Blue Nose and blotches on Face

[Suzannew]

My elderly mother (80yrs) suffers from heart failure and is on various medications to help with this problem. I was alarmed today when I visited her to see that she had a very blue nose and blotches on her face. She was wearing lipstick so I couldn't see if her lips were blue too. She did not seem breathless. Being stubbornly independent, she just got cross when I tried to ask her about it and didn't want to discuss it. Could this be related to her heart condition?

[Sqad]

Yes it is ....it is called "suffusion"......Google it.

Basically it is pooling of the blood in the face due to many disorders, the commonest being heart failure.

[Suzannew]

Thank you for quick response. As she has already been diagnosed with heart failure, do we need to worry about it - is it a sign that the situation is getting worse and her GP should refer her back to the Consultant?

[Sqad]

No, it doesn't necessarily mean that the heart condition is getting worse, but the heart is clearly under immense strain despite her medication. If this "suffusion" is a recent event, then i might suggest mentioning this to her GP and he/she may well refer her back to the Cardiologist.

[Suzannew]

Just an update- Sqad - I took your advice and contacted my dear Mum's GP immediately. He rang her but never asked her to attend the surgery, visited her or referred her to her back to her heart consultant. On 2nd January she died suddenly, and unexpectedly in her sleep, t.v. on, cup of tea by her side. Yes, lovely for Mum, but so hard for those left behind. I am heartbroken and very angry that my dear Mum would appear to have been let down by her Doctor. I found a letter from her heart consultant stating she would be a candiate for binventriular pacemaker should her condition get worse, maybe she would still be here if only she had been referred back.....