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Congestive heart failure

1K views 14 replies 15 participants last post by  kerryann 
#1 ·
Just found out my Grandpa has it. He's ok for now but I'm curious if anyone knows how long he might have. The doctors don't really know. He's in the hospital and they are trying to reduce the fluid from around his heart.
 
#2 ·
my grandmother live with chf for over 5 years. it was controlled with medication and until she had the stroke she was fine.
 
#4 ·
My grandmother was diagnosed with it and BAM!!! just 15 years later it brought about her early demise at the premature age of only 95!


Seriously though, she had some medication for it which I remember her taking but other than that she remained just as active up until the day she died as she had ever been.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Its not fluid on the heart, that is called a pericardial (around the heart) tamponade. That is a much more critical problem that will kill someone in about 30 minutes. CHF is the weakening of the heart muscles themselves. You have to ask the Doc's to be more specific about which side of the heart is going, right or left. They will cause edema (fluid build-up and swelling) in different parts of the body. Right sided will cause swelling to the body, usually ankles and calfs. Right side is not as bad since it just makes the legs bigger and heavier. The right side of the heart is also smaller and typically only pumps blood to the lungs. The left side is the bad one. It is bigger and stronger because it usually pumps blood to the entire body. Left side CHF will cause 'fluid' to back up into the lungs meaning the symptoms are more frequent and worse (difficulty breathing). If uncontrolled, she will begin coughing up pink frothy sputum and will look sort of like blood, but its not. She will need more aggressive treatment and a BiPAP machine. Hope that helps...
 
#8 ·
My mom has CHF, she got it about 15 years ago and has never been the same since. The doctors told her that she only had a few years to live initially but she's still functioning fine to this day. she has very little energy, 40% of her heart capacity and about 40% of her lung capacity left. she cant be very active or it will drain her for the next few days, some days she has to stay in bed and other days are somewhat normal. It all comes down to how bad it is and what medication the person is on.
 
#10 ·
My Dad had CHF for many years as did my Grandfather on my mom's side. Once diagnosed they each lived another 20+ years and died in their mid-late 70's. BTW, they both smoked cigs, drank cheap beer and ate nothing but fried foods for a good share of their lives. Hell, my old man had malaria and every kind of STD as a young WWII vet. He said that having the clap made his immune system stronger.:sonicjay: The malaria thing didn't help his heart situation though.
 
#13 ·
My dad had it. He had always had heart problems but battled that for @ 3 years. He wieghed @ 235 when he first was diagnosed (he thought he caught a cold up north) to 140 when he died. He started dyalisis and the doc told him that would give him another 4-8 months. He was on dyalisis a few times a week plus a ton of meds for the 8 months. He just got sick of it. The doc asked if he what he wanted to do and he said he was too tired of fighting. The doc told him to stop his meds and he was gone that night.

Sorry if this post was kinda depressing. Appreciate those around you now. You may not have a chance tomorrow.
 
#14 ·
My Grandmother had it for years.

First diagnosed in 1988, and had a double valve replacement in 89.
She was great and healthy until around 99 when she started having issues (was 80 at that time).

over the next few years she gradually got worse, and had to carry oxygen with her. She eventually was pretty much home bound in the last year (drove her nuts because she loved to garden) and attached to oxygen 24/7

we finally lost her in august of 2004.


My Mother-in-law (well i actually never got to meet her :( ) had CHF also, but not with chronic conditions. She died of a heart attack 8 months after being diagnosed at 67
 
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