Hit him with logic. What makes you think CHF fixes itself? Just because you're not experiencing any symptoms doesnt mean theres not a problem. Believe me when I say you really don't want that kind of experience. Is there any reason to believe your doctor is lying to you? This stuff doesn't fix itself. EVER

Well this is tricky ... we are always walking in a narrow equilibrium, so it is better not to relax.

Now about the questions, I can tell you what I would like to ask, but there is a bunch of questions that depends on the reasons of you HF (it is an myocardial infarct, dilated cardiomiopathy, other ...) So different questions could be made on every case.

Now just centering in the fact that he has been diagnose with HF this is what comes to my mind:

1) Ask for any doubt that you might have related the style of life, exercise, diet, salt and liquid intake, sex (I see that you are in the erectile dysfunction forum... this can be related to his medication)

2) Ask about what his condition is: Left or Right HF? How will the advance of underlaying sickness will be measure? How the aggravation of HF itself will be measure?.

3) At a minimum I would like to know Ejection Fraction value (if he has left HF), Ventricular size and levels of BNP. The evolution of those parameters over time (eg once a year) can give you a view of how HF evolve.

4) Ask for the the health of his kidneys and liver that can be affected by medication (this is known by blood tests)

5) Speak about any side effect or symptom that he may have, even if you think it is not related: Tiredness, short of bread, pain in muscles or joins or chest, headache, inflammation in feet, hands or abdomen, numbness in libs, cough, dizziness, memory problems...

6) Do not forget to mention all medication and complements that he is taking.. even if has been prescribed for any other reason.

Well, do not leave that all this overwhelm you ... keep in mind that I have an engineering background and as such we are "difficult patients" or at least this is what my cardiologist says.

As a summary, I can tell you that my cardiologist recognizes that the only thing that matters is the "Clinical" situation .. it took me a while to understand that what he means is " If you fell OK you are OK" but if you feel OK is because all the medication and style of live that you have ... so do not relax.

Jesus

Well Undercover... I am gonna hit this from 2 sides. Some things you need to ask the cardiologist and things your BF needs to know in order to give him a fighting chance at living a longer life a little differently. He will need to embrace a "New Normal"

I will preface that CHF cannot be reversed. There is no cure. There are surgeries which can improve the hearts function but he may or may not be eligible.

Jesus's suggestions are sound advice. I would add, to ask about the depression that follows a diagnosis of CHF. Your BF may not even notice it even if he is in the middle of it. But you will. Accepting a CHF diagnosis is akin to the grieving process and 'Denial' is just one stage in that journey.

I would also ask the cardiologist if your BF has any other underlying cardiac or vascular conditions. ie: DVT, PAD, CAD chance's for TIA's. There is a good chance that he may have one or more. Also if he has any ischemia or calcification.

I would ask if your BF can undergo other diagnostics to uncover any hiden asymptomatic cardiac conditions, is: Stress echocardiogram, Nuclear Stress test etc.

It is up to your BF and his cardiologist to partner in order for the CHF to be managed which gives BF a better chance at survival.
CHF is no picnic. You literally drown in your own fluid as edema and O2 saturation levels become a concern. It is a progressive death sentence that BF should not take likely. He is an example candidate for "sudden cardiac death'. This is no time to be complacent. This CHF will not go away and if ignored a premature death is likely.


Best Regards,

Just Joe

My husbands first appointment after being in the hospital was with a transplant cardiologist. We learned to lower salt intake to 2000 mg a day and 64 oz of fluid intake a DAY!! This was very hard at first but in order to keep the edema under control he has learned to adjust. Our second Doctors appointment we found out he had to wait for at least 3/4 months for his next echo to see if his EF is improving. Some of his medicine was changed at this appointment as well. We always go to the Doctors with a list of the medicine he is taking , all tests taken since last appt with dates, dates labs were done, and a list of all our questions we want answered. I hope this helps.

My cardiologist always tells me to limit sodium to 3000 mg . But the fact of the matter - is that anything over 500 mg is a disaster - weight gain and lots of edema.

strongly recommend you lower the sodium way below the doctors recommendations if you want to see significant improvement.

Also recommend you put your feet up for a few extra hours a day to allow the heart to catch up with its daily dhores.

hugs

All of this is very good advice. Tell him that complacency WILL kill him. Meds can sometimes keep your EF from dropping but going off of your meds after you've been taking them is a quick way to drop your EF and lead to irreparable damage and loss of heart function that can never be gotten back.