Re: Congestive Heart Failure

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on October 24, 1998 at 13:34:48:

In Reply to: Congestive Heart Failure posted by Suzanne on October 24, 1998 at 01:58:50:






Yesterday my husband went to the doctor for the results of a persantine-thalium
stress test and an echocardiogram test.  He has had by pass surgery in the past
but has been having trouble breathing.  The tests showed that his heart was
pumping at 18% and that was why he was tired all of the time.  He is on Diovan
Lanoxin, and Lasix for his heart.  He has been on insulin for the past 42 years
for diabetes.  The doctor said that his heart was week.  Is there anything that
could possibly be done for my husband's heart condition?  He also has congestive
heart failure. He is 59 years old.
Thank you in advance for any insight you may be able to give me in this matter.
Suzanne

Dear Suzanne,
First of all, he should be seeing a cardiologist. There are medicines (including newer ones) that can help heart failure. If his thallium test indicates poor blood flow, he may need a repeat catheterization, and possibly angioplasty or bypass surgery. If his heart failure is causing severe symptoms, he should be evaluated for a transplant (though the diabetes may make him an unsuitable candidate at some transplant centers). He is relatively young, and the approach should be aggressive.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.