My MIL has been having all the classic symptoms of CHF and yet no Cardiologist that has treated her (we've had 3 in the past 2 years) has diagnosed her with CHF. She has massive swelling in the legs and feet, has pulmonary edema, unable to sleep on her back, shortness of breath on even the smallestof movement, Echocardiograms have shown leaky valves and pulmonary tension and yet every doctor she sees gives her suggestions for symptomatic relief only(pressure stockings to relieve the water retention in legs, sleeping upright with feet elevated, a diuretic : 40mg Lassix). My questions are: (1) what more symptoms does a patient have to exhibit before they are diagnosed as having CHF (2) if she were to be diagnosed with CHF, would the treatment be any different from what they are already suggesting ? (diuretic, sleeping upright etc. ?). (3) Would the Cardiologist, for instance, take her off her Beta-Blocker (Atenelol) and put her on some other medication (Internet says ACE inhibitors are better for CHF) ?
Her symptoms seem to be getting worse day by day yet the doctors dont seem to call it CHF and treat it aggressively. I really dont know what to do.