Upset & Confused

[diva2007]

Well I seen my Pulmonologist today and she was reading over my results from my Angiogram and she said that I had Diastolic Heart Failure base on the LVEDP greater than 20 Mines was 27. She said it no cure for that but they can treat it with meds and help it from getting worse. I'm trying to understand what she meant about that. So Heart Failure can't be cured or fix but just treated wih meds.

[diva2007]

Well yes they explain to me that I do have Heart failure but not active right now it was a couple of weeks ago when I had water on me and he increase my Lasix. I do have the Dypnea everyday and the chest pain which I'm on imdur and Nitrostat. Well I'm going to get the hang of it  one day @ a time.

[Encephalomalcia]

My grandfather lived almost 30 years with heart failure and died of a heart attack after receiving cancer treatment.  He battled cancer three times in his life time and the final battle resulted in a heart attack after the cancer treatment.  With that being said, a person can live many, many years with heart failure.  The heart medications are great at increasing lifespan.  My uncle was on heart medication from a teenager until 75 years old age.  He died from liver problems, not his heart.  The main thing is to eat mostly vegetables and fruit that are fresh not canned.  Cut down or eliminate red meat, which has been shown in the largest study recent to increase the risk of heart disease and cancer. Eat all food fresh and do not eat processed meats.  Avoid fast food.  Take care and make sure to take your medications as prescribed by your doctor.  

[ireneo]

It can be "managed" for years. You can have heart failure but not be "in" heart failure with all the fluid retention, chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue that goes with that. Similar to asthma - you can have it but not always be in crisis. Do not give up or think life is over. I have friends that have had heart failure for years now and they're doing OK. Not as perky as a 16 year old but they're not in a rocking chair either. Get educated about sodium. It's more than the salt shaker. It's heavy in prepared and canned foods. There's some sodium (not just table salt) in most every food you eat. Even a carrot has some. You can do this.