Amazing!
This summer i had Pneumonia and when i was recovering, i suddenly had an inordinate amount of breathlessness that made me have to go to A+E.
I was diagnosed with heart failure and put on water tablets and referred to a cardiologist.
At my first appointment, my Ejection fraction was found to be exceedingly low (i think around 15%) and the cardiologist informed me that around 50% of people diagnosed at this stage don't survive a year, and that i should probably get my affairs in order. SHe also told me i had to have a cardiac MRI and that i would most likely need an implantable cardiac defib to protect against the consequences of arrhythmias. Also started on entresto, beta blockers, sprionolactone and dapaglaflozin. The cardiologist said that it was most likely cause d by my rheumatoid arthritis and/or treatment for RA as i have never had any signs of ischemia or heart troubles before and i'm in my mid-forties
I had the MRI at the beginning of October, and of course started organising my affairs, putting POA in place, moving money around for easy access upon my death for my husband, making a digital will etc.
Yesterday i received a letter following the consultant's review of the MRI, concluding that my EF is now 68% (normal range) with no scarring, and that my consultant was revising her diagnosis to takotsubo cadiomyopathy, which is a heart failure that can occur following severe emotional or physical stress and completely resolve (which it appears to have done), and that i am being discharged!
Bummer is that i have to stay on the medication in case it was due to non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. but i'll take that rather than a 50% chance of dying from it in the next year
I have not stopped smiling since. I know that anything can happen to anyone but it feels like i have got my life back