Before CHF

I'm 5' 5" tall and weigh 125 pounds. I was born raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We were married while I was a college student. I graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University with a BS in Business. We moved to Redlands in 1963. I worked part-time outside our home while raising our 4 children. My work duties increased to full-time when the children became self-reliant. I retired in 1996 as Executive Director of a non-profit organization that produces outdoor summer music programs for the surrounding communities.

My CHF

I was always a very healthy person with a very active life-style. No known childhood diseases relative to CHF. My only major surgeries were gall bladder removal and full hysterectomy but I had experienced migraine headaches the last few years.
     The first indication that something was wrong with my heart happened several years ago, when my husband and I were dancing at a Christmas party. I became very short of breath and had to sit down. I wondered for a moment what was going on but at the time I was very involved with my family and my job. I was never sick, I didn't have time. I continued to get short of breath from time to time, and I noticed my pulse rate spiking when I exercised but other matters seemed more important to me. In 1996 our daughter was married and I decided to retire and enjoy planning her wedding. Looking back over that year, I realize now that everything was an effort for me.
     After the wedding, my husband and I went to Banff for a vacation and I experienced a great deal of shortness of breath when we hiked around but I had no chest pains. Things came to a head in April of 1997. Trouble was first detected on an EKG in an exam at the doctor's office. I was immediately hospitalized for 4 days and had diagnostic tests including echo and heart cath. I was diagnosed with severe CHF. My EF from that echocardiogram was 15%. There was no evidence of blockage from the cath. My condition was most likely caused by a common virus. That's based on results from a series of blood tests.
     I'm feeling much stronger now, responding well to rest, meds and prayers. My EF has improved to 20%. Edema hasn't been a problem. I am able to sleep with only one pillow with no difficulty. I started walking for 30 minutes a day about a week ago and hope to continue walking every day. Migraine headaches stil bother me occasionally.

My Meds

My Interests

I'm retired and enjoy reading, gardening and friendships.

Update Update Update Update

August, 2000 - That year, my life completely changed. Fortunately, my husband was able to retire and he took over all the cooking, shopping, laundry; everything, and I rested. My story ends well. I was fortunate enough to respond well to Coreg, which was FDA approved at just the right time for me. My EF is now 40% and I live a fairly normal life. I want to add here that not only did the medication perform a miracle, but so did all the prayers and spiritual guidance I received as this healing happened. I will be on medication for the rest of my life and I must exercise and eat a low sodium diet. I feel very well most of the time and am involved in activities and organizations I enjoy.

Irene, August 19, 1997

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. No one here is a doctor. No information on this page should be used by any person to affect their medical, legal, educational, social, or psychological treatment in any way. This web site and all its pages copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Jon C.