Heart Failure Support Group
Heart failure is a condition that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the heart to fill with or pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body. It is often undiagnosed due to a lack of a universally agreed definition and difficulties in diagnosis, particularly when the condition is considered "mild."
Dear Family, and Friends ~
I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss something that has been bothering me, and I felt needed to be addressed at length, so we may come to an understanding. My condition, specifically congestive heart failure (CHF).
For some reason, society equates looking good to physical well being. Even medical doctors, who know better slip into this trap, and equate appearance with well being. Unfortunately CHF seems to target the worlds beautiful people. While we may look deceptively good, causing others to believe all is well, the fact is we struggle daily with survival. Every day I wake up is a challenge.
Congestive Heart failure, or simply heart failure, is the inability of the heart muscle to pump properly and supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body's needs. Heart failure can cause a large variety of symptoms such as severe loss of energy, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness, confusion, swelling in areas such as the ankles and stomach, and exercise intolerance. This occurs most commonly when the body becomes congested with fluid.
Any physical exertion requires an increase in oxygen supply to organs and tissue to compensate and provide the energy necessary for those activities. Unfortunately with this disease, I struggle for adequate oxygen even with minimal exertion, and often struggle even while resting. What I once did with little thought or effort is now a monumental undertaking for me because of this condition. Physical activity frequently results in my being out of commission for several days afterward.
Shortness of Breath for me isnt the usual sensation one gets after physical exertion, but for me it is a sensation of drowning because fluid builds up. My entire body, organs, tissues, brain all scream for the desperately needed oxygen enriched blood that is being denied to it.
Congestive Heart Failure is debilitating, and gets progressively worse with time. Many of its victims die from this condition. Each day I awake, I live with the knowledge and fear that today may be the day. When I fight this battle and face the worst symptoms, I wonder is this it? But I go on, and try to make the most of the hand Ive been dealt.
Im not looking for sympathy, or to be treated like a baby, to be held and mothered constantly. I just want recognition that, while I naturally look really healthy, I am not. I have some limitations to what I can do physically. It impacts us all, but perhaps by working together, we can all make the most of what I can do, learn to adjust accordingly, and enjoy a modified life to its fullest. Please dont minimize my affliction. It is a serious, chronic condition from which I will not recover.
I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss something that has been bothering me, and I felt needed to be addressed at length, so we may come to an understanding. My condition, specifically congestive heart failure (CHF).
For some reason, society equates looking good to physical well being. Even medical doctors, who know better slip into this trap, and equate appearance with well being. Unfortunately CHF seems to target the worlds beautiful people. While we may look deceptively good, causing others to believe all is well, the fact is we struggle daily with survival. Every day I wake up is a challenge.
Congestive Heart failure, or simply heart failure, is the inability of the heart muscle to pump properly and supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body's needs. Heart failure can cause a large variety of symptoms such as severe loss of energy, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness, confusion, swelling in areas such as the ankles and stomach, and exercise intolerance. This occurs most commonly when the body becomes congested with fluid.
Any physical exertion requires an increase in oxygen supply to organs and tissue to compensate and provide the energy necessary for those activities. Unfortunately with this disease, I struggle for adequate oxygen even with minimal exertion, and often struggle even while resting. What I once did with little thought or effort is now a monumental undertaking for me because of this condition. Physical activity frequently results in my being out of commission for several days afterward.
Shortness of Breath for me isnt the usual sensation one gets after physical exertion, but for me it is a sensation of drowning because fluid builds up. My entire body, organs, tissues, brain all scream for the desperately needed oxygen enriched blood that is being denied to it.
Congestive Heart Failure is debilitating, and gets progressively worse with time. Many of its victims die from this condition. Each day I awake, I live with the knowledge and fear that today may be the day. When I fight this battle and face the worst symptoms, I wonder is this it? But I go on, and try to make the most of the hand Ive been dealt.
Im not looking for sympathy, or to be treated like a baby, to be held and mothered constantly. I just want recognition that, while I naturally look really healthy, I am not. I have some limitations to what I can do physically. It impacts us all, but perhaps by working together, we can all make the most of what I can do, learn to adjust accordingly, and enjoy a modified life to its fullest. Please dont minimize my affliction. It is a serious, chronic condition from which I will not recover.
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
I have no problem with others sharing my material with their friends and families. The idea is to help one another. However, I do have a problem with those claiming the material as their own.
My CHF is the result of severe deterioration of the aortic valve and malfunction of the mitral valve, Open heart surgery has been suggested and rejected. Now I am looking into something called tavr in which the an aortic valve replacement is inserted through a catheter placed in the groin. This is brand new and only those who don't qualify for the cracked chest option are considered, I am waiting to hear from Vanderbilt which is evaluating my test results.
I am happy to have found this forum. I have been taking part in the afib discussion because that was my original diagnosis.
Seriously it's tough, you need to find something to fill that slot.
That said, a couple of years ago, I started to do the online survey thing and also got involved in other online communities where I share my opinions more in depth. I've also submitted a few product reviews here & there. These things enable me to make a little cash, but more importantly, I regained some sense of purpose in my life. It's nothing major but it sure beats the hell out of doing puzzle books all day. If anyone wants info (referrals!), lemme know. The tablet I'm using to type this very post was paid for by all the internet stuff I do & that ain't too shabby :-)
I just wish I could connect them for 5 minutes to my nervous system so that they can feel what I feel in that short period of time, or during night time, so that they feel what I feel when I can't sleep cause I drank a little too much water, ate something heavy for my stomach, overdose on salt, etc, etc....
I'm thankful because I'm alive, I got to meet my youngest (my wife was pregnant when I almost died) and I'm here in general, but it darn hard to get by everyday.
RoboPop, thanks for those words, It feels good to see someone feels what I feel.......
I suppose we are also very fortunate in that he was able to keep his job. He was given as much time off as he needed to recuperate and was able to gradually work into an 8 hour day. He does some longer days now, too, 10 hour days again, as well, as needed to keep the computer programs he writes functioning well.
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