DM has Heart failure

[RachLoveLife]

My mum is 82 and was diagnosed with heart failure two years ago. Recently shes seems so much more tired than previously but is slow to go back to the doctors. I took it upon myself to speak with the receptionist at the doctors, to see if there was anything I could do. They said theres no allocated nurse as such, no repeat referral so to bring her down. Easier said than done, but is this correct then? I thought with heart failure there would be something set up for recurring appointments? Thank you.

I suppose it's area dependent. My Mum is 80 and has recently been diagnosed with heart failure. Her GP asked if she'd like referred to the heart failure nurses. A HF nurse is visiting her at home next week and is taking leaflets etc for me.

It's area dependent to an extent. Good care would be at least annual check up at GP surgery. Better would be 6 monthly.

Certain types of heart failure can be seen by heart failure nurses but this is usually short - medium term to get the right medicines started, then it's back to GP care.

Your Mum should be seen at any point if her symptoms worsen e.g. becomes breathless, her ankles swell. If the symptoms come on/worsen suddenly, she needs to be seen more urgently.

Check out https://pumpingmarvellous.org

Do you know if she was offered a referral?
Mine was (different condition) but turned it down as she thought the GP would tell her what to do, rather than asking if she wanted something! Then she wouldn’t contact the GP because she thought they’d get in touch if they wanted to follow up. She couldn’t grasp that it needed her to make things happen initially.

@BucketFacer Thanks for this, very helpful.

I’ve since spoken to the surgery and it’s not a service they offer in our area.

Is it not just one of those old age things nearly everyone has if they live long enough?
My relative was diagnosed with it at 80ish, can’t remember them having any extra appointments or checks. I think they took aspirin, but no other medication. They died of something else at 98.

Sorry your mum is going through this.

I have a close friend who is a heart failure specialist. They say that the name of the condition should really be changed, as the drugs are so good now that most patients with 'heart failure's can have their condition well managed ie. heart failure patients don't have to die of heart failure.

Keep taking her back for regular check ups and encourage her to ask for a review of her meds to see if she could try alternative drugs or a different dose. . . You may find support on the BHF website too.

Best of luck.

Oh and think positive. Good diet, sensible exercise etc. My lovely mil was diagnosed in her early 80s with heart 'failure' and would get breathless climbing hills, but otherwise did not suffer many bad effects. She died at 96 from a totally unrelated condition.