Living with CHF: My Struggle to Stay Alive

I have had two incidents of CHF since 2007. I have TE for the Watchman on Dec. 9. I cannot take blood thinners as Elliquis almost killed me in a near fatal internal bleed. Right now I am trying to figure if several years on Furosemide has given me kidney issues and what to do about it.

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Michael, I've had 3 heart attacks total since 1999. The last one was 2020 which did the final damage. My ejection factor was 15%. My history is now CHF, COPD, and Diabetes. I had an Internal Cardiac Defibrillator implanted. My cardiologist contacted an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Team. They called me and set up my first appointment with them. I am now on the list for a heart transplant. Please go to your nearest social security office to apply for disability (SSI), if you haven't already. You will probably get a denial letter first. When you do, take it to a social security attorney. You want to apply for social security disability before you reach your full retirement age to collect social security, so ask them what your full retirement age is. The attorney will do all the paperwork and footwork for you. They will ask for the names of doctors, hospitals, etc to obtain the proof on your heart condition and will submit it to social security. If you get the SSI, it will be back dated to when you were first diagnosed. The attorney will take their fee out of the total amount you will get that is back pay to you. And you would be able to get state medical coverage (medicaid). If you are still denied, most SS Attorneys will not charge for their service. If you are still denied SSI, 3 months before you reach full retirement age, go apply for your social security. You will get Medicare Part A automatically which covers the hospital and you need to apply for Medicare Part B which covers doctors, diagnostics, labs and Part D for medicines. I first was going to take Medicare but decided not to due to they pay 80% and I would be responsible for 20%. So I contacted an insurance agent who offered AARP Medicare Advantage Choice PPO with UnitedHealthcare (UHC). I still had to apply for Medicare A and B remember 3 months before my full retirement age and also apply for the UHC at the same time, too. I love the plan that I picked with UHC. I pay $90 for ER, $125 for surgery, $300 a day for first 5 days inpatient, no copays for in network primary doctor, $35 for in network specialist. The transplant team called my insurance and verified my transplant will be covered. Also on medicines--- generics or tier 1 are $0 copays, tier two are less than $100, tier 3 and 4 are higher. I wish you Luck, Best Wishes, and God's Blessings.

I hope you have no loved ones left behind because that is pure torture you are doing to them. I’d say more here but I’m sure I’d get banned. Why can’t you cut down on salt? I’ve got heart failure and diabetes so if you want to talk about it is too hard to cut down on salt, try having diabetes and then talk to me. Again I probably should shut up because nothing else I’d say would be nice. And oh, I’m 57.

Oh, I take 8 pills in morning ( handful) and 4 pills at night. I take a daily diuretic. Entresto and blood pressure pills twice a day. I hate going to the bathroom urgently and continuously. Within an hour of taking the diuretic I start going to the bathroom regardless if I have had anything to drink. The heart isn’t strong enough to lump this out on its own. I have to wear Depends most days so I don’t pee in my pants. If you need to buy mens’ Depends buy them. We have to do what we have to do. 🤗 walk. Eat right. Take your meds. Get new cardiologist.

So sorry about your condition. There is always hope if you find the right doctor. I developed CHF after I had a severe bout with Covid. The doctor called it “fluid overload”. Please don’t give up. Clean eating and clean living will help you improve. It sounds like your journey here on Earth is not quite finished. Good luck. I will pray for you.