Any One My Age Facing Heart Troubles?

[Nancy]

Hi Harry-

My husband has had congestive heart failure for so long, that I can't remember when it was normal. He's 72 years old now, so he's lived a long time with it.

It is a condition that has to be well managed and controlled. Your cardiologist will hopefully develop a good plan for your particular situation.

My husband is very restricted on sodium and takes Lasix daily to control the fluid. He also weighs himself every morning at the same time to monitor any sudden weight gain, which would, for him, mean a bout of heart failure which has to be taken care of either with additional Lasix, or with something more potent, perhaps Zaroxolyn. He also takes Potassium supplements because Lasix drains your body of that. He has a serious case of it and has been in Class 4 congestive heart failure which is bad. But he's still here and things just have to be watched carefully.

The above may never apply to you to that extent, but if you are having short of breath problems, you have to have it checked out.

By the way, there is a blood test called BNP which can tell if you have heart failure. It's quick and easy to get a proper diagnosis with this test. Some people have been misdiagnosed with bronchitis or even asthma.

I don't want you to think that this is a benign condition, it isn't. But it is not as dire as it's name sounds, at least in the early stages.

 

[McCln]

Hello Harry!

Hello Harry!

Welcome to the board. I just noticed your post, I try to come in once or twice a week. I was eight when I had aortic valve repair and 36 when I had the valve replaced with a St. Jude's valve. Here we all have multiple heart problems, or like me, just one. We all have faced surgery and are here to share experiences to those who are facing things for the first time or help those who have been having problems for sometime. We are all ages and places. We are all practically in the same boat, just different problems. Come in anytime and post. Thnks for coming in and hope to see you here often. Take care and welcome to the best club in the whole world.

Caroline
09-13-01
Aortic valve replcement
St. Jude's valve

 

[Georgia]

Welcome, Harry

Welcome, Harry

Although I didn't feel put out about having the heart problem at 53, I felt that way when I had breast cancer at 39. They're both conditions that for the most part come on when you least expect and really have little warning.

You get over it; it took months for me to redefine myself in my own mind as "cancer patient." It was easier this time to redefine myself as "heart patient."

As for researching and learning about your illness: my cardiac surgeon had some parting advice for me when he cut me loose: 1 - always wear a medic alert bracelet; and 2 - take charge of my coumadin treatment and know everything about my heart - because no one cares about like I do. I've truly taken that to heart (well, we can't help ourselves - the puns come too easily); I ask questions, write them down, just changed physicians, etc etc.

This is YOUR life and you really have to demand the best care and most knowledgeable professionals.

Anyway, welcome to vr.com.

 

[joy]

Hi Harry, I was 23 when I found out I had rhuematic heart disease, and I had a mitral valvuplasty right away, and a little over 8 months later, I had my mitral valve replaced. I am 25, and am 2 years post op.

 

[Gnusgal]

Just a suggestion

Just a suggestion

Harry,

I had my first heart surgery when I was 5. It wasn't a valve, but I thought that might be sobering, at any rate. I've now had 7 surgeries for my heart, 2 of them open heart. And I'm only 26. So no, you are definitely not alone.

Since you are expressing a desire to find a cardiologist that doesn't think you're too young for heart problems, and you say you have some congenital defects, might I suggest a cardiologist that specializes in congenital heart defects? Either an adult congenital heart defect (ACHD) doc or even a pediatric? I personally see a pediactric cardiologist and she's wonderful. I might be her oldest patient, but at least she's VERY familiar with my type of anatomy (too complicated to get into) and doesn't have to go get a chart every time she looks at my echo. I even had my valve replacement surgery at a children's hospital. But there was also a 45 yo man and a 60 yo woman in that same hospital with me, so it's for kids of all ages. The only requirement is that the condition be something that started from something congenital. If you go to the ACHA site I belive they have a list of ACHD clinics around the US, so you could look and see if there is one in your area. Unfortunately, they aren't wide-spread enough just yet. My card has talked about trying to start one here, but it's a slow process. Anyway, I thought I'd open up an option for you...

 

[Enudely]

Hi Harry
This site and it's folks really got me through a hard time. Congratulations on finding it! I thought I'd let you know that I'M only 24~!! I was 22 when I contracted a nasty baceria from the dentist and it almost destroyed my aortic valve!
You can bet I went through the "I'm TOO YOUNG FOR HEART PROBLEMS!!" phase, but ther reality of it is that is what happened. I am starting to learn that just becase the doctor says my valve will need to be replaced, it doesn't mean I'm headed for the operating table. Some people wait 20-30 years or more before the actual surgury happens!! For now, I'm on an ace-inhibitor med and am taking COQ10 and Hawthorne extract (GREAT herbal supplements for heart health) and crossing my fingers! I am an otherwise very healthy person, not overweight or out of shape, so I think I'm better off than many.
I'll tell you what though, if I DO need the operation soon, I will be all over this web site for support! These people are awesome!! good luck-
ps--I am originally from Massachusetts (Leominster)
Yay for New England!!

 

[Harrybaby666]

Hi Creed

Hi Creed

Hi Creed,
Thanks for your support and encouragement. I have done alot of thinking over the past few days, and I have found that it may indeed be time for me to find a new cardio due to the fact that he had reschedualed my last 4 appointments, which in my estimation, tells me that he does not put me high on his priority list, and this, I cannot have considering I have too many other health issues, besides heart problems to let him, or my other docs for that matter become lackadaisicle about my medical matters. It's awefully funny how doctors think they are doing a person justice by not telling them everything they need to know. I suppose that they think they are doing you a favor by not telling you until something happens, but are they really? I have read that there is some evidence that by replacing a valve in the early stages can help reverse CHF. My question is why my cardio is not on the up and up about this....? All the more reason to find a new doc. Once again, Thanks...Harold

 

[scottvant]

Harry sez: >>which in my estimation, tells me that he does not put me high on his priority list, <<

Agreed, this is a good reason to shop elsewhere. I found in talking to several doctors that since this is what they do for a living, and see it every day, (and, see much worse cases than mine) they tend not to see anything that's happening to me to be as big a deal as I do. When I pointed out to my cardio that he may have a whole PRACTICE full of heart patients but for ME, this is the first time I'VE had open heart surgery and attendant conditions so I'm not necessarily going to take it lightly...

>>It's awefully funny how doctors think they are doing a person justice by not telling them everything they need to know.<<

I complained to the nurses at cardiac rehab once that I was looking around for a new cardiologist because mine was impossible to get information out of. She said, "honey, they're all like that." Which is why, on my next appointment, I arrived with a file folder full of printouts, some my files and some stuff from the internet, all highlighted and cross-referenced and I said, "I hope you booked me some time, cos I'm not leaving until I get answers to all of these questions." He's been better ever since.

Good luck.

Scott

 

[Nancy]

Hi Scott-

All cardiologists are not the same. Just like everyone else on the planet, they each have different personalities. Joe has had many, in his long career into cardiology. He's had blunt ones with no sense of humor, "no tell 'ums" (the less you know the better), open ones who will be up front and human, and his latest one who is just right, brilliant, a touch of humor and is willing to answer any questions you might have, and even show you the reports. As a group, they tend to not get rattled by anything. Surgeons are like that also, other doctors too. Who would want someone in the medical field that was falling apart at every turn in the road.

If you truly cannot relate to your cardiologist, you should really seek another one with whom you can have a good relationship. It's a long term relationship, and patients should feel comfortable. The doctor should too, by the way.

Take care.