Heart Failure

[swittenauer]

To make a long story short......my dad had a heart attack a few years ago, has been in a coma, is diabetic & has always had asthma. He had heart failure the Friday before last & was in the hospital until yesterday. He has blockage all over & his heart is too weak for surgery or stints. I was wondering if anyone knows any info about life expectancy regarding this or has had a family member suffer this before. He is 65 & has never smoked a day in his life but for some reason he has always had problems with breathing, his lungs & his heart.

[Jestgar]

While your dad's condition sounds more severe, remember that forty or so years ago heart attack was treated with rest only, and many people survived. I once heard that if you survive the attack, you have basically survived and surgical intervention doesn't change the numbers. On the other hand it doesn't tell you when your dad will have the next attack.

They probably have him on blood pressure lowering drugs and blood thinners. While these have their own risks, my mom has survived two open heart surgeries and has been taking these drugs for 10 years or so now.

My feeling about my mom is that she could go any second (she also has aortic aneurysms), but I can't be sad or worried about that because it would take away from the time I have with her now.

I know the horrible mix of feelings you're going through. You will get through it.

Jeanna

[swittenauer]

The heart failure & damage is the current issue. We have dealt with the heart attack since it was a few years ago. Hopefully he has many more years but like you said it could happen anytime or he could live forever. I believe he said they have him on 12 medications total now. I am trying to not be sad & to focus on the here & now but .... boy, is it hard to do.

[Jestgar]

I hear you there. For several years after my mom's second operation I dreaded seeing a blinking light on my message machine. It took a while to realize that my mom was going to die, and it would be most likely be sudden, and there wasn't anything I could do about it.

Mortality sucks. No way around it.

[blueeyedmanda]

I don't have any info for you, I work with cancer patients but I wanted to let you know you and your father are in my thoughts.

[Lisa]

Sorry about you Dad babe. Been there, done that. I'll be thinking about you.

[swittenauer]

Thanks for keeping him in your thoughts.

[jerseyangel]

Thanks for keeping him in your thoughts.

I will say a prayer for you dad--I wish I had information I could share

[swittenauer]

Prayers are always wonderful. Thank you so much!

[Nancym]

I don't have advice either, other than I think the guy who writes for Heartscan blog is a genius: heartscanblog.blogspot.com but he works hard to spot the trouble before it happens and uses diet and supplements to correct problems. It probably isn't completely appropriate for someone in your Dad's predicament.

I know the feeling. I lost my own Dad 1.5 years ago and my Mom has end stage COPD and heart failure and probably won't be around much longer. Another person who never smoked yet has lung disease... *sigh*. My best wishes go out to you and your family and your Dad.

[Cheri A]

((hugs))

[swittenauer]

He also has COPD. I saw that mentioned. Small world. What do you know about that disease? I am at a loss. I think he has had that for a few years. I wasn't sure how quickly it affects you or what type of treatment there is.