Hi Lionsdleepstonight

I had terminal heart failure EF 5 , in april 2007. They did not give me any chance for surviving for even one weekend . Later my son , a doctor, expected me to die every single day for 1-1/2 years. They did not even tell me how sick i was til 1-1/2 years into it.

How did I survive ? I went to the gym and did very light cardio on the 4 types of cardio equipment.

To this day I am still in heart failure - - and right now I am getting worse . My EF has recently dropped from 55 to 65 range to 45 to 55 range and is considered borderline .

I also have major prostate cancer which has spread to the bones. Been fighting the cancer from august 2007 . I am about to get chemo soon again .

Would like to speak to you and share support with you .

Stony

Hi Stoney. I am 82...had cardiac arrest at age 70, was gone for 6 min, but Dr's say I a m a miracle as I came thru great. Had 3 shocks with defibulater and received a new one (passmaker/defib) Only have incidents often, but no shock. since then diagnosed with CHF and within the year diagnosed with multible myloma. With all the meds I was one, I landed in hospital and all meds stopped except coreg (BP), lasik and potassium witch I still take today. One of the previous meds were oral chemo/steroids. This caused problem. Since then I have not needed any further chemo. I attribute this to taking ACV and honey daily as numbers never got back up enough to need chemo.(five years now) I did have 10 trmnts of radiation in 2019 as I developed a lesion from the cancer. All is great, lesion gone, and I still do not need chemo. Dr said whatever I was doing to keep doing it. My problem is with the CHF which was diagnosed 5 yrs ago. Recent Dr visit said I am at 45-. Ihave not been given any further meds, do breathing excercises when I need. My question.....I can sit all day with no problems, when I get up to do something, like make bed or other simple jobs, I get so out of breath I have to sit awhile before starting again. I do not excercise, except a bit of walking, I do go out somewhere most days. I still drive. I am not sick at all, I feel great every day....just this problem with movement. is this normal when number get lower? Dr don't really answer. Only pain I have is arthritis in back which does keep me from walking too far. Just want to know if there are growing CHF problems I will experience. Is 45 minus somting I need to worry about?????

Hi I just joined and I am grateful for the forum and a chance to share with others I hope can understand I have heart failure - CHF with a preserved ejection fraction rate. I suffer from a true constellation of the symptoms daily including unexplained exhaustion, chest pain at times, out of breath even when not exerting energy even sitting down, I use a chair so I cook and wash dishes as I get dizzy even reaching for spices at times, I vaccum standing but at times seated in a rolling chair due to dizziness, I have the edema even though i am no salt and watch it and dont do processed foods literally, sleeping with 3 pillows and a blanket to elevate my head, but the meds have helped make it easier somewhat if that is even a thing. The "best doctors" (per ratings lol) at multiple hospitals I've gone to only recently figured it out to begin a treatment plan..... that was about 4 years ago. I have clearly had it my whole life from what it appears to the doctors but its exhausting. I have been poked and tested for so much in my life due to the heart failure no one picked up on, even as a kid, that I just shake my head. They want to do more tests and put in a permanent monitor but I'm not seeing the point at this point in time. I was advised by my lovely primary who was not affiliated with where I had gone for heart drama so she was initially unaware for over18 months as I was seeing all the other plethora of doctors for "testing" everything from catheritizations to pulmonologist to stuff for suggested blood transfusions for the low iron and anemia and whatever. But my primary. may she be blessed- she said it. You are not able to stop it but you can for once put you first and really fight to get as much control as is possible to your health her rest stop working and volunteering so much focus on what you need - so to go against my own desires as a server of others and leave my career and doing for all but pushing me and to get control of my health i knew I was not gonna make it even the year maybe, as she said. That was 2 1/2 years ago. She convinced me based on all the frightening and previous inexplicable health incidents I had now that we both understood and knew and were clear...it was time , When first diagnosed at hospital by cardiologist it was a pamphlet and a matter of factly you have chf read the pamphlet take these pills see us in a few weeks. I asked questions but was "dismissed" it was overwhelming. Three hospitals later lol and 4 cardiologists, same diagnosis much better medical response but surprise.. no cure just meds and monitoring to stabilize which my adult kids are still struggling to face. My boss and my CEO and VP HR was were begging me to stay when I gave my notice which was not long after the diagnosis but I waited another year before my health truly spiraled faster and my primary not even cardiologist suggested I make the choice...and I tearfully spoke to them and noted I had become a distraction and they were working constantly for accomodations so even with all my health drama cause I would go in even when ill... silly me... i kept going with stellar outcomes and was grateful for the honor of working there helping so many but to me I was a liability to them plus I did not want them to see me that way despite their kindness with the accomodations like my office close to restroom, help with my walker when I couldnt move it into my car, letting my office have a buzzer which several others had for active shooter alerts and be a safe room, but they also checked on me so much with big cow eyes which was sweet but overwhelming so I felt like they were hovering and then telling me that we had trained staff so with a defibrillator in the office (no it was never used thank God the people trained were worrisome and inexperienced but well intentioned. Lol.) I even asked for correction and to reconsider my high evaluation upon review because despite excellent performance I felt they should have held my feet to fire more for how some of my team were struggling and i despite my efforts did not have ability to give as much as i felt to help them more. Yes i literally in writing protested a review they met with me CEO, my boss and two VPs and applauded my honesty and all that but i just was feeling i believe in accountability and i did what i did out of my heart and anyway I've digressed. I'm tired and with a very weak immune system, heart failure and left my job per doctors recommend to control my health due to my quick deterioration and in a marriage with a narcissist during covid. Im just worn out. My spouse says he is cutting me off his healthcare plan so no food or medicines or any provision but that has been an issue and threat along with other "stuff" for a while. My medical team and others know and as time has progressed although financials are fine and I am not only frugal but accommodating since I no longer financially contributing and i dont accept poor treatment by respectful speaking up for myself and letting people know when they see or ask what is happening so now I am beyond expendable, I have sought support, spiritual counsel, tried to leave, asked for intervention from various sources and well...its just complicated but here I am....so back to heart failure. Lol. I am just in life as i was always the one everyone turns to and I have kept tryong to be dire t and honest while educating people on HF and also tried to keep being strong, and focused and level headed and determined and outspoken and fighting each day for the best answers, care, solutions, safety, resources and information but I have heart failure. I am not alone because of my faith so I know that due to my faith no matter what it is as it will be and I am at peace in the larger picture so I'm human and I know people praying for me and I know no matter what. I'm sick and getting worse despite a positive attitude, strong sense of self, my best consistent efforts which had gone on for years to self care for answers on my unknown condition, stringent adherence to meds, dietary and regular exercise on my pt machine and despite the efforts of medical people. The people around me are in denial despite all the hospital stays and the evidence to deal with HF it's hard to keep explaining and I keep telling them but they dont get it.a job is opening up where I left and due to the fact I dont have an income my adult kids and acquaintances want me to go back despite how my health has spiraled even more to get the health insurance and an income. I would do the position for free as it was the sister leadership position to my job equal but still what I loved if they felt I was right candidate I know I have the best background per them for ot and they loved me there and I loved being there I still talk to colleagues and my leadership team regularly and I would love to have a safe path and the financial independence again and control of myself to not just roll over as my name is on our house and I helped buy it and pay and well anyway. That's some of my drama so heart failure has just helped me to become a better and stronger person and I wish you all good health on your journey and joy and peace. I will continue to contribute to the world and others as much ad I can through word and deed and know anything is possible I was able despite everything on my own to address my heart failure and have despite it still getting worse I learned also about lymphoma and using the suggested ways to treat (I was not diagnosed with it) but I have been able to take off 180 pounds no fads, my doctors are amazed I did it without their pills or surgery, and I'm still on it every day. Dealing with heart failure and they even said, well guess we were wrong lol. Oops lol so crazy but funny because if I haven't had a heart attack, stoke, no afib, no asthma, no diabetes, no high blood pressure, perfect cholesterol, no plaque or blockage of my arteries, a resting hear rate of 59 consistently lol, no other issues active and still horrid edema and all the other systems even as a kid seems like someone on every stay would have said boy.. maybe it was a heart defect. Ah well we live and we learn. Ok if you read all this thank you and well wishes and I welcome conversation.

Hi, I'm 48 yr old female, suffered a heart attack last february. I have a blood clot in my left ventricle. Diagnosed with CHF, my EF at that time was 15%. Tried cardio rehab the machines went off like crazy they rushed me to ER 5 different times. They told me no more rehab. Now my EF is 11%. They just gave me a year to live. All of my tests after my heart attack came back fine. I've never had high blood pressure or high choloesterol. Doctors can't figure out why this happened since all tests are good. Is it possible for a person to die from a broken heart/heartbreak?