Possible heart failure??

No unfortunately I'm not in normal weight range I'm probably 5 or 6 stone heavier than I should be im not that active I work 3 days a week which then im very active moving heavy stuff around and also I live in UK where the NHS are snowed under seeing a cardiologist is a long wait probably a few months.

Same here in Australia, about the same as your NHS,  long long waiting lists, and you need a referral from your GP.

In husbands case GP said ECG was normal, so I said we would pay for private consultation, even then he said that's going to be expensive, yes, give me the fffing, referral, he wrote a letter to cardio group that says wife insists, notes heartbeat rate and blood pressure normal range.

Cardio's first words are why are you here, I showed her my copy of ECG, and she took one look, picked up her phone and said to the clinic down the corridor I want an immediate echocardiogram, which diagnosed the dialated cardiomyopathy, she also showed me what she saw on the ECG that the local Dr had missed.

Enough of that, you must get your weight down, join a weight group, we have, ours is a group where you pay a small amount each week at the weigh in, all run in the community by the members, lots of fun, exercise groups, walking, all on facebook, so we stay in touch and motivate each other, there must be a weight group even near you.

You will not be able to have an MRI if you are over 100kg, or 220lbs, you just cannot fit the slot in the machine, husband was warned about this when he started to put on some weight, and also from an ex-smoker my husband, give it up, not doing you any good, the first six weeks are a nightmare, but it can be done, also if you think you have a heart condition you need to give up the wasted calories, beer, alcohol, again not easy, husband has only a half glass of beer now about once a month, from being a 2 - 3 large bottles a night.

Thanks for help really appreciate it and your right I need stop the bad things I don't really eat rubbish just probably the beer that has put my weight on and I'm a bit higher than 100kg so id struggle lol private health is expensive over here too probably a lot more than I could afford im just going having to get my gp to do a referral before its get too late... I also make my self feel worse cause it's all I think about pretty much unless I have a few beers then I feel normal but that's not the way to do it i know.

Sounds as though you are suffering from some anxiety, look up on the internet, exercise does help with anxiety, I do not fully understand why, but it does work. 

Now I'm saying that, but you must not go crazy and try to walk for miles when you are not used to it, start off around your block or even half the block, walk so you are not puffing too much, you should be able to keep up a normal conversation with someone, if you can't you are walking too fast, and do it nice and early while its hot in England, we have even had reporting here in Aust on just how hot it has been, poor you when you are not used to it.

Husband developed anxiety after his episode with this heart, he takes passionflower, a herbal help when his anxiety is at its worst, I notice the difference, just seems to take the edge off the round and round in his head.

We also went to a counsellor after his diagnoses, for a few weeks, she explained why the anxiety, how your brain processes information, and what to do to break the cycle, even a rubber band on the wrist that you pull and snap ouch, just to break the round and round thought processes.

Do you understand the flight or flight and why at the most basic part of our brain we have it, its a very ancient survival thought, not even a conscious thought, its below our conscious in the reptilian part of our brain, and it always fires up the fear before your conscious part of your brain has a chance to respond, imagine a sabre tooth tiger at the entrance to the cave you live in, you have to make a instant decision do you run for your life or do you pick up your spear and fight for your life, andrelian surges through you bloodstream, makes your ability to run or fight, you even see it in animals, that's how ancient it is, birds hunker down and or mum acts as though she has a broken wing to distract you from harming her baby, sorry about spelling errors.

It's ok don't worry about spelling lol im just about head to bed as its late here and yes I do have anxiety but just with leg swelling and ankle got me concerned has they are main symptoms in heart failure and a lot of other problems also and yes it's the hottest summer in 42 years here which I did think might be cause of swelling which when overweight due very hot weather which as you say we don't get hot weather like this it's now pretty cooler compared to couple weeks ago but I'm still going get a referral to a cardiologist so I can see what is going on and just again thanks for help its nice to talk to people who understand unlike doctors who just laugh you out the room.

No I'm not taking any medication.

Have you shown the doctor your leg?

Yes I have two different doctors have seen them they just said there's no extra fluid but Cleary there is a dent for about 20 to 30 seconds and a nurse who did my ecg said it's probably cause I'm a bit overweight but don't understand why I would get edema unless there is a underlying condition my bloods said normal organ function don't know if it can pick up heart function or not?

Were you given a d-dimer blood test for possible clots? Do you sometimes have trouble taking in a deep breath? Any chest pains?

I'm actually not sure what they looked for in the blood test and not really no don't get any shortness of breath unless I'm been quite active like at work also get a bit dizzy but I am quite anxious I've had palpitations for years never bothered me until I discovered edema in my legs so since then all I think about is my heart 24/7

Unfortunately I do smoke and drink yes I've bin drinking heavy for about 2 or 3 years I don't smoke alot bout 15 fags a day I know it's better to smoke none but wish I could pack up

Could you try and cut down both? have you tried vaping? Also if you give up alcohol, you will lose so much weight, which is really important for your heart. I gave up drinking when I was really ill and I ended up losing 1 and a half stone in the space of 4 months.

Do you have diabetes or have you been tested? Also have you had your blood pressure tested?

Yes I'm now cutting down on alcohol by at least 30 units a week and I have ordered a new vape set yesterday so hopefully I can get of the cigarettes and my blood pressure varies to be honest on average its around 130 or 140 over 80 to 90 this time last year it was 107 over 77 and no I was tested for diabetes but not got it

So you are doing everything you can do, but if you feel something is wrong go to a&e because you can’t be too careful. Unfortunately we live in the UK and the health service here isn’t great. I went to a&e with my PEs and they told me I had anxiety and musculoskeletal pain!  I had to get a private CT scan before I was diagnosed. If you really believe something is wrong with your heart, sometimes you have to pay for it. Get an echocardiogram. If you cut down on cigarettes and booze, it is unbelievable how much money you will save. Much better spent on something to help you or put your mind at rest, than something that is detrimental to your health.

Yes exactly NHS are rammed it's hard get anything tested properly due to long waits I'm not in a position to pay for private health if I was id pay but not got the money im going see if anything improves if not I'm going demand to my gp I need see a cardiologist if have too il go to a&e tell them my gp isn't taking me seriously.... So what were you diagnosed with and how well are you doing?

I have multiple pulmonary emboli. It started with crushing chest pain and palpitations so I thought it was my heart but all the tests came back clear. I had a 24 hour ecg thing and an echocardiogram, I had to change GPs to get that in the first place. All that told me was I had an irregular heartbeat but nothing out of the ordinary. They gave me beta blockers for the palpitations and non steroidals for the pain, but my symptoms carried on and my breathing started to be affected and I had a gravelly type cough. I thought it was allergies and just left it. I eventually went back to the GP who told me it was my hormones because I have an imbalance but I got a chest X-ray eventually and it came back clear. I went to a&e when I was really unwell and they gave me another chest X-ray, ecg, put a pulse oximeter on my finger and blood tests, they were all normal so they sent me home. So I just got a CT privately, maybe if I was a more pushy person I could have a CT on the NHS, but when I am really unwell I just don’t want to argue. I have been on blood thinners now for almost 6 months, it is a very slow recovery and my hormones affect the symptoms when they change. I just wish they had given me a D-dimer when I first had symptoms because I wouldn’t have had so much pain for so long and there wouldn’t have been so many clots. 

If you aren’t on them already, I would recommend beta blockers for when you get palpitations because it can be really scary if they don’t slow down and they will protect your heart and bring down you blood pressure a bit. Go on a low dose though because they can make you a bit dizzy.

Sounds like you have had a bad time it's a shame the NHS failed you we shouldn't have go private but maybe in today's UK we have too I have spoke to a cardiologist from York today he has told me a private echo will cost me around £200 which is a chunk of money but I think if I can't see a NHS cardiologist in the next 2 or 3 weeks im going have pay it cause I definitely don't feel right whether my anxiety is making it worse or vice versa my heart beat is very powerful my neck is sometimes beating which is a bounding pulse I believe thanks for help really appreciate you taking your time to answer me.

If you have asked for an echocardiogram on the NHS and they say no and you pay for one and there is a problem, you probably could get the money back. I was told by a doctor at my hospital when I came back to A&E after my diagnosis, that he really thought if I went to some department and wrote a letter explaining everything I could probably get my money back because they failed to diagnose it and I could have died if I took their advice. 

In the meantime, cut down on caffeine and sugar because they can have a big affect on your heart as well. Good luck with everything, would you mind posting an update when you find out what is wrong?

Yes absolutely hoping it's going be not too bad of news but I'm ringing my gp tomorrow book in for this week if I can but be a big ask as there always full up and on the private echo ive found a private hospital by me they can fit me in with in 2 days for a echo so if the NHS mess be about il be booking up with asap probably with in the next 2 weeks hoping my gp can arrange one though and just to ask if I pay private will they send the result to my gp or do I have back to the private hospital?

With my CT they told me immediately because of the clots and I needed to be on blood thinners. It will be a nurse that does the test, I am sure if there is a problem you will be told immediately. Just ask them when they have finished. They will take all the details of your GP at the beginning and send the results after.

Ok thanks for that I will update on any info or diagnosis as soon as I know hopefully not the worst news I've ever had thank you for help.