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Stiff Heart - diastolic heart failure

Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: Mar 3 10:16am | Replies (214)

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@imhart

Hi Teresa, diastolic heart failure is heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. So I believe when they measured it it was within range, above 50. I don't remember the exact number. Nevertheless, I have an advanced stage c, class 3 heart failure. I have very high pressures within my heart with minimal activity. I have shortness of breath at times even at rest. I have difficulty sleeping if I don't have a lot of pillows to prop myself up. I have swollen hands and ankles. Without the diuretics I would have a lot of fluid build up because my heart is not taking enough in to pump it out. I have suffered with this for a long time without knowing what was happening to me. This was not on the radar screen of doctors locally because of my age and gender. I was told that I was simply depressed for many years. I am actually feeling a lot better with the treatment I'm on. My new local Cardiologist is optimistic that this can be reversed. But I'm not sure that is really known. In fact, it seems completely unknown at the point. At 53 I am not ready to go; there's a lot I would like to do! He prescribed the Farxiga. It does seem to be helping my heart muscle work better and allowing (flexibility) more blood into the heart. It also removes plasma/blood volume so the heart doesn't have to work as heard. In feeling better, I believe I can lose some weight, which will help too. Diet is critical here too. I drink fresh organic celery juice every morning, which has mineral salts to replace what I've lost. I eat a lot of fresh leafy greens and a variety of fruits and other vegetables. I still eat a small amount of quality, clean protein in meat and fish, although I've been told I would do better on an entirely plant based diet. This is unclear.

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Replies to "Hi Teresa, diastolic heart failure is heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. So I believe..."

I certainly appreciate all of this good information, @imhart. I'm glad that you are doing better.
I have had diastolic dysfunction for many years as well and use an ACE Inhibitor one daily and a Beta Blocker one daily. The ACE med helps the most, but they both work well together I suppose. My problem seems to result from a leaky aortic valve.

Have you had any valve problems?

Good morning!. I just read the post from @imhart. Sounds really familiar. I have the "diastolic heart failure is heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction." as well, class 3 heart failure, 1st degree A-V Block. On my 12-lead ECG, the aVL section, when expanded greatly, shows the line is vibrating so rapidly and tiny that it looks like straight-line. For decades, this has been recognized as a "Positive Obligate" marker for Gelsolin (also known as Finnish Hereditary Systemic Amyloidosis). I call it "Gelsolin Viking Dragon", because it seems it may have been brought to Finland from Asia (Japan?) around the time of Jesus. Anyway, Mayo and the University of Helsinki Hospital, and other places, including OMIM. My Ejection Fraction runs in the high 50's. All this and about another hundred signs and symptoms all point to the Dragon. Constipation, heart failure and TSE deposits seem to be my worst systemic problems.