hiBoo1962,
Firstly, I think it is important for you to read as much as you can about heart failure so that you know the when where why and how of it. You will be much more in control of your own destiny that way.
Secondly, congratulations on controlling the things that make CHF worse. By doing this you are making it much easier for your heart to heal as much as it can.
Thirdly, there are so many ways of ending up with CHF and it is quite a mistake to think others are similar - they are all very different and come to the CHF in very different manner to you so it is hard for people to answer the questions that you ask.
My best guess is that you are doing yourself a load of good by looking after yourself so well and staying low in sodium, fluid and diet. But, what type of good is a question between you and your doctor and your HF nurse.
Also, sorry to say this but a couple of good months may only be a 'drop in the ocean' as such. maybe a year of this might be a better time to reassess?
How are you going on the exercise front?
cheers leanne

Interesting question; First I want to say good for you. I hope the good news continues indefinitely.

The answer is yes, there have been some instances documented in medical journals, of patients CHF improving significantly to a point where they may be considered healed.

However, let me say from my own investigations that these cases are extremely rare, and frankly in some I suspect may be the result of misdiagnosis of CHF.

What tests did your primary run to ascertain remission? If you manage your CHF properly there is a strong possibility you can keep the symptoms or side effects at bay.

Congrats, Boo 1962. You've done the tough things to maximize your health, and it's worked! I'm happily in a similar position. I was diagnosed two years ago with severe HF and was on the transplant list. My echocardiogram has now gone from 25 to 45. I'm off fluid restrictions because my kidneys were messed up, and the doctor is still watching that carefully. I haven't been retaining fluid for a long time now. I'm on a 1/2 diuretic pill twice a week because the doctor is afraid to cut it out entirely. But he said Monday that I should increase my exercise from 30 min. a day to 45 min. At one time, he thought that would kill me.

I still see my arrhythmia specialist every three months to "interrogate" my defibrillator, but I'm now seeing the cardiologist and the transplant doctor every six months; in 2011 it was every month. I stick faithfully to the 1,500 mg. sodium per day, take Mexiletine (for tachycardia), Carvedilol and Atacand, plus a whole bunch of supplements, and do my walk seven days a week.

So keep on doing what you're doing and make sure you rest when you need to. Even though a cure is unlikely, we'll settle for doing a lot better.

that's fantastic Woolly. what was the original cause of your CHF?
what led most predominantly to your improvement?

I have no idea what the cause of the HF was, nor do my doctors. My mother did have it in her final years (she died at 86), so I suppose there's a genetic predisposition. I don't attribute my improvement to any one thing. It's a combination of being strict about the low sodium diet, taking all those miserable pills, seeing the doctors when instructed, and taking my daily walk faithfully. Having good doctors doesn't hurt. I hope it lasts a couple of years. I have places to see, and granddaughters to watch grow up. I was told that my life expectancy with treatment is nine years; without treatment, it's three years. I'll stick with the treatment. I was 62 years old when diagnosed in February 2011.

Boo you seem to be doing all the right things. I am going on 7 years of optimum health with the help of a defibrillator and taking my medicine. EF went from 24 to 55 over the years...my personal feeling is that it will never go away but I can manage it.....take care!!!!

Well, Hello ALL!!

I just had my echo, and stress test yesterday. Dr said everything looked great!!!! He had them do a coraded artery test, no blockages.....Did echo/stress test, and no prior heart attack, and no enlargement of heart, or anything wrong at all!! He said my Ejection fraction was 60!

So, good report for me. Now i just have to work with my Pulmonologist to get off this oyxgen!

Boo

That is excellent news Boo1962, I am so pleased for you.

thanks august!!!

Boo

Hi again Boo
I was just thinking though........Having said that....It is clear you need to keep on with the 'heart-health' approach you are now taking. It is your own version of health insurance really.

So my next question is this...If the Cardiologist told me there is nothing wrong with my heart, does that mean i do not have CHF??? I'm so confused, and forgot to ask him if that's what it meant, because i was so excited that there was nothing wrong with my heart!!!

Boo

Let me suggest you look up Cardiac Asthma...

Afraid you'll have to ask the doctor what his comment meant. To have "recovered" after such a short period of time is astounding. Yes, I've heard anecdotal stories of remission/recovery but in such a short period, never. I would guess your symptoms were moderate to light and the effort you've put into changing your life have brought you into the asymptomatic zone. That is to say, back slide and you're likely to start exhibiting the symptoms rather fast. That or CHF was misdiagnosed?

Not an expert just my opinion.

My husband at age 53 was diagnosed with CHF in December 2011 and his younger brother had CHF many years before, had a heart transplant, and was a test subject for Carvedilol in the testing stage.

Technically his diagnosis is: idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. That means they don't know what caused it, but his heart is enlarged and weakened.

He is doing much better now and didn't need a defibrillator, but still takes a cocktail of medications including the carvedilol.

Are you on any beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, or diuretics?

How is your thyroid?

I just posted something regarding the link between the thyroid and CHF, and I know the thyroid is also linked to respiratory function.

See this post:

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Heart_Failure/forum/16321084-heart-failure-and-hypothyroidism