Fear of congestive heart failure

[snuginarug]

My counselor, who is also and RN, had mentioned congestive heart failure several times when I described the reduction of swelling I have experienced with cpap. So I got curious and looked up congestive heart failure on the Mayo Clinic site. I have some of the symptoms. The swelling I have experienced is not just in my ankles, but throughout my body, including my torso. Part of the problem I have had with putting on the mask has been shortness of breath upon lying down, and the consequent struggle to catch my breath while breathing through my nose. The main thing that worries me, though, is this swelling and fluid retention in my torso.

I don't know, I am aware that there is internet hypochondria, as we have sooo much information about every disease and condition under the sun. But I am a good candidate for congestive heart failure. I am grossly overweight, don't get enough exercise, have high blood pressure, experience chest pain from time to time. Plus I have OSA, and we all know how damaging years and years of untreated OSA can be. I am very scared.

I see my doctor at the end of November for a regular check up. Whatever is happening or not happening to my heart has been going on for a long time. Is there any reason I should ask for an earlier appointment? It is almost impossible to get an appointment with my doctor, but if I really tried, I might be able to finagle an earlier appointment. Should I do this? Or am I being a nervous nellie?

[robysue]

But I am a good candidate for congestive heart failure. I am grossly overweight, don't get enough exercise, have high blood pressure, experience chest pain from time to time. Plus I have OSA, and we all know how damaging years and years of untreated OSA can be. I am very scared.

Given your description of yourself, I don't think it's unreasonable to be afraid that you might have congestive heart failure. I can see why you want to talk to your doc about this issue as soon as possible.

I see my doctor at the end of November for a regular check up. Whatever is happening or not happening to my heart has been going on for a long time. Is there any reason I should ask for an earlier appointment? It is almost impossible to get an appointment with my doctor, but if I really tried, I might be able to finagle an earlier appointment. Should I do this? Or am I being a nervous nellie?

You're not being a nervous nellie.

You should call the doctor's office and ask the receptionist if there's anyway you could be put on a "cancelation list"---in other words, ask them to call you anytime they have a cancellation to see if you can come in at that time. That might get you into see your doctor before your end of November check up.

Finally, have the heart symptoms developed or worsened since your last check-up? If so, then that's worth mentioning to the receptionist too. If your doctor's office is like my GP's office, the receptionist will likely have you talk to one of their nurse practitioners on the telephone. And if the nurse practitioner decides you can't wait until November to have your symptoms checked out, then the doctor's office will get you in to see the doctor much sooner than your November check-up.

Good luck

[Tired Linda]

Snug,

Ditto robysue.

Linda

[torontoCPAPguy]

My counselor, who is also and RN, had mentioned congestive heart failure several times when I described the reduction of swelling I have experienced with cpap. So I got curious and looked up congestive heart failure on the Mayo Clinic site. I have some of the symptoms. The swelling I have experienced is not just in my ankles, but throughout my body, including my torso. Part of the problem I have had with putting on the mask has been shortness of breath upon lying down, and the consequent struggle to catch my breath while breathing through my nose. The main thing that worries me, though, is this swelling and fluid retention in my torso.

I don't know, I am aware that there is internet hypochondria, as we have sooo much information about every disease and condition under the sun. But I am a good candidate for congestive heart failure. I am grossly overweight, don't get enough exercise, have high blood pressure, experience chest pain from time to time. Plus I have OSA, and we all know how damaging years and years of untreated OSA can be. I am very scared.

I see my doctor at the end of November for a regular check up. Whatever is happening or not happening to my heart has been going on for a long time. Is there any reason I should ask for an earlier appointment? It is almost impossible to get an appointment with my doctor, but if I really tried, I might be able to finagle an earlier appointment. Should I do this? Or am I being a nervous nellie?

You, my friend, are at a crossroads in your life and must decide whether or not you wish to live or whether or not you wish to die a slow and agonizing demise and you need to make that decision today. I have seen congestive heart failure and the effects thereof and it is not pretty. It can be extremely painful as well, especially when they start lopping off parts that are not being fed sufficient bloodflow. And how do I know all of this? I am pretty much the same candidate that you are. I can also tell you that swelling in your extremeties can be caused by excessive salt intake and I take Ferosemide to get rid of the excess fluid and reduce blood pressure. I am losing weight as fast as I can under my circumstances and I am exercising REGULARLY at least 30 - 45 minutes EVERY day. Cardio exercise. I am in a rehab programme and monitor my heart rate and BP while exercising. If you cannot get an appointment with your GP you need to get to a hospital emerg or change doctors. You need referals to a cardiologist and a pulmonologist to get started and get your life squared away and on track. You need to be scared... it is great incentive to get your ass in gear as it was for me, I can assure you. The chest pain is your ticket for admission to any decent emerg anywhere. It is worthy of your undivided attention. You (and I) are in the position my uncle was in 25 years ago and his life was cut very short as a result.

I have taken the bull by the horns and am dealing with my issues including the OSA and other issues and YOU need to do the same to be very blunt, if you have any desire to be around to see the New Year and beyond. You are being given warning signs and a chance at life. Take it. Be as tenacious as a pit bull and be your own advocate without depending on ANYONE to do so for you. You can live and live well or you can wither away and die. The choice is yours as it was mine. I chose life and we are all here to encourage YOU to make that same choice. Life. You only get one shot at it and having been on the other side twice in the past year I can assure you there is nothing there worth considering.... it is blackness. There is no bright light. Just nothingness until they jolt you back into this world (not pleasant). It sure woke me up and you have the benefit of MY experience now. Take it and run with it. I started off by walking only 1 mile per day and keeping my pulse rate below (just) 100. My lungs are compromised by acute pneumonia so it is about as tough as it gets to make a mile. My leg muscles were atrophied from almost a month on life support, flat on my back.... making it tough. YOU have a huge advantage and you have your wits about you. Why on Earth would you choose a slow and agonizing death over a healthy and vibrant life, which is just at hand.

Get in to see MD's and specialists NOW. RIGHT NOW. Do NOT take no for an answer and be like a pit bull. call EVERY day for cancellations and make a pain in the butt of yourself once you have those referals to cardology and pulmonology. Find a rehab program and get into it! They are marvellous and you will be with folks that are in the exact same position that you are in right now. Your life will begin to change, albeit slowly, for the better. And you will thank me for being so blunt with you. There is no other way but blunt. Your life is at stake. DO NOT BURY YOUR HEAD ANY LONGER! Get going. I am here.... we are all here... to support you.

Now you know. BTW, my GP would never have referred me to anyone unless I asked and insisted. A word to the wise.

[elena88]

snug,

sometimes those little fears are your inner voice trying to tell you something..

PLEASE call the doc today GET IN THERE ASAP..

There is a saying..

"its never too late to be the person you could have been.."

you can do this! its all timing, and the timing is now..

hugs,
elena

[torontoCPAPguy]

One more thing; I wish to re-emphasize and in no uncertain terms, that chest discomfort of ANY kind is a flashing red light, sirens and alarm bells. It might be nothing more than reflux or anxiety causing muscle spasm, BUT.... and this is the BIG BUT.... are YOU qualified to make that determination based on word of mouth advice? Of course not. Absolutely not. Chest discomfort is a warning. It warrants IMMEDIATE attention and I would mention it to everyone that will listen and if you don't get in to see your GP get thee to an emergency room and get an EKG and blood tests to see what is going on. IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

In the female of our species, there are many other signs of heart distress and I have heard a bunch of them in rehab. In fact, one gal in rehab was having unexplained pain in her HANDS and WRISTS!!!! Guess what? Next week she was absent and in hospital. She had suffered a heart attack (fortunately with little damage and determined via EKG and enzyme tests in her blood) IN CLASS!

I have chest discomfort when exerting myself.... the difference is that I have undergone a BATTERY of tests and I now know that it is my lungs aching and not my heart. Do YOU have that information yet? If not.... get thee to medical attention and find out what it is. It may be uncontrolled angina (not a great thing).

Sorry, don't mean to scare that crap out of you but sometimes that's what it takes to get action. I can tell you that it is what I needed to get going. And now I am worse than a pitbull when it comes to medical attention. I don't ask for it. I DEMAND it. And NOW! Not tomorrow. And you know what? The squeaky wheel gets the oil in this world. I was told that it would take me at least six months to get in to see the #1 pulmonologist (for me) and I bugged until I got in after only two weeks. And I have three pages of tests that I am about to undergo to continue getting squared away. You must NEVER let up. You MUST be a pain in the ass. Now sharpen those teeth and get at them!

[snuginarug]

Well, you guys have convinced me. I am going to go in Monday morning to the walk in clinic, and demand to be seen. If for some reason they decide I can't be seen, I will just go to the emergency room. I am not happy about this idea, but life isn't always fun. I was once under suspicion of being one of these attention seeking ER groupies. It turned out I had a huge abscess in my abdomen that they missed on that visit. But it is there in my record, that this doctor was suspicious. So I am doubly resistant to the idea. But I will go, despite my resistance.

Any encouragement to bolster up my resolve would be greatly appreciated.

[torontoCPAPguy]

I would certainly ask to see my records and have any such error corrected. And I would take along my CPAP, my Rx for same and complain of that chest pain. Chest pain is one symptom that they simply cannot ignore or poo-poo under any circumstances. What you should see happen is chest xrays, blood drawn for enzyme and SaO2 and EKG compared to any prior EKG they may have on file. Personally, I carry my latest EKG reduced in size on a laminated card in my wallet. May sound crazy but in an emergency it is handed over along with my meds list (also laminated), my health insurance docs and my family information. Having a baseline EKG is a good thing but nontheless, if you are having serious heart issues they will show up between the EKG and blood enzymes almost all the time. The next thing that you should see happen is a stress test; if you are unable to walk the treadmill or cycle they should be able to do a Persantine test which exercises the heart and shows them blood flow and EKG under stress. These are all diagnostic tools and ANYTHING showing up in the way of abnormal blood flow or heart action should result in ultrasound and perhaps a more intensive check of your heart's arterial feeds. Nothing to be afraid of as they are all perfectly safe and normal diagnostic tests to rule out heart issues.... and how will you feel going home knowing that the ticker will sustain you but you need to simply lose weight, exercise the diaghram and get more oxygenation to vital organs including the ticker? Make me feel pretty good I think. And I sleep better with the knowledge. So, this should give you a pretty good idea of what they are likely to do. They are not likely to do things like the stress test in emerg or the clinic but a referal to a competent cardiologist will result in a stress test and ultrasound... perhaps a halter monitor for a day or two. All good stuff to nip any potential issues in the bud and none really invasive, just annoying. Good on you! You are on the path to good health and long life. Quit smoking.

[jabman]

Snug,
I hope everything goes well for you, It sounds scarry. Please get checked out as soon as possible.

[snuginarug]

Quit smoking.

For once I can say I am ahead of the game on that one, I quit 6 years ago. Yay!

What you should see happen is chest xrays, blood drawn for enzyme and SaO2 and EKG

Thank you, this is really good info, so that I know they are not just pushing me off.

I would take along my CPAP

Why do I do this? I don't doubt your wisdom, just curious.

Snug,
I hope everything goes well for you, It sounds scarry. Please get checked out as soon as possible.

Jabman, thanks for your support and concern. It means a lot to me.

[scbeaver]

You should also go online and check side effects of ALL medications you take. The diabetes drug Actos can cause CHF. Been there done that. Call your GP's emergency line and tell them your symptoms, you will in all likelyhood be sent to the ER. Then do it, you will thank yourself later.

sleep Well

Steve

[rdfry]

[

I would take along my CPAP

Why do I do this? I don't doubt your wisdom, just curious.

because they may admit you to the hospital.

[elena88]

But just being told my ECG test was normal, was music to my ears. At least I know I'm not in any immediate danger of cardiac arrest or anything super-bad.

Im so happy to hear your ecg was normal.. and that is very good news... but still stay vigilant, okay?

my husband had an ecg which was perfectly normal, and not long after he had a heart attack.. a chunk of plaque broke lose.. he was lucky, and
got a stent.. these things happen when you least expect them, he was across the country at a convention..

so be careful... and do go again if you are having symptoms..

especially if you are short of breath, and it stops when you rest, and when you exert yourself again, it comes back.

Very excellent cardio doc said this is one of the most important things to remember..

[elena88]

no worries, just want ya to stick around

[Chipper301]

I have talked with my Cardiologist a lot about CPAP. He is sure that it has helped keep me away from having a Heart Attach due to keeping my airways open while I sleep!