Real people
 
Chuck Francis
chfrancis@adelphia.net
age 45
married 26 years
one son, age 26

Before CHF

We have a 26-year-old son currently still at home, working on his second bachelor's degree. I am a 13+ year Army veteran, which was a wonderful, fulfilling and rewarding experience. I served as a nurse and am currently medically retired, having just filed for Disability. Most of my nursing career was spent in the US Army, five years as a flight paramedic with a medevac unit, similar to Life Flight. I also served several years in trauma and intensive care units and 3 years in clinical medicine.
     After leaving the US Army, I originally intended to leave the nursing profession as well. This was immediately after Desert Storm. However, I felt pulled toward long-term care and was a nurse manager for several years.

My CHF

In 1999 my wife and I, along with my son, opened a Cafe called "Mon Cherie's Cafe." We recently had to close our cafe due to my health. This was very devastating but it did help relieve me of some stress. I also was encouraged to retire medically and now my wife is back in college to finish her teaching degree. I have always been a very avid sportsman and loved hunting, fishing, and team sports. At one time I was going to be on an Eco-Challenge team but heart failure ended that plan.
     I have been diagnosed with severe CAD, 2 heart attacks, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. I also have a left ventricular apical aneurysm and a septal aneurysm. I have 7 stents. I also have hypothyroidism, depression, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diverticulosis, and GERD.

My Meds

25mg spironolactoneDaily
50mg CozaarDaily
12.5mg CoregTwice a day
40mg furosemideDaily
10 mEq potassium chlorideDaily
60mg isosorbide mononitrateDaily for angina
75mg PlavixDaily
325mg aspirinDaily
0.175mg SynthroidDaily
80mg LipitorDaily
10mg ezetimibeDaily
600mg LopidTwice a day
20mg AciphexAs needed for GERD
20mg Citalopram Hydrobromide (Celexa)Daily
one mg folic acidDaily
500mg vitamin CDaily
one gram omega-3 fish oilWith meals
one tablespoon metamucilDaily

Chuck - October 2, 2004

 

All information on this site is opinion only. All concepts, explanations, trials, and studies have been re-written in plain English and may contain errors. I am not a doctor. Use the reference information at the end of each article to search MedLine for more complete and accurate information. All original copyrights apply. No information on this page should be used by any person to affect their medical, legal, educational, social, or psychological treatment in any way. I am not a doctor. This web site and all its pages, graphics, and content copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Jon C.

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