congested heart failure - 10 years, 8 in the 4th stage

[cindy51]

My father, 85 has had congested heart failure for 10 years, 8 in the 4th stage and some doctors have said he is a miracle.  His will to live is unbelieveable.  My question:  he just had 16 lbs of fluid removed in the hospital last week, in hospital 2 days, discharged, and the fluid is again retaining in his body, 1 1/4 lbs. a day, he weighs and documents his weight daily.  He is on dieuritics (misspelled)(4 a day), how hard is the gain and loss on his health?  Can he live another 4 years like this?

Thank you for any information.
cindy

[kenkeith]

For perspective to what is happening.  The heart has loss the muscular contractility to pump blood/oxygen to meet the system's demand, and the blood received from the lungs backs up into lungs and fluids leak into the tissues causing shortness of breath, dry coughing, etc.  To add to the problem the kidneys increases the blood volume.  The added burden causes a weaker heart to become weaker.  The diuretics removes the excess fluids.  Sometimes, one is required to be hospitalized for more effective fluid removal.

The heart is stressed with the excess fluids, and the elimination of excess fluids provides some relief and possibly normal functionality.  But what is required is to increase the heart's pumping strength, lower the resistance the heart pumps against (constricted vessels...high blood pressure), etc.  Medication can help.  

It is a miracle to be 8 years in the 4th stage and age 85!