Does anyone have broken heart syndrome with a cough and is on oxygen?

Posted by dbmenger @dbmenger, May 26 12:49pm

I don’t know what to do tethered to this tank so I can breathe. I had pneumonia and a stressed heart in January and I seem to fluctuate between feeling OK and then cratering.
My coughing from blood pressure pills is chronic and I’m so short of breath I’m frantic.
My doctor says it’s broken heart syndrome and it will take time to heal but I want to go back to yoga and drive my car soonest.
How do I make this better?

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Janell, Volunteer Mentor | @jlharsh | 3 days ago

@dbmenger
I’m sorry you’re going through this. It sounds like you’ve had several things happen close together-pneumonia, broken heart syndrome, needing oxygen, and now a chronic cough that’s making it even harder to breathe. That has to be incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re eager to get back to yoga and driving.

You mentioned your cough is from your blood pressure medication. Has your doctor talked with you about whether switching to a different medication might help? And are they saying your oxygen need is from the pneumonia, the broken heart syndrome, or something else?

Recovery after pneumonia and a heart event can take time, but understanding which condition is causing which symptom can help you know what to expect. Many members here have found that gradual progress (not a straight line) is more typical than a steady improvement.

I’m hoping others who have recovered from broken heart syndrome or needed oxygen for a while will share what their recovery looked like. In the meantime, who is following you most closely, maybe a cardiologist, pulmonologist, or your primary care provider?