I was an overweight (122 Kg), inactive smoker, smoking 2 packs a day. I always intended to lose weight, get fitter and give up smoking, but I never did get around to it.
I am now a still overweight (95 Kg), active person who still smokes 15 cigarrtetts a day. I'm sure my life will be shortened by CHF but in the meantime I'm living my life to the fullest and having fun! In December, 1999, I ended up in the hospital following a small CVA. I "threw some plaque" according to the neurologist. While I was being examined for the CVA I was questioned about blood pressure, smoking, alcohol intake and whether I had ever been told I had an enlarged heart! I found myself admitted to the hospital and spending the next week having several EKGs, a couple of echos, a Holter monitor and a phenomenal amount of medication. I was told that I would possibly, or probably, die. Six weeks later in January, 2000, I saw the cardiologist who told me my heart was still "pretty trashy." He changed my medication, joined me up in a cardiac education and rehab program, and sent me on my way.
In mid-March, 2000, I was back in the hospital for an echo. My EF was 25%. At this visit I discovered that my EF in December was 12% and in January it was 21%, so we were very pleased to see a gradual improvement. In late March I had an angiogram and while chatting with the cardiologist he told me that there was "no significant coronary disease." In early April, 2000, I went to see the cardiologist again. We were expecting more of the same doom and gloom, plus a probable change in medication. It was not a visit we were looking forward to. I'd expected to slowly get worse and my goal was to stay well until the technology caught up (LVADs, etc,...). I was aiming for 5 to 10 years, tops.
He congratulated me, told me I was over the worst of it, and that we should either see a slight but steady improvement over the next few years or I'd stay much the same. His expectation was to see an improvement. I asked him how far ahead we should be looking and he suggested medium to long-term. "Hopefully you'll live long enough to die of cancer or something else," he said. My cardiologist is a great guy. At first I hated him because he never gave me any good news. Now I think he's a legend for telling me I'm not going to die! We walked out of his office and both got a bit weepy. I'm not going to die!
The hard part now is maintaining the momentum. I'm looking at the choc-chip cookies and Coke, but staying with the rice crackers and low joule cordial. I was walking for 20 minutes 3 times a day, now I'm pushing myself to get in a 20 minute walk once a day. When I finish this, I'll go for a walk. ;-)
| 4mg warfarin | Daily |
| 25mg spironolactone | Daily |
| 0.25mg digoxin | Daily |
| 4mg Coversyl | AM |
| 2mg Coversyl | PM |
| 200mg Cordarone | Daily |
| 25mg Dilatrend | Twice a day |
| 40mg furosemide | Twice a day |
| 20mg Lipitor | Daily |
Rob -- May 3, 2000
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