I'm just wondering what to expect.....

[MCarrillo02]

We were told in Feb. 2010 that my grandmother has congestive heart failure. She was doing "okay" then the doctors put her on hospice. Her "episodes" were rare at first but since 4/13/10 she has had one or more everyday. At first she only needed help with a few things now she needs 24/7 care. I was her only caretaker at first now its me and my mom (her daughter) taking care of her. She can't even sit up on her own anymore.
     My question is what do we expect from here? What happens now? I have been on her everyday since she left the hospital the first time back in Feb. with her meds and eating habits and she just got worse. Now I am still trying to get her to take her heart meds at least but some days she can't sallow so she will miss a day. What happens now? Is there anything I can do to get her to at least where she was before? How do I help her? What do I do now?

[kenkeith]

I also researched and 6 months is not conclusive..."Patients with end stage chronic heart failure (CHF) are being referred to palliative care services. On the surface this appears to be reasonable given that CHF should be considered a ‘terminal disease’ given that the only cure for the majority is by heart transplantation. Survival after diagnosis of heart failure at one year is 85% and at five years is 50%. Patients with New York Heart Association Class III disease (dyspnoea on mild exertion) have a one-year survival of 80-90%; patients with Class IV (dyspnoea at rest) have a one-year survival of 50-70%"  ...not even a 100%, but 50-70%

This is NYHA stats!

[kay2486]

im sorry but ive researched stage 4 is where you have 6 months to live. just keep her comfy and look after her, what have the doctors said about her?

[kenkeith]

What are the episodes, arrhythmia?  Your grandmother has congestion in her lungs due to the inability for the heart to pump out into circulation an adequate blod/oxygen received from the lungs.  As a consequence, blood backs up into the lungs and fluids leak into the lng tissues.  I had CHF 6 years ago and the symptoms were dry cough and a feeling of not getting enough oxygen...hyperventilating.  I had shortness of breath but no chest pain, etc.

For me, medication helped me feel better.  A diuretic reduced fluids in the lungs, ace inhibitor and beta blocker (coreg) reduced the heart's workload and provided time for the heart to heal, etc.  This medication helped reduce an enlarged heart and contractions of the heart chamber pumped more blood in circulation.  I mentioned the necessity to take medication for better health so you may provide some insight to your grandmother to get well. Your grandmother should be motivated to feel better, and if she is not, maybe she is depressed and needs professional help in that regard.  Sorry for your predicament.