Heart failure

[hullexile]

Very sorry if you have told us earlier, but are you on a heart transfer waiting list?

No. Couldn't afford it here and wouldn't qualify in the UK as too old and diabetic.

Actually when I looked into it, it is not the magic bullet you would think.

In the UK they take under 65s, no other health issues. So basically they take the most likely to survive which is fair enough given the limited supply.

Of those, then 10% die in the first month and 30% in the first year.

Anyway for whatever reason it is not going to happen.

There is another device commonly fitted, forgotten the acronym, which prevents your heart stopping. Like a mini defibrillator I think. Most people have them taken out. Stops you dying but doesn't stop the symptoms which will get worse. Better just to peacefully die in your sleep I think.

Not a great day again but still going. Low blood pressure yesterday, high today. Heart rate was fine this morning, 85 now which is danger level.

[PBPBPBPB]

Oh dear.

I'll have to think of something more cheerful to say next time I add a message. Very sorry.

[hullexile]

Oh dear.

I'll have to think of something more cheerful to say next time I add a message. Very sorry.

Really no problem. It is good to talk as they say.

[PBPBPBPB]

Phew!

[periphery831]

Apologies for any negligence if you have already stated it, hullexile, but what do you think were the main reasons for your heart failure? Is it coronary heart disease? If you could of did anything different, what do you think would of helped make a difference?

Rest easy.

[hullexile]

Apologies for any negligence if you have already stated it, hullexile, but what do you think were the main reasons for your heart failure? Is it coronary heart disease? If you could of did anything different, what do you think would of helped make a difference?

Rest easy.

I smoked from age 14 so that is a very obvious one.

My diet wasn't great but not terrible either, balanced some good some shit

Got plenty of exercise but then stopped and put on weight. Not good for the heart.

So pretty obvious changes, stop smoking and keep with the exercise.

But you never know, my dad never smoked and died of lung cancer. My mum was told by a cardiologist that she had a heart twenty years younger than she was and died of a heart attack.

It is what it is. Death doesn't worry me but not being there for the kids does, though they are getting older now.

[periphery831]

I smoked from age 14 so that is a very obvious one.

My diet wasn't great but not terrible either, balanced some good some shit

Got plenty of exercise but then stopped and put on weight. Not good for the heart.

So pretty obvious changes, stop smoking and keep with the exercise.

But you never know, my dad never smoked and died of lung cancer. My mum was told by a cardiologist that she had a heart twenty years younger than she was and died of a heart attack.

It is what it is. Death doesn't worry me but not being there for the kids does, though they are getting older now.

Was it a gradual decline in health or did something serious occur?

Thank you for sharing your experience, I'm sure it will help others reading.

[hullexile]

Was it a gradual decline in health or did something serious occur?

Thank you for sharing your experience, I'm sure it will help others reading.

Both. The climax was a heart attack or series of them and a week in ICU. Very close call, doctor told my wife she made it to the hospital with a minute or two to spare. Another attack in ER and another on way to ICU and again in ICU.

But before then I had been fainting, passing out every now again which I put down to my low blood pressure. But no, generally fit and I thought healthy.

[periphery831]

Both. The climax was a heart attack or series of them and a week in ICU. Very close call, doctor told my wife she made it to the hospital with a minute or two to spare. Another attack in ER and another on way to ICU and again in ICU.

But before then I had been fainting, passing out every now again which I put down to my low blood pressure. But no, generally fit and I thought healthy.

Thanks again, wishing you all the best!

[hullexile]

One thing I would add though I think I said it before, it was not a case of heart attack never to recover. There was a couple of years of good health before, as my cardiologist so carefully put it, "right, the heart failure is really starting to kick in now". The inbetween time lulls you into a false sense of security.