Wellness

[Rununculus]

Hey folks, I would appreciate if anyone knows about congestive heart failure. A relative of mine had it, collapsed and actually flatlined. They brought him back and have him on machines to keep his heart function. He's been in ICU now three four days. He loves his family and has one son in the military and another still at home, 10 years old. He's been fighting like you know what. The fluid has dropped dramatically and oxygen is much improved. He's alert enough at times to answer complex questions and he recognizes visitors. (I'm out of state so have not seen him)

But the bad news...

They say he has only 20% of his heart working. He has stents in. The docs want to wean him off of the machines. They've told his wife they could lose him at any time and if he makes it his tolerance for activity will be very low. Can a person's heart come back once in this stage of deterioration? I really want to have hope but don't know if it's founded in fact. I've read some on-line but not with these specifics.

[RedTop]

When my husband survived the widow maker heart attack, I learned that damaged heart muscle will always be damaged heart muscle; it does not repair itself.

We lost a friend several years ago, who only had about 30% heart function after a serious MI. He "survived" a couple of years after that diagnosis, but was barely able to do more than get around inside his house.

If the heart muscle is as damaged as the doctors say, my expectations would be that once this patient is removed from the machines, his heart function will be too low to sustain itself, or keep his other organs functioning, and he will pass quickly. Prayers to your family that this situation is not as grim as it sounds.

[Yardlie]

This is a good question for the nurses. Sounds like he has more problems than congestive heart failure if he has stents put in. Congestive heart failure has to do with the pumping and fluid build-up because the heart is not pumping properly. Stents are put in due to blockages. My dad had CHF and lived for years with it.

Prayers for your relative and his family.

[Perkup]

A lot of us here on the board have had some experience with congestive heart failure. My dear Father in Law died from CHF, and my present husband has it in its beginnings. But even though I've had some experience, every case is different.

Please don't take any of our experiences as gospel in your relative's case. We would only want to give you the best information possible, but any of us could be wrong and misleading in this case. Talk with the doctors and/or nurses in charge of the patient, and hopefully you'll get the best possible information from them.

God bless your relative and please restore him to whatever degree is possible.

[betteb]

RedTop said " I learned that damaged heart muscle will always be damaged heart muscle; it does not repair itself."

This is true, beyond that is only guessing because each case is different.

Good luck and God bless

[conlt]

Well I am an RN and 20% of Heart Function is very low. It sounds like he has Heart Failure because of the damage to the arteries that feed the heart. Stents open these arteries but he must have very bad Coronary Artery Disease. The best that they can do for these patients is manage them with medications and diet. Most of these people will require limited activity around the home, as they get very short of breath and tired quickly. The diet has to be low sodium. Many of the elderly end up eating frozen dinners which have too much sodium in them plus there is hidden sodium in most things that we purchase. It is best, if he has a wife who can help him, to prepare fresh foods such as plain chicken with some spices other than salt instead of purchasing prepared frozen chicken or something like that. Many of these people live several years but unfortunately, many die too because the heart cannot sustain the body functions any more. Yes damage to the heart from heart attacks can cause heart failure. The affected part of the heart dies and does not come back. Sometimes another part of the heart can make up for the deficit or the damage might not be complete. If someone is having symptoms of a MI, call 911, don't hesitate. Sometimes prompt treatment can prevent the heart damage. My mother had a heart attack in 2003 and we go her right to the ER. She coded 3 times in the ER but they were able to use the clot busting medications on her and she survived with minimal heart damage. She is alive today and will be 88 this month. Everyone is different, but he will have to follow the medication and dietary instructions that they give him

[151949]

have they discussed the possibility of a transplant?

[ID2]

My dad lived quite successfully with CHF for about 7 years. Took lots of meds but kept it under control until he just got too old (90) and his body couldn't fight it anymore.

[BLH]

Congestive heart failure usually gets worse. Episodes usually happen more often and can be worse each time.

[VaBelle35]

My dad was diagnosed with this in a pretty late stage in his late 70s. They put in a pacemaker and propped him up with lots of medication. He lived a good quality of life for many years this way until the meds could no longer help him and his heart just started to give out.

At 20% function, I would imagine his only hope would be a heart transplant, but if they aren't suggesting that, I suspct he doesn't qualify or wouldn't be a good candidate for some reason.