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Newly diagnosed with heart failure - how do you cope?
Hey everyone. I'm 46 just diagnosed 2 days ago with Heart failure. Currently trying meds to relieve fluid that has built around my Heart and lungs some to try and slow heart rate and control blood pressure. I've never had an issue with my blood pressure until recently. Everything is still new trying to process everything. I've been having symptoms for over a year( dizzy, shortness of breath, swelling, fatigue and oddly hard for me to come up with words sometimes that i normally don't) To Be honest I'm very scared and anxious. I have a 9 year old to run after and I can barely get out of my bed most of the time. I use to be very active mom of 2 and wife and now I feel like a burden to my family instead of the gas that kept them going. I have appt with cardiologist in August to see how meds are doing if they're not working then discussion on next steps. When I say and thought about everything I've actually been showing symptoms for some years now and just didn't realize it and it started little but quickly got worse until I couldn't walk my children to the end of the driveway for the bus. I told my primary care physician in August 2025 and she kind of shrugged it off until I insisted she run some test or at least refer me to someone to help me. She did ECG didn't like what she was seeing finally referred me to cardiologist. Lots of test and wearing 2 heart Holsters later never forget when he said Mrs Norris we are going to do everything possible for you but you have Heart Failure specifically Right Side. That was 2 days ago and now I'm here. Thank anyone who read my story and any advice I would give is listen to your body . My body stopped talking to me and started screaming for help and relief.
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angelmichelle you have reason to be optimistic. If you have good cardio people, you will get meds to reduce water, steady heart rate, control bp, open arteries etc. Thin blood. Even pacemaker. Sometimes you will feel sick, but it may be the meds, not your heart.
You may get a catherization to be sure your pipes are clear.
I had slow hr AND fibrillation, (edema , tired, a mess) so they had to figure out faster or slower.
It is working. Coming off some meds. No fib (use Kardia device) . Energy is returning. 78 y/o. Holy Crap!
Some of my docs are hand holders, some cold-all business. Can't let that or the titles Heart Failure scare you.
You sound strong and brave. One day at a time.
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8 ReactionsYou are on a road to getting better. Not an easy road but a road headed in the right direction. Listen to your docs. Try different ones if you aren’t comfortable with their answers.
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3 Reactions@shmerdloff Wowwww!!! That's so amazing and thank you for the encouraging words 🙏 It has scared the mess out of me. My body feels so much older and tired than I truly am. Bless and keep rocking it
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1 Reaction@altilla 💜 thank you. I'm just scared. My husband has had 2 heart attacks and a stroke and we're both not young but not old either just thinking of our children.
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1 Reaction@angelmichelle0310 I get that. Over the past few years as the doctors tried to figure out if I had a heart issue, lung issue or Long Covid issue I hoped for a heart issue because the medical world is so good at hearts (imo) compared to the other things. I finally got a real diagnosis last Fall and got my wish. Heart issue. Unfortunately the docs said “Not much we can do about your issue.” Well that sucked.
Two months later I was offered a chance to be part of a research study for my issue. I jumped at the chance and SO lucky…that study was a game changer for me. I’m now doing fantastic and can do anything I want.
Keep a positive outlook even when it’s hard. One never knows what miracle is around the corner.
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