Congestive Heart Failure?!
Question: I don't know much, so I apologize for being vague. We just got "the" phone call, and things are still developing.
This is about an 81 year old woman who has Type 2 Diabetes (insulin multi times a day), mordibly obese (she's around 6'1 and around 330 lbs), blind, and hasn't left her home in 5 weeks due to pneumonia (still ongoing?).
We just got the call that she was rushed to the hospital with congestive heart failure and is currently listed as "stable," but with all the research I've tried to do online, it's hard to get anything relating to THIS matter.
I would love to ask a doctor, but she and the other family are 500 miles away. Right now we only have phone calls.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Obviously I'm pretty worried, and I don't even how worried I should be.
Answers: I don't know much, so I apologize for being vague. We just got "the" phone call, and things are still developing.
This is about an 81 year old woman who has Type 2 Diabetes (insulin multi times a day), mordibly obese (she's around 6'1 and around 330 lbs), blind, and hasn't left her home in 5 weeks due to pneumonia (still ongoing?).
We just got the call that she was rushed to the hospital with congestive heart failure and is currently listed as "stable," but with all the research I've tried to do online, it's hard to get anything relating to THIS matter.
I would love to ask a doctor, but she and the other family are 500 miles away. Right now we only have phone calls.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Obviously I'm pretty worried, and I don't even how worried I should be.
Congestive Heart Failure can be chronic or acute. What you are describing is acute. Basically, it occurs after years of the heart being strained from hypertension and/or obesity. The heart is a pump and has to pump blood through all the circulatory system. When obesity is involved... it has to push blood through all the tissue. If the person is elderly and has had diabetes for years the vessels also become compromised. This all leads to terrific resistance the heart has to pump blood through.
The walls of the heart (muscle) become either thick from having to force the blood for years. Or the become stretched and weakened... both causing the heart to be enlarged. This can be seen on x-ray. There is also a lab test called a BNP that can indicate how severe the congestive failure is.
Bottom line... congestive heart failure means "pump failure". When this happens fluid builds up in the lungs and the person becomes short of breath and can not tolerate lying flat. They also get edema and the extremities swell. They literally drown in their own fluids unless medical interventions take place. Diuretics are often used to help the kidneys get rid of the fluid. They can also do an ultrasound to see what the ejection fraction is. This is a non-invasive way to see how much blood the heart is pumping. It is really serious/critical if it is near or less than 20%.
Sometimes with elderly...they can have a conduction problem called "atrial fibrillation" that can lead to congestive failure. This can reduce the cardiac output by 20% or more...if the output is already low...this can be the straw that breaks the camel's back. This is treated a variety of ways. Sometimes, special pacemakers are used to improve the output. Medications can be useful in many cases... to help reduce the fluid off the lungs (pulmonary edema). Obviously, pneumonia (infection of the lungs) would compromise the whole situation.
You could see a drastic improvement in the first 24 to 48 hrs.. If she is in critical care and being treated quickly and appropriately. She needs a rapid work-up with treatment modifications as required to get out of the woods.
There are many risk factors here and the prognosis would be very guarded from what you have told me. You should be worried...BUT, this still could be pulled out of the fire. In the 8th decade of life... all the organ systems can be functioning at a much less level than at your age. Something like this can certainly tip the scales in the wrong direction... not to recover from.
She will have to be very compliant with the doctor's orders, medications, diet, etc... or this will happen again. This is just a very sketchy outline/overview....everyone is different.
Good Luck!....just being in the hospital will make all the difference. This is a common problem for persons of her age. Hope that helps!
Being said that she is blind, its a hint that the diabetes is severe coz thats when the blood vessel in the eyes are destructed, and the Pneumonia indicates that thres already a Pulmonary Edema causes by the blood flow obstruction caused by the diabetes...
The congestive Heart failure is often the combination of all this ttwo. When the blood vessel is obstructed then the pump of the blood is messed up causing the congestive heart falure. Edema also causes it because water is accumulating in the lungs and the exchange of Oxygen and Co2 is obstructed...
I dont wanna scare you but this is really a serious matter, and being said that theres a Congestive Heart Failure, more heart problems is not really impossible.
But keeps your hopes up
im just basing this all in the books though we had some of this in our case study, btw Im a nursing student.
sorry for the big words, but I cantfind any other way of putting it
if you want more explnation,
its here
http://www.lymphedemapeople.comthesite/l...
I saw your question, after my dinner - here is the answer per John Hopkins Medical Reference - I only type the key points here - FYI.
The definition - A complication of many serious diseases in which the heart loses its full pumping capacity. Blood backs up into other organs, especially the lungs and liver. Symptoms; Shortness of breath,Swelling of the abdomen, legs,ankles, low blood pressure. Diagnostic Measures:blood test, EKG, Heart categorization, X-rays of the heart. Possible complications: Pulmonary edema.
Medication: Diuretics to decrease fluid, regulate the heartbeat,Antiarrhythmic drugs to stabilize heartbeat, Anticoagulants to reduce blood clotting. Probable outcome: life expectancy is reduced, but many forms are well-controlled for a while with medication, and surgery.
It is very serious situation. Find good doctor, and pray for her!
Good Luck!
This Patient Guide is written for the loved ones of heart patients who are dealing with the short-term stress that comes with a test, procedure or recent diagnosis of heart disease. It explains why support is so important to a loved one with heart disease. It also offers practical strategies on how to support a loved one while also taking care of yourself.