Stage 4 Congestive Heart Failure

My Mother has been diagnosed with stage 4 congestive heart failure. The doctors say 6 months.   Is stage 4 all about preparing for end of life?

[ireneo]

Each person is different. My Dad was at that stage, they expected him to live maybe 6 weeks if he was lucky. This was right around  the holidays of 2006. I was so sad thinking he might not make it till Christmas or the New year or his birthday. They put him on hospice care - the visiting nurse at home, counselor, volunteer. But his doctor kept tweaking his medications to help as much as he could. Strange thing happened - his heart stabilized (no more v-fib, just occasional mild tachys and ectopics) and he ended up coming off hospice care.

He did end up on hospice care again this year (yes, 2008) in late summer. He passed away in August, not from his heart failure but from cancer. What a strange turn of events. So although doctors can estimate based on other cases of severe heart failure, they really don't know how much time your Mom may have. She could fool all of you. So enjoy every day like it's her last but don't treat her like it's her last. Watch TV together, laugh, tell stories, keep a positive household for as long as possible. Even on my Dad's last day, we went to visit, said we'd see him later and he was all smiles. But he faded and died that evening. But we have a lot of good memories.

[avaate]

I am a 62 yr old Viet Vet in stage 4 heart disease-chf/copd diagnosed in July 2007.  I was treated at the VAMC Seattle by Sandy Kruse and GIMC Team and around Jan 2008 she had tweaked my meds [all 29 I take daily] I am still home-independent living-with a Comfort Keeper Home Health Care Aid 9hr/wk, Meals on wheels, O2 delivery, electric chair and Buhba-my companion dog.  But-independent living is the key phrase. Every day-thanks to Buhba, the VA, my sister,my neighbor,and especially my comfort keepers has made my quality of life much better that 2 yrs prior to my Diag.  But the team at the VA-they are the heros.  May you and your mom be as fortunate.  I so wish you well.  Enjoy the time you have,

[daijbq2006]

hello my grandma is in the hospital with pneomina really bad that she carely had any room to breath before we took her too hospital they just told us last night that the pneomina has aggvarted her heart and that she is in stage 4 she has chf/copd i was wondering if u could help me better understand was this mean... so i  know that maybe i can spend more time with her thanks

[HayvenMoses]

My mother has stage 4 CHF and has severe C.O.P.D how long will she live her legs have started swelling very bad and her breathing is very bad can someone please give me an answer. thank you ....Hayven W

[prwhite55]

i too am looking for an answer. just to find out about what stage my husband is in. no doctor has ever said but from what ive read he is stage 4 chf. he cant walk 30 ft without severe discomfort. sleeps about 20 hours a day. his kidneys shut down a cpl years ago so he has dialysis 3x a week too. the last 2 months he has began these coughing jags, he turns purple from coughing so much!  and the last month they are blood tinted. he uses oxy all day and night. his oxy level is always around 80-85. he is really bad about his habits. he eats salty stuff and prepared foods. i can only nag but he is a grown man and makes his own decisions.he also has a very bad habit of forgetting to take his meds, and insulin.