Congestive Heart Failure

[janby]

I'm looking for other people with congestive heart failure caused by chemotherapy I recently was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, after an agonizing summer of extreme fatigue and increasing shortness of breath. Finally, it came to the point where I was laboring for breath at night, even propped up by pillows, and couldn't walk round the block without becoming so winded I'd have to sit down on a park bench for ten minutes, in order to catch my breath. I never suspected something was wrong with my heart, as I was pretty healthy, with the exception of being twenty pounds overweight. The weight did not drop, even after weighing everything I ate for over a week. The medical examination revealed I was retaining fluid in my ankles, legs and abdomen, and as soon as I started on a diuretic, most of the weight disappeared. The doctors told me my heart problems were likely caused by the chemotherapy I underwent for cancer, over three years ago. Now I hope I am back on the road to relative good health, and increasing the length of my walks each day. Does it get better? Is there anyone with congestive heart failure who can do a lot of physical exercise without getting winded? Can I expect to be able to work again? I'm 56 years old which I think is too young for retirement.

[UroDoc]

It really depends on how fit you are and how bad your heart was damaged or how bad your CHF is. Good luck

[janby]

Thanks

[FL HEART]

In answer to your question if anyone with CHF can do alot of physical exercise without getting winded, the answer is probably no. It depends, really, on your heart's ability to pump the blood. That's called your ejection fraction. If you aren't treating with a cardiologist, I would recommend you do so. There are many things you have to watch out for when taking diuretics. I'm 54 and I have "retired" due to my illnesses, but I have many, including CHF, severe COPD and breast cancer.

Good luck!!!!!