My aunt has right-side congestive heart failure

[Bertha Venation]

and is on oxygen 24/7. She is only 60 years old. I just heard a couple of days ago.

We haven't seen each other in about 20 years, and we don't correspond much, so we're not close. But we love each other very much.

Do you have any experience (first-hand or otherwise) with this disease? I'm eager to learn. Wikipedia is on my list for today.

[Sweet Freedom]

1. Sorry to hear that.

Here's some information that may be helpful.
http://texasheart.org/HIC/Topics/Cond/CHF.cfm

You may also search the Ask a Heart Doctor section to see what questions have already been answered about CHF

[Bertha Venation]

2. Thanks, Sweet Freedom. Informative link.

[Sweet Freedom]

5. You're welcome /nt

[Chan790]

3. I generally have experience with CHF.

I'm not sure which side of the heart but it's the primary cause of death on my grandfather's branch of the family: killed him, killed both his parents, both his sisters, is probably going to kill at-least one of my uncles. The rest of this post is based purely on my observations and limited-knowledge having experienced several familial cases years ago. Where it conflicts with medical advice, assume I'm wrong or not up to date.

Smoker? Not uncommon. It seems to go hand in hand with emphysema too.

Also not as dire as it sounds, while ultimately a lethal condition (both as a primary condition and a extremely-increased risk for heart attack) it's also for the most part a manageable one. Through the use of anti-inflammatories, diuretics and blood-thinners the congestion is alleviated or managed, the heart often returns to improved (but not-normal) function and the patient can live a happy if not-vigorous lifestyle as long as they quit smoking and drinking, eat healthier, participate in their monitored low-impact physical therapy and remain on close medical supervision. (Grandpa had a standing appointment every other week for 5 years.) Depending on the progression of heart disease and other or underlying conditions, the O₂ may or may not be permanent.

My grandfather was diagnosed in his early sixties, lived to 72. Possibly would have lived to normal life-expectancy if Grandma would have quit smoking and not fed him kielbasa and fried-pirogi 4 meals a week.

[mrmpa]

4. Mom 82 years old, has been living with congestive heart failure for 6years.....

she uses oxygen only at night, she had a defibrillator with pacemaker installed, she takes coumadin and piss pills for the edema. She's doing well. She pushes herself too far sometimes and pays for it, with tiredness and achiness. She sees her cardiologist every 3 months, the defib is checked every 3 months and she sees her primary care Doc every 3 months. She has regular blood work done to check on levels of coumadin. I also keep an ear out for her breathing, because, being short of breath is a sign of congestive heart failure.

Hope this helps.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. No advice, my dear Bertha...

Just my very best wishes and vibes that she gets better.....

[grasswire]

7. something that works miracles for CHF is the supplement coQ10

....and I hope that your aunt's cardiologist is up-to-date on what is called "integrative cardiology" that uses modern measures.

Integrative cardiologist Stephen Sinatra says he can't practice good medicine for his patients without coQ10, magnesium, L-carnitine, and D-ribose.

[MiddleFingerMom]

8. That's what my surgery (that went so badly) was for. It's improved now...

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... though there are other problems.
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I needed a mechanical valve installed as my original was just going flubbida-flubbida-flubbida.
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[Bertha Venation]

9. damn, MFM

I too have had heart surgery, but as an infant. I'm sure it was hell on the 'rents, but I have no memory. I can't imagine the horror of it as an adult.

I'm sorry it went badly. How are you now?