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."
New to the site as of yesterday and ready now to voice my concerns. I was diagnosed with CHF in Nov of 2014 on the 10th anniversary of my aortic valve replacement surgery. Although my pig valve only required yearly checkups, after 5 years I stopped having tbe very expensive echocardiogram. .no insurance and self-employed artist. In Sept I finally turned 65 and am on medicare with supplement. What a kick in tne teeth to be immediately diagnosed with an EF of 10-15%.I suspect it had been coming on for 3 years.
So I am on my first round of meds with another echo scheduled for March after 3 months.
I'm assuming that they will want to implant an ICD. My question is: do I want this sucker???? Will it improve my fuctioning at all or is it really just a jump start backup? Would it protect from a heart attack?
The second related concern is regarding necessary lifestyle changes. I'm a self- employed artist who would have told you that retirement is NOT an option. Every year I load up thr van with jewelry and supplies and 3 cats and drive from Fl to Tennessee. Three months later, from Tenn. To Minnesota. Two months later Mn. To N. Carolina. Two months and back to Tn and then back to Fl.I do this alone while my partner hauls trailer/ workshop to destination. My "retirement" plan was to spend 6 months in Key West and 6 months in Ten on 17 acres of countryside. Now what?
Will ICD help or hinder and will I have to give up solitude and independence of my travels and my beautiful isolation in Tn?
Anyone have thoughts about this?
So I am on my first round of meds with another echo scheduled for March after 3 months.
I'm assuming that they will want to implant an ICD. My question is: do I want this sucker???? Will it improve my fuctioning at all or is it really just a jump start backup? Would it protect from a heart attack?
The second related concern is regarding necessary lifestyle changes. I'm a self- employed artist who would have told you that retirement is NOT an option. Every year I load up thr van with jewelry and supplies and 3 cats and drive from Fl to Tennessee. Three months later, from Tenn. To Minnesota. Two months later Mn. To N. Carolina. Two months and back to Tn and then back to Fl.I do this alone while my partner hauls trailer/ workshop to destination. My "retirement" plan was to spend 6 months in Key West and 6 months in Ten on 17 acres of countryside. Now what?
Will ICD help or hinder and will I have to give up solitude and independence of my travels and my beautiful isolation in Tn?
Anyone have thoughts about this?
ICD's pacemakers and CRT's are for electrical issues and will not prevent a heart attack.
Unless you are paced 100% with your device it's not going to have any effect on your EF number or the symptoms you are experiencing. It's just monitoring you for arrhythmias (irregular heart beats) and will supply what the medical community calls therapy and I call the Jesus Jolt.
EF (Ejection Fraction) is a number that represents the volume of blood pumped out of your ventricles into your body to feed organs with nutrients and oxygenated blood. No heart pumps out 100% in fact normal is considered anything over 55% (some doctors say 50%)
Now to the real questions you asked...it's not the ICD that affects your life, it's the heart disease. The EF is just a number, don't fixate on it, how you feel is what is important. Do every thing you feel up to and don't worry.
Good luck
Think I have resolved most of the issue within myself. The rest will have to await further developments and experience. I did drive from carolina to Tenn. and then to Key West by myself already. Just required motels by 3pm and no more than 6 hrs driving per day.
My anxiety is more longterm. I might be spending long peruods of time in rural Tn by myself with doctor not closer than 20miles and no cell phone service. Also have no regular neighbors. But as Edwuardo said, I'm sure some work around can be implemented.
There is just so much unknown facing me. I've already had to give up my selling, since it's too strenuous. so my partner Dennis is doing all of that while I do what I can at home.