Comments on: The Stages of Dying From Congestive Heart Failure

By: Tammy shelmire

Tammy shelmire — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:10:25 +0000

First I want to say my prayers are with anyone suffering from CHF. It’s not something anyone wants to go through or see a family member go through it. My grandpop is 83 years old, he was diagnosed with CHF a little over 3 years ago and refused any kind of surgery. So he’s been on medications to basically help him stay alive, he gets routine blood work and sees his cardiologist and family doctor on a routine basis, he had got progressively worse in da last year, he is in stage 5 now, he still has a normal appetite but he is tired more than often, he doesn’t have the energy to even walk from one room to the other and also without getting out of breath, and he needs help to wash himself up. He went to another cardiologist for a second opinion and the cardiologist told him, he can’t give an exact prognosis but he can give him an estimate of probably 3years without major heart surgery or 5 years with surgery. His cardiologist that he normally goes to called my grand mom a couple of wks ago and told her his echocardiogram is the same and basically whats going to eventually happen is his valve with eventually deteareate to nothing. Me, my family n himself refuse surgery due to his age, medical conditions including, CHF, hypertension, kidney failure, diabetes, and plus his heart is already so bad, his ejection fraction is less than 10%. We don’t want to risk him going under and them stopping his heart, in da condition he’s in were afraid he might not wake up and we might lose him sooner than we would have if we didn’t do the surgery. Me n my family are afraid that he’s going to go into sudden cardiac arrest. Please keep me n my family in your prayers. Thank you

By: Joyce Loftin

Joyce Loftin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:31:45 +0000

My husband is the patient. He is 89 and his
third year into CHF. Sleep – reduce the stress,
Xnax. .5 mg. helps him relax. He is in stage
four, I feel the end is near. Life is tragic
for an active person, be 25 or 95, at least the
older generations has lived a full life and the
25 yr. old will never know the plesures and gifts
of life. Seeing your loved one fade is so very
hard. God bless those who care for them and advise
us on care. Pray that all of you are patients of
a CHF clinc, in addition to a good Cario Doc. May
you all be blessed.

By: Keyla

Keyla — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:20:10 +0000

To Jane, June 18th: your situation sounds a lot like mine about 4 years ago. My mother was in hospice. After a couple of months she declined the services.
The best suggestion I could give, is get a second opinion from another doctor.
My mother has had many ups and downs (many of which have brought the family good scares), but she is still with us. Had my mother stayed under hospice care there is no doubt she would not be here today. There services are limited. This is nothing against hospice, I just believe this service is meant for people who truly are terminal. Hope this helps.

By: Raven

Raven — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 16:13:05 +0000

I enjoyed reading this but only because I know I’m not alone. I’ve had CHF for the last 3 years due to 2 heart attacks I had while pregnant with my daughter. To be completely honest I didn’t take it very seriously until a few weeks ago due to a depression I had about it but the idea of having to undergo yet another surgery scares me and seeing my daughter grow up makes me realize that she needs me and I need to put more effort into this,I’m starting a regular home fitness and proper meal plan today to work towards getting better. Thank you all for your stories as it has helped me work through the issues I had with being as young as I am.

By: Hes

Hes — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 06:49:19 +0000

My dad passed April 14 from CHF and it has been the most painful thing that our family has ever had to deal with. He was 75yrs old. He was diagnosed about 15yrs ago. The last year of his life he complained alot about nausea and feeling full. His appetite was not good at all. My mom had to make him eat. My dad was such a strong man and seeing his health decline was painful and heart breaking. My sister and brothers are trying to be strong and help each other cope with our lost. But our main concern is our mother. Since dad passed she has not been the same. Her best friend, her husband of 50yrs is gone!! Its breaks our heart to see so sad. We have been told by others that time heals all wounds, and we know that but the pain is still so fresh so new like an open wound. We now truly know what a broken heart really feels like. To those of you who still have your love ones treasure every moment and tell them you love them every chance you get. If I could just talk to him again or just see his handsome smile….Treasure every moment. You all are in my prayers.

By: Angie

Angie — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:51:30 +0000

My mother has had heart related issues for over 10 years now. She has had high blood pressure for as long as I can remember, 210/110. She goes to the Dr. every month for blood work and they say it is good and her blood pressure has come down. She is on coreg, diovan, coumadin and torsemide. She has CHF and recently the company she got her torsemide from discontinued the one she was taking (she is also very sensitive to drugs) and the drug store gave her another one suppose to be the same thing and she took it for a week and started feeling awful. She gained weight of 3-4 lbs. and had shortness of breath and lost her appetite. She stopped taking the new torsemide about two weeks ago and feels some better but as of this morning she was in the bed when I called and still has no appetite but forcing a little bit down. She is having trouble having a bowel movement and got some prune juice today. My question is she has no swelling in her feet and hands. She has always had a big stomach. If she is not taking her diuretic for two weeks why is she not swelling but feels the way she does. As with so many others I live six hours away and this is so hard. I have ordered her some CoQ10 and having it shipped to her and told her to drink a little apple ciday vinegar as it is a natural diuretic. She is really done in with meds and hospitals!

By: Leslie

Leslie — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:05:33 +0000

My brother is 53 years old…He had a MAJOR heart attack 3 years ago…one of his major arteries is 100% dead, another major atery is only functioning at 30% capacity…we are told his oxygen intake is approx 27%. If he showers he must nap for 2-3 hours…he sleeps approximately 19 hours a day….and not very well. His ankles began to swell about 8 months ago…he took low dose water pills…2 weeks ago we took him to hospital…we estimate he is holding close to 80 lbs of fluid…his scrotum is so swollen it looks like a small cantalope. He was sent home from hospital after 3 days with orders to take 60 mgs of lasix a day…swelling still severe…he also has an arotic anyeurism (3.9) needs to be checked…and has 2 stints in his low performing artery…how long can he survive like this? My mom is 75 years old, we lost my dad 7 months ago, and she just can not care for him like he needs…doctors act like this is not as serious as it is to me? Can you offer me some advice?

By: Jane

Jane — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 03:38:16 +0000

My MOM has CHF the Hsopice nurse told her that she has about 3 months to life. I see my mom I know she has longer I was told that I can not accept the dease…. I see my mom has lost 50pounds since she moved in with my family and I becasue she is not constantly eating junk food or eating out and taking in too much salt. I think that there scaring her and that bothers me. what to do?
what exactly is end stage I was told that it can go on for 20+ years she has only been 8 months with the diagnossis I think that she likes the attention that Hospice gives her but I also think that she has longer stamina then she did 5 month ago. I think that she is just going to give in becasue she was told that she is near the end. My mom is 68 yrs and what bothers me even more is that I have the same symptoms as she does and I think that she kinda well says more then what is really wrong with her. My mom has always been a attention getter and I think that this fits the bill for her. she gets special attention (I am ok with that) and I think that she like the schock value that it brings to her when she tells people that she is dying.
I really do not like attention and I hate being the center of it as she likes the lime light. I know that were two diffrent people but is it possible that she read the manule and is well kinda living the manuel. NO I am not saying she does not have CHF I am saying I think she is well kinda faking it abit. I caught her jumping up and down and dancing around when she thought no one was home. so I have to ask myself is this for reals? is she really a sick as she says she is?
do the Doctors really feel she is dying?
or am I just in deniel?
what are the symptoms of end stage I feel there kinda vauge and not really listing the real issues here….
PLEASE give me some insight.
Sincerely
Jane

By: britts mom

britts mom — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:42:26 +0000

my daughters in the hospital now with chf and kidney failuer i dont want to lose my child

By: bob

bob — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 02:18:33 +0000

was working…was diagnosed with CHF…the next week, was laid off…insurance ended one week later…im now in stage 3…i WISH the cardiologist had sat down and told me more…i called to get questions answered…no insurance…no answers.