Heart failure - can anyone help?

[jaabaar]

Hi

My uncle has been admitted to intensive care as he had swollen legs and swollen eyes and breathing difficulties. I am abroad and it is very difficult to get information. I managed to speak to one doctor who said it is serious but there are chances they can manage it. His heart is very weak and his blood pressure sky high.He is 72 has no children and lives with my mum who is older herself.

Does anyone know if there are chances that he will get well and if u can live with heart failure? I'm so worried, just want to hear maybe something positive or if someone has experience with it?

I would be so very gratefull for any reply please please.....


J

[DowntonTrout]

I am sorry if I appeared to ignore you today jaabaar I had a minor medical problem to deal with myself.

The doctors would most certainly tell you if it was so critical to be an imminent life or death situation. Your uncle is in the best place possible. Whilst the heart may not be repairable they can certainly take the pressure off it and deal with the other issues to make him at least comfortable.

Maybe in some ways, this will turn out to have been a good thing, as he will now be getting the medicine and treatment that could prolong his life. I do hope so, for all of you.

[jaabaar]

Iamthezombie

Thank you for replying again.

I am the only young ( well in my forties) family member and I have my mum and two uncles I feel strongly responsible for. They have no children. They all grew me up as a family.

I can't eat and sleep. I feel they r alone. Nobody been to hospital and they don't want me to inform my cousins who live locally. It eats me up.

[IamtheZombie]

Where are you, jaabaar? Oh, and please, just call me Zombie. Everyone does.

I think your mum and uncle are being very unfair on you. Why don't they want your cousins who live locally to know? You obviously can't do much from where you are. But, it might mean a lot to your uncle who is in hospital if someone were able to visit him.

I wish I could do more than just give you some huge ((((( HUGS ))))).

[jaabaar]

DowntonTrout
Thank you for your precious time and I hope that the medical situation is sortable. Of course I did not feel ignored. I know I am just repeating myself .... I do so so much appreciate you replying still. It was indeed a good thing as at least he is in doctors hands now and can be helped hopefully.

I had begged him nearly every day to go to gp for a long time... He must have had high blood pressure for a long long time... First thing doc told me is that they can't believe that at his age he never went for check up....

Zombie
They do not want to inform them because they don't like to bother people and don't like fussing... He refused to go by ambulance and drove home to pack his luggage. I had to argue with my mum ant calling doctor to see how he is. She said we cannot disturb doctors....
I leave in the area of Hertfordshire.

Zombie and downtontrout
Thank you both of you... For having helped me and trying to answer questions which only time can answer. You are both very kind...

[jaabaar]

Zombie
They said we cannot disturb and visit in intensive care. They think that they will remove the fluids and he comes home with some pills.... If I talk abt it more my mum changes subject and talks abt my daughter.

[jaabaar]

Also we have my other aunty who they took care of who has Alzheimer's she is now in a home as it was becoming 24h care with no support

[IamtheZombie]

Sorry, jaabaar, I got the wrong impression. So, you are in the UK and the rest of your family is in your home country. Is that right?

Visiting hours are limited in Intensive Care Units, but not non existent. It's sad that your uncle has to be going through this on his own. Having said that, he sounds just as stubborn as my late DH if he went home to pack before driving himself to the hospital. That stubborness may stand him in good stead.

Some of the medicine he is on will be designed to get rid of the excess fluid that is making his legs and other parts of his body swell up. If they can do that, the strain on his heart will be greatly reduced. He will be sent home with pills to continue to keep the fluid from building up again.

[jaabaar]

Zombie
My family members r of the opinion that we might disturb!not the hospital!
The doc I spoke to said we can visit!

I think my family is ignoring the severity. Today doc said his kidneys not working well and also there is chronic lung disease and they haven't finished tests.........

I believe that he will need a lot of aftercare if he will be well enough to come home,,,,

Yes I am in uk my family is in Switzerland.

I will try and lay down a bit. My tummy hurting and headache. Hopefully I manage to sleep a bit.

Thank you for your kindness to a stranger xxx

[IamtheZombie]

I hope you can sleep well, jaabaar. We'll talk some more tomorrow.

[jaabaar]

Hi

My mum just called me and said my uncle called to tell that he will be transferred to a different hospital (more facilities, main hospital of the county).

He will be transferred tomorrow. She said he sounds better then yesterday, his voice is not good but the breathing better.

Meanwhile they found out that he also has small kidneys, same like my mother! She had this diagnosed 25 years ago it is a defect from birth. Maybe this is a hereditary condition?

Mum said not to call doctor today or tomorrow and only call on Wednesday in the old hospital!

Mum things that he will only go for a ct scan and then back I know that they only transfer serious cases to that hospital. But what does it mean if the doctor gives you the option to move hospital or not?

Thanks.....

[jaabaar]

I managed to speak to doctors today. They said his kidneys r small and literally not functioning anymore. Hope is leaving.

[littlejo67]

Any news jaabaar ?