Heart Failure Support Group

Hi,
I am a little older than you, but please read my profile. We are so much alike. I was diagnosed with CHF in 2005. EF 10-15%. I am a teacher and work part time since the heart failure. I now have a pacemaker/difibulator. I was taken off Coreg beacause I was allergic. I have taken Toprol ever since. My Ef has increased to 50% and plan on being here much longer than 5 years and so should you. Do what you doc says. You will improve. I still am tired. I still work part time and my life has changed. I am thankful for each moment. I have a few other health problems but nothing like the heart failure. My cardiologist is a woman. She says women have better outcomes than men. Why? They do what the doc says.....LOL....
Shelly

Hi Shelly...thank you for your reply...I saw your profile before you even replied and noticed you are also a teacher. The coreg caused me to be so depressed along with being dizzy and causing my blood pressure to plummet. I am doing what the drs tell me to do...even though I hate food because I'm too tired to cook most days and there are few things I can actually eat. I have found all sorts of sodium free or low sodium seasonings and snacks...but there is little variety. I am hopeful that these meds can make me better...I really don't want to have a defibrillator put in...but they tell me that it is likely necessary.

Again...thank you!!

Kym

I have congenital heart failure... for 30 years!
The 5 year thing is a standard reply... doctors like to give a 'worst case scenario". Sort of a 'expect the worst, hope for the best' thing. If you take good care of yourself, follow doctor orders, be healthy in general (good diet, exercise, lower stress, sleep well, no smoking/drinking/drugs, etc.), it will help a lot in extending that time!

So far, I haven't gotten told I need any devices implanted. But if I did, I would gladly accept them, rather than make my poor heart do all functions all by it's lonesome!
I have had "surgeries" (outpatient procedures) done, though. A couple catheters, and ablation to try getting rid of some arrhythmias. Worked for a while, but my A-fib is back again...very annoying! LOL
But hey, I'm still alive, that's what really counts.

Good luck, and best wishes!

I'm older than you, but you'd be amazed at what you can do and what you can find to eat if your life depends on it. I have found TONS of low sodium recipes and they tast great. And I can even eat a litle ice cream. Just make it part of the sodium level for the day. No salt nuts are great. I lived on Pepsi and there was NO way I was going to quit. Well, haven't had a Pepsi since August 9th. What I do, is cook on my days off and freeze it for the week. How old are your kids?

Sorry, just read how old your kids are. Get them involved in cooking and coming up with recipes. Make this a family project. My kids have loved to cook since they were 12 and now that mom needs them...they have been great.
When I shop, my son comes with (he's 20 now). But it's his job to help me read labels. Actually, I lost weight mostly because of the fluid retention no longer being a problem. Also, I now eat healthy. My snacks are salt free nuts, one piece of dark chocolate a couple times a week and fresh fruit.

Hey There, I was diagnosed in September as well, I'm 43 and my EF was between 15 and 20%, when they checked it again in late October it was 25%, and they recommended that I have an ICD, which I had implanted on Dec. 2nd. Like you, mine was caused by a viral infection. No idea how/where I got it. I saw the same statistics about mortality, and like, freaked right out. I've been on Coreg (6.25mg 2x a day) for a few monhts, and luckily I've had no side effects. I've lost about 20 pounds since this happened, prior to that I had lost 50 since March on a diet. Thank God I had done that or who knows if my heart would have been able to keep up. Regardless, I've found through talking to people with our condition, that attitude is really everything, and getting a doctor you can talk too. I have resumed a very active lifestyle since I had my ICD put in, I feel safer. I walked 3 miles this morning, I sailed my boat alone last weekend, things I never thought I would ever do again. Don't let fear wear you down. They can't "tell" you how you'll do, because they don't know, every single person that has this has a different set of circumstances. It's very much up to us, our choices, our attitudes. God bless, and good luck, you'll do great!