Heart Valves And Lungs

[EvianBaby]

The details I have at the moment are scant but I'm hoping you might be able to give me some idea.

My Dad, aged 64, ex heavy smoker has COPD. This week he has been really unwell, not able to breath properly. The doctor said he has fluid on his lungs and a damaged heart valve. Damaged in what way I don't know, he is due to have an ECG at some point.

He had a mini stroke a few years ago so is taking simvastatins and aspirin daily. He also has an inhaler as of this week and was given some meds for the fluid (I don't know what).

What I want to know is what does it mean? Can that be treated and how and is he likely to have a heart attack?

I know he won't tell me anything because he wouldn't want to worry but having no idea worries me.

[Sqad]

Dads heart is struggling because of his COPD (due to smoking) and valvular disease of his heart (due to almost certainly aging)

This cannot continue and medication may well help.

Is he likely to have a heart attack.......YES.

Statins, beta blockers and diuretics are "life savers" to Dad.

[daffy654]

Google 'Cor Pulmonale' Evian, it is what I have because of my COPD/emphysema (I'm 20 years younger than your dad though).

[EvianBaby]

Aahh, was hoping you'd spot me here. Thank yous!

Assuming they put him on those meds say next week, does that significantly reduce his risk of heart attack quickly? Would they ever need to go down the route of surgical treatment?

Despite the fact he couldn't breath or sleep he is still going to work and is under a great amount of stress due to another family member. I'm assuming this is all doing him no favours.

[Sharingan]

Slightly similar to my Grandad Calumn ( brought my Dad up when his real Dad died). He was a heavy smoker (about 80 per day) had COPD, type 2 diabetes and arterial problems and early in March this year started to feel very tired and unwell with swollen legs. This progressed to chest pains and when we called the ambulance he had a left bundle branch blockage and was taken into hospital where they placed a stent. He was discharged 5 days later and later prescribed tablets for fluid because he was acquiring fluid in his lungs and legs caused by the fact that his heart wasn't pumping properly. He had a further bundle branch blockage and was readmitted and he's currently due for a scan next week to decide how to proceed with it long term, so to me ( and as you know I'm certainly not a medical person) it seems as though your father is similar in that although he hasn't had a heart attack his heart isn't pumping correctly and so is causing or allowing the fluid to build up that you have described. The tablets he currently takes at the moment for the fluid are Furosemide 40mg x2 daily and seem to have had a very good result so far, as his legs are no longer swollen, his chest seem clearer and he's feeling much better. There hasn't been a suggestion with him that the long term prognosis is particularly poor so far I don't think either which is something to be positive about. Other than this I'm afraid I can't help at all, but I'm sure Sqad will be along in a sec. Hope things go well for you and your Dad. xx

[Sharingan]

....and it took me ages to type that and no-one else was there when I started xx

[EvianBaby]

Sorry Daffy, missed you there. Ill google it, thanks.

[EvianBaby]

Thanks Sharingan, that's really helpful :)

[Sqad]

Evian.......i doubt that surgical treatment is an option.

Medical treatment will prolong his life and also the quality of his life and might, just might, put of the day of a heart attack.

Dads problem is not that of a "heart attack" but of heart failure.

[Sqad]

Shari...your grandad's case is almost similar in cause, treatment and prognosis to that of EB's.

[EvianBaby]

Sorry, I knew they were two different things. I'm just not that up on my internal organs.

Thanks all for explaining and putting my mind at rest a little. Was getting worried I was going to have to cook my own roast dinner tomorrow ;)

[Sharingan]

Thank you Sqad. They stented one artery and were talking about bringing him back in for further stents to the others as they were also ' furry'- we have assumed he's at high risk of a further heart attack, plus now the vascular people are talking about similar to his legs. He's 71 and can't walk more than a few yards without extreme pain and distress. I know it's a big ask, but any idea of the time line and possible next stage of all this? Sorry to hijack your thread a bit Evian xx

[Sqad]

Shari...you have asked the question, so i will answer..........there is no next stage.

The treatment that he is having is the established method of heart failure due to lung disease and generalised arterial damage.

[Sharingan]

Okay thanks Sqad, I was rather,to be blunt, how long is he likely to live? xx

[Sqad]

Shari......LOL.....you need a soothsayer.

From what you have said......and it is only a guess....based on you full explanation...50% chance of surviving 5 years.

[EvianBaby]

No problem at all Shari, my Dad also gets a lot of pain in his legs and struggles with walking much. He's never had it checked out and I assumed it was maybe arthritis but I'm guessing its all related to his other issues so the answer is interesting to me.

[Sharingan]

Thank you Sqad, I knew it would be a guestimate at best but it gives us a good idea.
Thanks Evian, yes Calumn has also had leg pain for years and untreated diebetes type 2, so could well be your Dad's leg pain is similar to his xx

[anneasquith]

EVI.GOOGLE. INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION RE DADS CALF PAIN.

[anneasquith]

^^^ sorry about that.

[EvianBaby]

Thanks Anne, ill take a look.

[anneasquith]

evi, has your friend been yet ?