my dr said I have a fairly good chance of recovery I will. Thank you to everyone who responded. It helped. I'm not sure how I should even be feeling right now
Hi...in addition to all the invaluable advice above, I'd like to add a comment about "proper rest". For me, this means resting from 1 - 2 hours every day, some days even longer. Your heart needs this to get better - start listening to what your body is telling you with respect to rest and exercise.
Two years ago, my ejection fraction was 20% - unbeknownst to me, this disease ran in my family. Mine was triggered from working 15 yrs in a stressful job while my brother's was alcohol related. With meds, my EF went to 25% and 7 months later (Dec 2009), a 3-lead ICD was implanted that eventually made a big difference. Last week I had my first echo since the implant. My cardiologist called me the following morning and the results surprised him. My heart was "not as enlarged (not yet normal), the valves were working okay and it was beating stronger". That's what I call GREEAAAT NEWS!! Don't know the new EF yet.
However, this is the result of all my efforts to get better: proper rest, no-salt heart-healthy diet, walking for exercise, on leave from my job and attending any free info sessions on meditation, eating healhy and cardiac care.
There is so much you can do to get better. Good luck on your new journey...
Two years ago, my ejection fraction was 20% - unbeknownst to me, this disease ran in my family. Mine was triggered from working 15 yrs in a stressful job while my brother's was alcohol related. With meds, my EF went to 25% and 7 months later (Dec 2009), a 3-lead ICD was implanted that eventually made a big difference. Last week I had my first echo since the implant. My cardiologist called me the following morning and the results surprised him. My heart was "not as enlarged (not yet normal), the valves were working okay and it was beating stronger". That's what I call GREEAAAT NEWS!! Don't know the new EF yet.
However, this is the result of all my efforts to get better: proper rest, no-salt heart-healthy diet, walking for exercise, on leave from my job and attending any free info sessions on meditation, eating healhy and cardiac care.
There is so much you can do to get better. Good luck on your new journey...
As already stated, CHF is not a death sentence, even though it certainly sounds as though it is. However, the outcome will be your responsibilty, for the most part.
It will be you who will have to give up the alcohol, you who will have to follow a strict low/no salt, heart friendly diet, you who will have to be anal about taking your meds as prescribed, you who will have to get proper rest and excercise.
Along with the above, if you smoke, you need to throw the cigarettes as far away from yourself as you can. If you have any extra weight, you'll need to lose it. As far as exercise goes, start slowly and work your way up.
Walking is good, and it's easy to gauge yourself. Walk as long as you can, without losing your breath. If you have trouble carrying on a normal conversation while on the move, then you are overdoing it, and need to back off a bit, or stop, rest for 20-45 minutes and try again.
You don't have to do everything listed, all at once, but make it your life's work, and be serious about it.
As far as CHF goes, the term, in my opinion is over used, but it basically means that your heart isn't able to pump well enough to move fluid from your body and you need to give it all the help you can, by diet, excercise, taking your meds everytime, on time, and losing the bad habits.
I know it's a lot to digest all at once, but it can save your life, and as I said, it's all up to you. We are here if you if you need to vent, but most of us are patients just like you and are not able to speak medically, but rather let you know how we have faced the problems associated with CHF.
Just to let you know, I was diagnosed 5 1/2 years ago, and since then I have changed my entire lifestyle. I was at 15% EF when orignally diagnosed, and I was sure I was going to die. I had trouble walking the distance inside my small house, and now, I am back to "almost" normal. I fish, hunt, hike, and do all of my own household chores, and shopping, etc.
Shortly after I was diagnosed with CHF, I was also diagnosed with total kidney failure. So, along with all of the other things I do, for life, I have dialysis 6 days a week, at home, with my husband as my dialysis technician.
The bottom line is, I'm still alive, and I still have a life. The same can be true for you, but it's up to you what the outcome is. Keep in mind that it's a work in process, and improvement will depend on you, and how you handle the life's changes that you need to make.
I DO hope the best for you, and don't be shy, keep us informed of how you're doing.
It will be you who will have to give up the alcohol, you who will have to follow a strict low/no salt, heart friendly diet, you who will have to be anal about taking your meds as prescribed, you who will have to get proper rest and excercise.
Along with the above, if you smoke, you need to throw the cigarettes as far away from yourself as you can. If you have any extra weight, you'll need to lose it. As far as exercise goes, start slowly and work your way up.
Walking is good, and it's easy to gauge yourself. Walk as long as you can, without losing your breath. If you have trouble carrying on a normal conversation while on the move, then you are overdoing it, and need to back off a bit, or stop, rest for 20-45 minutes and try again.
You don't have to do everything listed, all at once, but make it your life's work, and be serious about it.
As far as CHF goes, the term, in my opinion is over used, but it basically means that your heart isn't able to pump well enough to move fluid from your body and you need to give it all the help you can, by diet, excercise, taking your meds everytime, on time, and losing the bad habits.
I know it's a lot to digest all at once, but it can save your life, and as I said, it's all up to you. We are here if you if you need to vent, but most of us are patients just like you and are not able to speak medically, but rather let you know how we have faced the problems associated with CHF.
Just to let you know, I was diagnosed 5 1/2 years ago, and since then I have changed my entire lifestyle. I was at 15% EF when orignally diagnosed, and I was sure I was going to die. I had trouble walking the distance inside my small house, and now, I am back to "almost" normal. I fish, hunt, hike, and do all of my own household chores, and shopping, etc.
Shortly after I was diagnosed with CHF, I was also diagnosed with total kidney failure. So, along with all of the other things I do, for life, I have dialysis 6 days a week, at home, with my husband as my dialysis technician.
The bottom line is, I'm still alive, and I still have a life. The same can be true for you, but it's up to you what the outcome is. Keep in mind that it's a work in process, and improvement will depend on you, and how you handle the life's changes that you need to make.
I DO hope the best for you, and don't be shy, keep us informed of how you're doing.
I am sorry that you suffer CHF, but let me tell you that this is a situation that you will be able to handle.
One of the major problems that CHF has it is the name "Heart Failure" really sounds terrible, however it is not a death sentence.
Being your HF produced by alcohol you have a good chance that your EF will increase soon.
So try do not worry too much, follow strictly your doctor medication and style life, stop salt intake, be sure to get proper rest and you will see how situation improve over type.
Of course, any doubt, problem or need to vent that you have, you can share it here.
Jesus
One of the major problems that CHF has it is the name "Heart Failure" really sounds terrible, however it is not a death sentence.
Being your HF produced by alcohol you have a good chance that your EF will increase soon.
So try do not worry too much, follow strictly your doctor medication and style life, stop salt intake, be sure to get proper rest and you will see how situation improve over type.
Of course, any doubt, problem or need to vent that you have, you can share it here.
Jesus
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