I have a severe case of congestive heart failure. Want your thoughts?

Question

. Last year a car struck me and I had MASSIVE heart attack, right in the ICU. Not from cholesterol, diet, but from the SHOCK into my nervous system & strain on the heart. Now I am severely swollen & bloated w/water. In fact, the pressure in my r.leg forced open a weak spot under a healing scab & now clear water streams out my ankle day & night - my shoes & socks, pants DRENCHED 24/7. I spent thousands on cardiologists and they say only to try diuretics to expel fluid cause kidneys not working well due to damaged heart. I have maybe less than 1/3 of my heart muscle functional after the MI. Dr's say this will be lifelong , progressively worsening, heart cannot pump properly like before. fluid backing up into lungs, everywhere. No specific remedies or surgeries can fix me - except a whole new heart (impossible) .I refuse to enter hospital, If I am doomed, then why must I "visit" cardiologists.? Why re-hash same issues endlessly when they insist no cure possible? What hopes for me??

skykroh: I avoid sodium easily. I am not I insured or eligible for any $$$$ from govt. Stem cell therapy was successful in experiments for damaged heart muscle, but not available now. Please pray for me. Doctos simply say no cure is possible, live with it & take diuretics. I don't have strength or $$$ to visit MDs to rehash what we already know. They have no magic wand to wave to cure me. I have no $$ for transplant and don't meet their conditions. Pray for me.

Answer 1

Well, it appears to me that you have 2 choices.

1. Accept the fact that you need a heart transplant to live.

2. Slowly die.

It is your choice. I, nor anyone else can make that choice for you. I am sorry all of this happened to you.

M

Answer 2

Danny, I've added you to my prayer list. You don't say how old you are. I have CHF and function at 18%. Mine is not heredity, weight, cholesterol ... mine was long term ramifications from cancer treatment I got 30 years ago. I retain water, but never like you are describing. Have you given up salt??? Salt=bad. I love salt... sigh.... I favour vitamin C and cranberry pills over the diuretics- I've had my lungs tapped- no fun. What you describe is so bizarre... a doctor just blows it off? Find another. I have an AICD now and my life is much better- it paces and shocks- if ever needed (hope that's a "no".)
You must see the doctors though or your insurance or in my case, disability, will refuse to pay ANYTHING and cut off any benefits there may be. Also, don't count on dieing. If you ignore the bills, you will live a long, not necessarily pleasant life. They have made so many advances- my pacer is already yesterday's news. The newer ones are way more advanced than they were 2 years ago. I also have a mechanical mitral valve- fewer problems with a pig valve they say, but titanium lasts forever- oh, and get this... my valve... comes with a LIFETIME GUARANTEE. Don't give up sweetie. God bless. Love you!

Answer 3

Congestive heart failure is a serious condition that has no cure, but you can live a full and enjoyable life with the right treatment and active attention to your lifestyle.
The most important thing to remember is that you're not alone. Nearly 5 million Americans are living with heart failure, and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. You can manage this condition but you need to make the necessary changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle to give you the highest possible quality of life.
You seem to be bothered mostly by your swollen leg (known as edema). You probably already know this but...this symptom occurs because as the blood flowing out of the heart slows, blood returning to the heart through the veins backs up, causing fluid to build up in the tissues. The kidneys are less able to dispose of sodium and water, also causing fluid retention in the tissues. If you can reduce the amount of water and sodium in your body, it will in turn reduce the heart's workload. Your doctor should have you on diuretic therapy which often alleviates the edema. The most potent diuretics are the loop diuretics, so-called because they work in that portion of the kidney tubules referred to as the loop of Henle. The kidney tubules are small ducts that regulate salt and water balance, while transporting the forming urine. These loop diuretics are clinically available as furosemide (Lasix), torsemide (Demedex), and butethamide (Bumex). If you are not on one of these medications, talk to your doctor about them. If one of the loop diuretics is not effective alone, it may be combined with an agent that works further down in the tubule. These agents include the thiazide type diuretics, such as hydrochlorthiazide (Hydrodiuril), or a similar but more potent type of diuretic called metolazone (Zaroxolyn). When diuretics that work at different sites in the kidney are used together, the response often is greater than the combined responses to the individual diuretics.
It's also really important that you not give up, try to stay positive. Keep in contact with your doctor and discuss your condition truthfully on each visit.
Also, I'm not sure why you say that a heart transplant is impossible. In addition, there is always new technolgy being introduced which is another reason to keep seeing your doctor.
Lastly, as I stated there is always new technology becoming available for heart patients...the most seriously ill congestive heart failure patients live longer and have a better quality of life if implanted with a heart pump. This device (LVAD) is a newer treatment option. This mechanical pump helps maintain the pumping ability of a heart that can’t work effectively on its own. LVADs were originally conceived as a “bridge to transplant” – a temporary device to use while patients waited for a heart transplant. Now they are now being investigated as permanent “destination therapy” for patients ineligible for transplant instead of as a temporary measure. It may not be an option but talk to your doctor about it anyway.
Good luck to you!

Answer 4

As painful as it feels I think that even if you don't "visit" the doctors often you should keep in touch with them or a health councelor, as new developements are on the horizon every day.
There are tons of natural remedies out there, maybe not so much to cure your aching heart, but they can help ease the stress.
I do hope you find something that helps, as far as your foot is concerned, I think it's actually a good thing the fluid has an out, seems like theres a lot of it, and maybe if it all stayed in, you'd be in more trouble.
I wish you the best and hope you find something, I'll keep you in my thoughts and if I come across anything in my travels I'll save it for you.

Answer 5

If you truly have only one-third of your heart muscle functioning, your CHF is truly not going to improve. How old are you? Whatother health problems do you have? Why is a heart transplant impossible for you? Because you refuse it or because your health problems disqualify you? I agree that this is your only effective hope. Why do you refuse to go into the hospital? You need to sit down with your primary doctor and have a clear conversation about all this...have a list of questions ready. Then , you need to LISTEN to the doctor and follow his advice. If you can possibly get on the transplant list, then DO IT! If you go into the hospital, they can often give medications to get your CHF better under control and make you more comfortable. Just because they cannot offer a MIRACLE, do not refuse all treatment. This is an extremely difficult condition to treat. Again, open your mind to all ideas, especially a transplant. It truly is the only long-term answer. If yu do not qualify for a transplant, then try to keep your CHF under control as much as possible, and spend as much time as possible with your family. I really wish you the best and urge you to have a definitive conversation with your doctor.

Answer 6

Read this and then turn off your computer get to the hospital right now. You can be treated with medication to expell the fluid. You may not be able to do the things you did before but if your leg is so swollen that your skin can no longer expand you are in the danger zone. There is no cure but think about there is no cure for diabetes either and people live every day with no cure.

Answer 7

I was diagnosed with ARVD last year at the age of 27. this is a genetic heart disease that affects the right ventricle. it is a rare and progressive disease. i am an avid athlete and now i have to cut way back and keep my heart rate down and i also have to get a ICD put in soon. My point is, would an ICD help you at all? couldn't the ICD help keep your heart paced and protect you in case of another heart attack? i know doctors and hospitals suck, but once i get my ICD i'll have to go to the hospital every 6 months to get it checked and do other maintenance checks for the rest of my life. you need to do whatever it takes to protect your life. ICD and maybe heart transplant down the road.

Answer 8

It looks like you are going through worst nightmare of your life. May be medical science does not have any answer for that, but may be you can try safe yoga exercises under a trained yoga teacher.

Answer 9

I don't know what to say, you sound in an absolutely desperate situation. Why is a transplant impossible?

Answer 10

u might think im crazy but run to God...he can help with any situation!! .....praying helps...even if you are not the spirtual religious type.....if your life is on the line anything will do right...i will pray for you and ask the lord to help you...have faith it always help...Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the churce and have them pray over them...anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. and their prayer offered in faih will heal the sick and the lord will make them well. and anyone who has commited sins will be forgiven James 5:13-16