How is this possible?

[todwall]

After having many tests done back in Jan-Feb /10 because my lungs were unable to take in oxygen. After having
cardiac cauterization where they put the catheter up from the groin area. Following all the tests i was informed i had
congestive heart failure also mentioned was Ischemic heart disease. Which i believe to be the same thing.
I'm 52 i've had to have 2 hip replacements over the course of 22yrs. Two yrs ago i lost all feeling from my chest down
& underwent 2 operations a month apart, the last with complications that i'm forced to live with.

When we were discussing my heart problem i was told that normally surgeon's insert stints to open the arteries that
are blocked but in my case they explained that wasn't an option, they would need to open me up. after all I'd been through already i was not interested in more surgery.                                                                                            
Here's my main issue, just wanted to give some background first. I lead a very sedentary life & rarely go out because
of the surgery complications. I smoke a pack a day, drink about 4-5 beers per day & take several pain killers a day
for pain in my spine. My GP is aware of all this & now with the heart & breathing difficulties he has no answer's as
to how i  have not had a cardiac episode. To be honest i've had enough & look forward to it.

[todwall]

I'm so glad you took the time to reply! It seems you tend to think the way i do.I'm very
sorry to hear all you have been through. I have the report that the specialist sent to my GP. It says my EF is 25%. along with a lot of other
terms i don't understand.  he said this is hereditary, i lost my dad due to the same thing several yrs ago. Only he died after a month.

Anyway the surgeon said In laymen terms i  have 2 main arteries blocked & a valve not
closing properly. He could not use stints due to the blockages being inaccessible & to
risky. When i went through the operations on my spine to take pressure off my spinal
cord the final surgery was done between my shoulder blades up near my neck. They
removed bone & fused  the column in a different position. There were several bad
complications that started within a few months & now i suffer from extreme pain in my
back where the did all the work. Also  my shoulders, shoulder blades, neck. I'd say my
entire upper body. Surgeon says nothing more to do. Now i'm waiting to get into pain
management clinic. For this reason there will be no more surgeries.

My breathing has worsened over the past week, i use nitro spray & 2 types of puffers
plus a diuretic called loperamide 2 mg. Was married for 24yrs she was bi-polar. By the
time i left her the damage to me was already done. She took me to court for spousal
support, lost half my income to her. Sold the house & split it. Now i'm stuck in a small
one bed. Very much alone & no quality of life.

[OrionsMommy]

I don't know how well I can answer your questions, but I'll start with the Ischaemic heart disease which is basically another disease of the heart itself, characterized by reduced blood supply to the organs.  Congestive heart failure is a condition that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the heart to fill with or pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body. Therefore leading to the heart and body's failure.  Did your doctor happen to mention what your ejection fraction was?  That is the amount of blood that is pumped out of the heart with each beat.  Average for an adult, my cardiologist told me, is anywhere from 50-70%.  (Your heart NEVER pumps out 100% of the blood, there would be nothing left in the heart).  My EF is 23.  When my CHF is acting up, I have difficulty breathing (I too am a smoker, I quit after my heart attack, but when we lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, I started again) but I also experience a great deal of swelling, mostly in my feet, ankles, and legs.  Sometimes the hands and fingers.  I normally have to take Lasix for a few days along with a banana for potassium daily.  I don't understand why your physician could not put in a stent, unless the artery was so damaged, it would not do you any good to receive a stent, so open heart is the only option.  

I've had two cardiac episodes, and I now also have an ICD, (defibrillator) implanted, but I most wholeheartedly understand your statement about waiting for a cardiac episode to occur.  In my case, I was 40 when I had my first heart attack, but I honestly believe that I had been having some episodes for many years prior, but they never LOOKED at my heart, always blaming it on my GI problems.  Never did an EKG until it was a full blown MI.  I only had a 20% chance of survival, but for some stupid reason I've yet to figure out, I lived.  

I am so very sorry that you now have this added burden to deal with, but the CHF, if monitored and kept under control, chances are good that you won't have any issues with it.  Now the decision to have open heart?  That lies with you and your family.  My shrink tells me that life is worth living, but I haven't found out why yet.  If I do, I'll let you know.  But only you can decide if the surgery is right for you.  If you don't have the surgery, you may need to ask your doc how long he thinks you have because the cardiac issues may very well do you in if you don't do anything about it. The surgery is not all that bad, recovery time depends on you, but most everyone returns to "normal" (whatever that is) in a very short time.  I do understand that you have other physical limitations to deal with, and for that I'm very sorry to hear.  But what about your family?  Certainly they want you around for as long as possible?  There really is still much to live for.