Congestive heart failure .

[Drach]

Has anyone been diagnosed with this? Apparently I'm stage D.

 

[lxskllr]

Well, that's no good. I've got nothing for you, but best of luck handling it. How's it affecting you?

 

[Captante]

Whoa that sucks!

Good friend of mine had the same. (no idea about the "stage" she had tho sorry)

Good news is that she came through okay but she did require open-heart surgery w/valve replacements.

 

[Drach]

Well, that's no good. I've got nothing for you, but best of luck handling it. How's it affecting you?

It's hard to try to work. I'm a foreman on a construction job so I don't do heavy lifting. I just recently stopped walking my dog because it took too much out of me.

 

[lxskllr]

Do the doctors have any plans for making it better? Anything you can do to slow progression?

 

[Drach]

Do the doctors have any plans for making it better? Anything you can do to slow progression?

I think it's beyond that.
I am going to buy a KTM 1290 super duke r to have fun. I feel great and have no regerts.

 

[Drach]

I have had a very fortunate life. I have few regrets and have family that loves me. What else could I ask for.
I have road raced for fun and taught my daughters to be better people than me. My girls have exceeded my expectation.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wow that doesn't sound good. I'm familar with coronary heart disease/angina where there are blockages as my dad has it and has had many angioplasty procedures to clear the blockages, but this sounds like it's the heart itself that is just not pumping enough? That does sound more serious as there is probably not much that can be done I imagine. Or is there something they can do to somehow boost it? Like a pace maker or something like that?

 

[Ken g6]

I think it's beyond that.
I am going to buy a KTM 1290 super duke r to have fun. I feel great and have no regerts.

If you "feel great" and can sit on a motorcycle for extended periods, you're not extremely far gone.

My dad had CHF for quite a few years. He ignored it for several years, not taking his medications, which led to his legs swelling and leaking fluid, until he finally had to go to the ER. Once on medications his legs got better, and the doctor said his heart was actually improving up to a few months before he died. (He had a lot of health problems by that point.) My point is, take the meds your doctor prescribes!

My dad did fall asleep a lot, especially after - or during - meals. I'm not sure if that was the CHF or the narcolepsy or some combination, but he wasn't safe to drive. So be really careful riding that thing!

 

[BoomerD]

Damn…that sucks. Looks like treatments are pretty limited.

Since no one has said it yet…I can haz yer stuff?

Foreman for what trade? Union?

 

[HomerJS]

Has anyone been diagnosed with this? Apparently I'm stage D.

Have you been checked for coronary artery blockage? My mother had that. First cardiologist was worthless. Second doctor found blockages and did 3x bypass. She's doing fairly well for her age now.

 

[Charmonium]

I have no idea what the diff stages are but the fact that you're still ambulatory I would think is a good sign.

As I've mentioned many times before, I watch a lot of cable news so I see the all of the ads for the "hot" new geriatric drugs and I know I've seen a few for congestive heart failure.

That's what mom had but it was from a stenotic heart valve - a parting gift from the scarlet fever she had as an adolescent.

But there are drugs that can coax the most out of your healthy cardiac tissue. Atenolol causes your heart to contract with more force and that appears to lower my BP. When I don't take it, I do get winded much more easily but I'm what they call extremely "deconditioned."

In the worst case, you can try what Dick Cheney did. He has no heartbeat because his "heart" consists of (I think this is correct) 2 ventricle assist pumps. And if the price of doing that is too high in the US, look for a good medical center in South or SE Asia. They do have some world class centers which seem to be primarily for Westerners.

 

[skyking]

Drach take care of yourself, you can get many years of quality time yet.
They have a whole toolbox of drugs to help out.

 

[Muse]

Drach take care of yourself, you can get many years of quality time yet.
They have a whole toolbox of drugs to help out.

Drach, can you walk? I'd think that would help your heart. My mom had it, her walks became tougher and tougher and eventually I think she stopped. At 98 1/2 one morning she simply didn't wake up.

I just recently stopped walking my dog because it took too much out of me.

Walking some dogs looks like quite a challenge. Going solo lets you go at your own pace.

 

[Drach]

My right leg is extra swollen and leaking fluid pretty badly. My 13 year old Labrador can out walk me now.
It's been a good life. No regerts. Sorry wrong forum. Please don't reply.

 

[notposting]

Got diagnosed the same a few years back, up to and including the leg swollen and leaking. Went on some rough diuretics and dropped a lot of water weight which helped with that. Past that maybe grab a treadmill or recumbent bike and just do a bit every day (especially during winter). Don't give away time with your family for free.

 

[Drach]

Got diagnosed the same a few years back, up to and including the leg swollen and leaking. Went on some rough diuretics and dropped a lot of water weight which helped with that. Past that maybe grab a treadmill or recumbent bike and just do a bit every day (especially during winter). Don't give away time with your family for free.

Ty

 

[Captante]

Don't give up ..... nearly THIRTY FIVE years ago surgery 90% cured my friend Claudia. (if you need the surgery go for it but my bet is things are not as grim as they seem)

The longer you go without proper treatment the more serious it gets.... I agree that if you can still ride a motorcycle AT ALL the time has come to FIGHT, not to give up.

So don't quit okay? Please?


My A1c was through the roof from type II diabetes and I had serious AFIB plus high BP myself .... 1.5 years later thanks to CLOSELY FOLLOWING my MD and cardiologists advice I'm vastly better.

 

[Drach]

Thanks everyone. I will never give up and still try to swing a hammer for at least 2 hours a day at work. I'm the foreman on the job and get paid for pointing my finger. I'll die before I quit swinging my hammer.

The diuretics I take suck but they help with the leaking leg. I don't have to wear gauze with an ace bandages to contain the fluids atm.

 

[Drach]

TY Captante and notposting and everyone else. Sometimes not being able to breathe is extra frustrating .👍

 

[skyking]

If venting helps you just let it go. If you have been on ropes doing climbing, you say "On belay?" and we say "belay on". "Climb on",
brother.

 

[Muse]

Thanks everyone. I will never give up and still try to swing a hammer for at least 2 hours a day at work. I'm the foreman on the job and get paid for pointing my finger. I'll die before I quit swinging my hammer.

The diuretics I take suck but they help with the leaking leg. I don't have to wear gauze with an ace bandages to contain the fluids atm.

one handed... had carpal tunnel surgery today...

use a light hammer.

 

[iRONic]

Got nothing but being wheelchair bound, I feel your pain with swollen legs!!

Don't give up, brother!

 

[skyking]

Thanks everyone. I will never give up and still try to swing a hammer for at least 2 hours a day at work. I'm the foreman on the job and get paid for pointing my finger. I'll die before I quit swinging my hammer.

The diuretics I take suck but they help with the leaking leg. I don't have to wear gauze with an ace bandages to contain the fluids atm.

Somebody has to show those young whippersnappers how to do it.

 

[DigDog]

.. the price of doing that is too high in the US, look for a good medical center in South or SE Asia. They do have some world class centers which seem to be primarily for Westerners.

Bangkok. I'll look up the recommended facility for cardiology when i'm next on my work PC, Sunday.
You can expect to spend 1/3 of the cost of having it in the states, and they are very very modern hospitals with excellent quality of care and highly trained physicians.