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."
I was diagnosed on Aug 8, 2008. I'm 52 and like another woman I read about...scared to death. I too read all the websites and it scares me more. I was at the emergency room this morning and the doctor said I'm doing quite well. I also have decreased kidney function and asthma. This has been a wake up call for me. I was living on fast food and Pepsi. I still get short of breath just waking from my car to the grocery store. And I'm trying to start to walk, slowly. I have 2 adult children and don't want to worry them. And other than that, my parents are NO help. I also have two friends who live across the country. I live alone and just am overwhelmed sometimes. I am still able to work, which I need to do.
I was diagnosed in August,2005. There are many advances being made in the study of heart failure. I am doing really well now although I am taking lots of medications and I have Pacemaker/ICD. These treatments are miracles. Get a good cardiologist and do what he/she says to do.....Good luck and let me hear from you.
I am all for helping to get some talk going. I think it is a good idea that everyone understands there type of heart failure, The depression and anxiety that seems to come with heart disease and the side effects with heart meds.
Donna
I feel so bad for you guys who are still out there working with this. How in the heck you can take lasix and not live in the bathroom while at work, is beyond me, Not to mention, I know that your feet and ankles and calves have to hurt so bad by the time you finally go home and can get them up and elevated. That is tough.
Anyway, I am very happyy to meet you all. JoAnn
It can get you a bit depressed when you want to go out and do things in life, but stuck with having to go slow and careful about activities. So I've gotten hobbies that I can enjoy, but aren't too physical. I like fishing, and really the only time I get worn out is if I have to reel in a fighter! Another summer activity is watching demolition derbies...only physical thing about that is climbing up the bleachers to watch, but I get there early so I can take my time and go up the steps slow. In the winter I try not to go out, unless absolutely necessary as I despise the cold! So I do research for medical stuff (not just heart, I'm also interested in neurological stuff) and play chat room games.
It's also good if you have pets. If you need to have somebody to talk to, who won't judge you or talk back or try to tell you anything negative in return, they're the best! I got 2 cats... and an aquarium, which is supposedly theraputic too (which is why a lot of doctor offices have them), but I just end up fretting over how much algae there is! LOL
Oh, and about working and ankle swelling. If you have to stay at your desk, there's a few ideas to try. Get an extra chair, and put your feet up for a few hours. Or, I was told it's actually good to get up and walk around (go file something, or take something to the mail room), or if you can't go anywhere, at least just stand up and move around at your desk. It's mostly the sitting and not doing anything at all that's bad, from what I hear. And eat less salty stuff.