virus and heart failure

My husband just got out of the hospital with heart failure due to a virus.  His heart function is 10 %.  We are still in shock as he had no prior symptoms until we took him in with shortness of breath.  He has never had high blood pressure, his weight has always been great, his arteries are completely clear, and he is in good over-all health.  They have placed him on meds for 6 weeks to see if there is any improvement in heart function and if not, he'll go on a heart transplant list.  Still just don't know how this could happen to such a healthy person.  We can't even remember him being sick.  Have anyone out there gone through this same experience?  Is there any chance that the heart can get back to normal?  Thanks for any information or for sharing experiences.  We still can't believe this has happened.

[freddiejoe]

hi, my husband had the same thing 5 years ago, he was 48 when he had heart failure he was a fit man like your husband he went to the gym 3 times a week and was a HGV lorry drive the hospital told us that he had an enlarged heart he's on 6 different tablets his weight was always good his arteries were clear the doctors could work out why he had, had heart failure in some people there heart goes back to normal within 6mths and they can go back to work, my husband is one of the unlucky one he hasn't been able to go back to work, he now has problems with his lungs. i wish you both all the best and keep your chin up
sue

[Jo846]

Sharing personal experience...End of October 2007...diqagnosed with viral attack to left side of heart.  Prior to diagnose no heart problems - just some blood pressure pills.  Otherwise healthy, active woman, 61 years of age.  Since that time - have had a pacemaker/defribrillator in place.  Ejection Fraction went to 12% - nothing left to do but heart transplant.  After checking into heart transplants and costs decided NO.  Continued search for help.  Stem Cells - only issue was not done in USA.  Only "trials."  Trials no good because you don't know if you are getting real stem cells or placebo.  I found a company in the USA that took your blood here - shipped to Isreael for replication - and then meet the American Doctor in another country to have the stem cells put into my heart.  I am talking about my own stem cells replicated - not embryonic.  I had 23 Million Stem Cells injected on Nov. 11, 2008.  My Ejection Factor has gone from 12% to 30%,,,certainly "not out of the water" but better than 12%.

It is not easy to accept - certainly requires a huge change in lifestyle...once the "dust settles" and you realize you just better be grateful that you are still here.  

I cannot wish you and your husband anything but the best and remember you play an important role in keeping his spirits up.

If you ever need just someone outside of your family to talk to...let me know.  I read the Med Help pretty much on a daily basis.