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."
Hey all. Just wanted to post a little of my story. I was pregnant, had my son, then the day after I was discharged, I was back in the hospital, they told me heart failure. I was 25 at the time. I know some of you are young as well, but I had just had my son, could not spend time with him and the youngest on the cardiac floor. I was told to never have children again, as it could kill me if I did. I have read through some of your posts and can empathize alot. I had like 8 meds I was taking for everything. I had heart failure from my pregnancy. I have since recovered, and yes, I know alot of you have said you don't recover, but I caught mine in time. I am an EMT and knew something was wrong with me so I took myself back to the hospital and caught it before it was bad. They tried telling me my symptoms, shortness of breath, swelling, fatigue, was all the pregnancy part, but I knew I just wasn't right. I got it when my EF was at 50%. They said, normal but low normal so they put me on all types of meds. So I was on the meds for about 6 months and since it was only pregnancy related heart failure, as long as I don't get pregnant again, I should be fine. If I do, however, it could/could not happen again. My PCP is the one who caught what I had, my gyno, even cardiologist didn't know what was going on with me, but my PCP seems to think since I recovered so well so fast, I should be ok to try for another child, I just dont wanna risk it. My EF last check over a year ago was 55%. I am not on any meds anymore. Haven't been for a year. Have been doing good. I still have my moments of depression when I think about not being able to have more kids but then I always think I can adopt if anything. Also, whenever I get any kinds of pains, twinges, anything in my chest area, I freak out and watch for signs of trouble but so far so good. Just wanted to get my story out there. I hope everyone stays strong and gets through this tough condition.
This has been a great place for me to receive information and to get a feeling of what it is "really" like vs. the onslaught of scary stuff you read when you google. I tell myself that the statistics they come up with on the different websites is from the higher age spectrum of patients so I don't get freaked out!
Also, just to let you know. I only had one child. She is 13 now and I am so happy with my decision to only have one. Especially now with this diagnosis! Honestly though, I feel like my husband, my daughter and I are the three musketeers. Our adventures are always fun and we are so close as a family. I have no regrets about it at all.
Best wishes,
Jen
I'm so glad to hear that you have recovered! I'm sorry about the risk to you of having more kids though.
My story is that my husband (36) was just diagnosed with SEVERE biventricular HF (his EF was 10%!!)- they think it was a virus, but really haven't found any cause. He is on a ton of meds too and is almost feeling back to normal. Amazing really. We are hoping, like you, that because it came on so fast and he recovered so fast that he WILL recover most of his heart function and live a normal life (watching sodium, taking meds, etc., which is all fine).
Like Jen said, it is hard reading all the books and websites because the statistics seem so skewed toward older people (which are more likely to have HF).
So welcome, and please keep sharing your successes!