I've been diagnosed with CHF or Congestive Heart Failure and wondered if anyone else here has? Currently I've been 'well compensated' with the medications that I'm on. I take an Ace Inhibitor along with Digoxin~a lot of people are put on Beta blockers to help. I found this article on the HealingWell.com site and thought it might be of some interest to you.
Let me know what you think?? Teri
http://healingwell.healthology.com/focus_article.asp?b=healingwell&f=cardio&c=diastolic_dysfunction&spg=SCH
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
Godd morning Teri I have cardiomyopathy and CHF. I am surprised you don't take Coreg it seems to be the 'gold standard' for CHF. Maybe because you are well compensated with the meds you are on. Re the article read some of the article but stopped when it mentioned the five year mark! That info is very very out of date.
Jay
Jay
Time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted time.
T.S Eliot
Hi Jay and Thanks! I skipped around the info so quickly, I didn't notice that and you are right. 
I want to Welcome you back to Healing Well and hope that you become a more frequent visitor! I miss talking to you. 
Coreg is a beta blocker that is used very often in Heart Failure, but in my case, Jay, I'm unable to take any beta blockers as my Blood Pressure remains very low, due to diastole and systole dysfunction of the left heart where all my damage is. I was told that the bottom left side of my heart is dead and not beating-though if that were all-I'd be doing probably pretty great! The anterior portion of the rest of the left side is dead and what is left is beating erratically. Which makes the right side have to work that much harder. Ergo...no beta blockers. My Dr.'s have all told me that my med.'s that I'm on now, will never change. I remain on 2.5 mg. of Lisinipril (Ace Inhibitor) and Digoxin .125 mg.
Hope this helps to explain?
Please come back anytime and visit~I enjoy having you here!!
Teri
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
I have a site bookmarked as a favorite of mine~I hope you will find this informative as well!! It has lots of info on Heart Disease and CHF as well.
Teri
http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/index.html
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
Teri, that is a good site isn't it? Keep well!
Jay
Time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted time.
T.S Eliot
i have chf as well you know but i don't take the meds you do ef was 35 last weeklowest ever been wander what that means teri oh teri i have missed you tex so sorry for your lost praying for you
hugs from ga 
ONCE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINE
SEMPER FI
Thanks BC!!
My EF has ranged from 40-45 in the past few months, BC...I am so sorry to hear your's has gone down to 35%. Though you know, that many survive at even lower, much lower ranges. With the EF it's just a number...go by how you are feeling!!
They've now added a nitro patch again along with Norvasc (only 2.5 mg.) to help open my arteries up with more blood flow. So wll just hope my B/P doesn't drop too low.
Please be well and I hope everything goes well on Monday!! What are they going to do??
Love, Teri Big Hugs From Texas!
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
Hi Teri,
You have many of the same problems that I do. I also don't take a beta blocker because of low bp and heart rate. I have Cardiomyopathy and CHF because of only having 40% of my heart still working. Most of what is working is in that back right side. The entire front of my heart is dead and my ef hovers around 20, but I feel pretty good most of the time. I have an ICD because of some developing arrythmia problems and a high risk of SCD. I also have an abdominal aortic aneurysm that is growing pretty quick and will have to be taken care of soon. Having been thru MI's 5 bypasses kind of prepares you for what comes after I think.
Most of the problems I have are progressive, but up to now, I continue to feel good. Sure I get dizzy all the time and am always tired, but I have been able to continue to work full time and do some of the things that I have always enjoyed. In the end you can only play the cards your dealt.
Like me, you have been dealt some pretty lousy cards but your still in the game. Hope you are well today and don't worry about tomorrow.
Steve
You have many of the same problems that I do. I also don't take a beta blocker because of low bp and heart rate. I have Cardiomyopathy and CHF because of only having 40% of my heart still working. Most of what is working is in that back right side. The entire front of my heart is dead and my ef hovers around 20, but I feel pretty good most of the time. I have an ICD because of some developing arrythmia problems and a high risk of SCD. I also have an abdominal aortic aneurysm that is growing pretty quick and will have to be taken care of soon. Having been thru MI's 5 bypasses kind of prepares you for what comes after I think.
Most of the problems I have are progressive, but up to now, I continue to feel good. Sure I get dizzy all the time and am always tired, but I have been able to continue to work full time and do some of the things that I have always enjoyed. In the end you can only play the cards your dealt.
Like me, you have been dealt some pretty lousy cards but your still in the game. Hope you are well today and don't worry about tomorrow.
Steve
I had a massive heart attack on May 4, 2003. I didn't know it at the time, this was my second. Thru the course of diagnosis while in ER and catheterization it was determined that I had 3 arteries 100% blocked, 1 artery at 98% blocked and 1 artery at about 85% blocked. I was told that if I didn't get to surgery within 30 minutes I was dead. I was raced by ambo to a sister hospital and in surgery within 20 minutes. After surgery I had oxygenation problems and was in ICU for 5 days. During that time I was told that the front of my heart didn't make it and that I was going to have a future problem with cardiomyopathy because of the strain the back of my heart would be under. I have EJ fraction around 20 and have had numerous echo-cardiograms to monitor heart function. To date I have recovered very well. I cannot do what I used to but feel great. In September of 04 I had an AICD implanted more or less to act as a saftey net for when my heart stops.
Yes, Steve, we've been floating in that same boat for a long while now, along with a few other friends of ours. But to give others some positive thoughts here, there are many, many new medical treatments that come along everyday to help us stay productive and living our lives as normal as can be!
Steve is one of the few that I know personally that continues to seek new ways to remain as productive as he can!! God Bless, Steve!!!
Love, Teri
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
I'm always keeping my eyes open for any new things on the Horizon that will help those of us with any type of Heart Disease!
Today I found an article on a new test for Heart Failure that may make it easier to diagnose!
See the following article! Hugs, Teri
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_24039.html
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
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"After Kidney Graft, Heart Failure May Improve"
"Patients with end-stage kidney disease and advanced heart failure who undergo a kidney transplant tend to see an improvement in their heart function, researchers report.
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
Congestive heart failure is common in people with kidney failure being treated by dialysis, lead investigator Dr. Ravinder K. Wali told Reuters Health."
This is another article that I thought perhaps may be of interest to some others here on this forum that may have heart failure, or someone else close to them that does!
Hugs, Teri
See the following site for the follow up on this story...
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_24059.html
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
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I was reading through some older posts this morning and wondered if there's anyone here that does have Heart Failure, or active (non-compensated) Congestive Heart Failure?
Perhaps you'd like to share with some of us on how you are now doing?!
Best Wishes, Teri
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
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Hi terry, you, too, Steve and the others. I am new here. My 15yr heart history was briefed in my info thread under "toot-toot" which was posted today
Obviously, I feel for your situation, and since mine has recently become similar the feeling is even more intimate. But I am jealous, you two seem to 'feel great' and other nice to be living anecdotes. I am losing that rapidly and would love any feedback.
I have felt miserable since beginning of year, perhaps due in part to other maladies and meds that have been visiting me, perhaps that I also have what I suspect to be hypoglycemia (nearly collapse on sidewalk a week ago, recovered ater a quick bite at a nearby vietnamese hole in the wall) and have since drastically changed my eating habits to eating something no more than every two hours. I see an endocrinologist next week.
But my immediate concern is last months 3x discharge of the AICD (pacemaker, plus I guess it can be called) and immediate hospitalization to begin Amiodarone treatments. I recently had to stop Amiodarone therapy due to unbelievable side effects that effected every hour of my conscious day. I lasted about 4 weeks, 1st at 800mg/day, 2nd week at 600mg, then down to 200mg maintenance.
It was so bad I preferred the risk of none to a lousy future of feeling so bad I had become a zombie. I hate tv during any daylight hour and never watch it. So, there it is in a nutshell.
toots
Obviously, I feel for your situation, and since mine has recently become similar the feeling is even more intimate. But I am jealous, you two seem to 'feel great' and other nice to be living anecdotes. I am losing that rapidly and would love any feedback.
I have felt miserable since beginning of year, perhaps due in part to other maladies and meds that have been visiting me, perhaps that I also have what I suspect to be hypoglycemia (nearly collapse on sidewalk a week ago, recovered ater a quick bite at a nearby vietnamese hole in the wall) and have since drastically changed my eating habits to eating something no more than every two hours. I see an endocrinologist next week.
But my immediate concern is last months 3x discharge of the AICD (pacemaker, plus I guess it can be called) and immediate hospitalization to begin Amiodarone treatments. I recently had to stop Amiodarone therapy due to unbelievable side effects that effected every hour of my conscious day. I lasted about 4 weeks, 1st at 800mg/day, 2nd week at 600mg, then down to 200mg maintenance.
It was so bad I preferred the risk of none to a lousy future of feeling so bad I had become a zombie. I hate tv during any daylight hour and never watch it. So, there it is in a nutshell.
toots
Forgot to add. I had two CHF events in 2003 which led to the ICD but none since the that miracle device was installed, so I am not sure how well compensated I am. No eschemia, no problem breathing (even flat on back) and can still take a slow stroll for a few blocks.
toots again
toots again
Hi Toots!
I'm really glad that you are feeling so good now-breathing while laying flat is a good thing! :) So you can now say you are having a "nice to be living antedote"... Sometimes it's the level you are at and yes, the med.'s play a big part. I always have this feeling if I stop what I'm doing, then what?? So I sometimes have to push...but I do understand those down days-most definitely.
Keep venting, posting, asking questions and we'll all try and pitch in whenever, wherever we can!
Hugs, Teri :)
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
I'm really glad that you are feeling so good now-breathing while laying flat is a good thing! :) So you can now say you are having a "nice to be living antedote"... Sometimes it's the level you are at and yes, the med.'s play a big part. I always have this feeling if I stop what I'm doing, then what?? So I sometimes have to push...but I do understand those down days-most definitely.
Keep venting, posting, asking questions and we'll all try and pitch in whenever, wherever we can!
Hugs, Teri :)
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating: