The Dogmother Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 (edited) I am hoping that some of the nurses on here may have experience of dealing with heart failure or know a bit about it. I won't go into much detail here but Phil's dad is very poorly at the moment ; if you have any experience in working with patients in heart failure please PM me and I'll be happy to give you what detail we have/quick history. We're trying to get an idea of what to expect and time spans as no-one seems able to tell us. Many thanks. Edited September 25, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Can't help Clare, but I do want to send you a hug. Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyhen Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I`m not a nurse.....but 3 months ago my mum was diagnosed with heart failure (her heart was racing) kept in a cardiac unit for 10 days and stabilised with pills...(she was already on warfarin for blood clots and has been for many many years) she is home now and on the pills for life...she is currently 85. Her health has returned and we have been given no time scale or prognosis...so I`m assuming that she is fine and will carry on for the forseeable future. Hope things work out for you....xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 No advice, but sending best wishes. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Sending hugs to you all too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 One of the Mum's at school had a heart attack at the weekend and died. Apart from a chest infection she had had for a few days she was otherwise a normal mid 40s woman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Sending you good vibes, I have no experience of heart failure as such assuming it is different to a heart attack. It must be very worrying for you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 No advice but my best wishes to you all x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 Thanks for all your posts of support, I will pass them on. he is very poorly, having been discharged from hospital, D is comfortable at home but is still very ill. Luckily for his folks they have Phil living there to help them out; D is a tall man and although he's lost a lot of weight and muscle, J would still struggle to lift him if he fell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 DM,Ihave just looked at the British Heart Foundation's website,have a look here http://www.bhf.org.uk/media/news-from-the-bhf/severe-heart-failure.aspx there is a lot of info on there. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 and more info here: http://www.bhf.org.uk/publications/view-publication.aspx?ps=1000023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superkitty Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Probably not much help and I don't have any advice about heart failure, but I do have an amazing cookbook called The Secret Ingredient, by Sally Bee, who is a lady who had two heart attacks and then heart failure and went on to regain her health and live normally. Full of gorgeous recipes suitable for recuperation and long-term maintenance with heart failure. Sorry no advice, but hope he starts to feel better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 DM,Ihave just looked at the British Heart Foundation's website,have a look herehttp://www.bhf.org.uk/media/news-from-the-bhf/severe-heart-failure.aspx there is a lot of info on there. Take care. Thanks for that advice clucker1, Phil's already been there and downloaded lots of information. I've had a helpful PM from Angie, and they are muddling along. Luckily Phil works from home, so is on hand to help out. He has bought D a walking frame as that rangy 6'+ super fit farmer is now so wasted and has lost close to 4 stone of mainly muscle. No-one is able to give them any idea of how much improvement to expect, but given that he wasn't expected to last the week a fortnight ago, he is obviously doing a bit better. I'm not seeing Phil at weekends at the moment, but that's not a problem as he's needed there. His sister is going down from Leics to help out when she can, but she works part-time so doesn't have a lot of time to spare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 ((Hugs)) to you & Phil Clare & healing wishes to dad xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 Thanks Sha xx Thankfully my mother is stable at the moment, so one less thing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 That's a relief! Silver linings....grab 'em where you can hunny, slippery little beasts they are Xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 I don't know anything about it I am afraid, but I just wanted to send you all my thoughts and best wishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 What drugs is he on do you know. It really depends on cause - whether the muscle is damaged due to coronary heart disease (ie furred up arteries) or valve disease. or enlarged heart. Some drugs strengthen heart a little and help it beat more effectively, there can be some backlog into lungs causing fluid build up and breathlessness, you can also get pooling or oedema in extremities like the feet and ankles. Sometimes diuretics can help elimate fluid build up and help with breathlessness which can be frightening and alarming for patient and family. The change when the fluid is eliminated (by peeing) can be amazing. I am sorry to ramble - I am not coronary care trained just commonal garden nurse> PM me if you want Clare. Hugs Ali x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Sorry to hear it Clare. It's not my area of expertise so can't give you the kind of information you want. Our McMillan team deal with a number of palliative conditions now and will give you support as well as Phil's dad. If his prognosis is poor it would be worth asking his GP for a referral. I hope things aren't that advanced and he can have a good quality of life and a lot more of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 Thanks Plum, I'll pass that on. Ali, will PM you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Been a bit busy with Aussie stuff over the last few days, but just wanted to add my best wishes and send you and your father-in-law my love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
