CHF...Abnormal and normal tests...entirely confused!

At the ER last month, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and pneumonia based on a X-Ray, CT Scan, Pro-BNP test, and an EKG. My EKG was abnormal (enlarged heart, etc.) and my Pro-BNP test score was 4996, which from what I have seen, is very high. I was very swollen and my oxygen level was low (70%). They gave me a bunch of medications including a diuretic. All of this made sense when I looked into it, because I have EVERY symptom of CHF.

From that day on, I stopped eating salt, drinking beer, and *tried* to quit smoking.

Fast forward to this month, I went to a cardiologist and he ran a sonogram (Echo...I think it is called). All came back normal. No enlargement, valves look okay, and etc. He wants to run a stress test, though, to look for blockage. My symptoms are still apparent, though I am not nearly as swollen right now. He doubled my diuretic dosage.

Does this mean I really do not have CHF? He doctor did not really say anything either way. I am so confused at how things can "change" so quickly, especially with such a "bad" BNP test. Could it be something else? I am thinking things may not be "okay" because he doubled my diuretic. I have no idea what to even think.

Any advice or input is greatly appreciated.

[CCF HeartMD3]

melya18,

Congratulations on the wonderful lifestyle changes that you have made in response to your recent health troubles.

From your description, it sounds that you very well may have heart failure. Even patients with a normal cardiac function on echo can have heart failure - this has been termed "heart failure with preserved ejection fraction". I would encourage you to continue your lifestyle changes and completely stop smoking. Hopefully, you will be able to work with your cardiologist so that you can get on a medical regimen that will get you back to feeling good.