I guess I have borderline CHF. I was hospitalized with atrial fibrillation in August. Up to then I had only had transient episodes of tachycardia. Lately I've been having trouble falling asleep - I will almost be asleep when I start up with a feeling of breathlessness. If I can get through the falling asleep stage, I seem not to have sleep apnea. It takes some courage though, to take the leap to sleep! Last weekend I was on my feet all day and had major swelling in my feet and lower legs. Going up stairs leaves me breathing hard. My BNP test just came back at 249. Normal is 100; 300 is bad. My cardiologist is recommending cardioversion. At first I didn't like the idea but with the possibility of CHF it starts to seem more attractive. If I can correct of the A fib the CHF should clear up. I am 67 and otherwise in good health, active and a healthy lifestyle. I do have chronic Lyme disease, though, kept in check by maintenance antibiotics.

I have been very recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure. My signs and symptoms mainly consisted of shortness of breath, but it was more like gasping for air, and there was a lot of wheezing. Turns out it wasn't wheezing at all, but fluid in my lungs. Saw my doctor and she treated me for what she believed was either asthma and/or emphysema. When I demanded a chest x ray after 3 weeks of this, I was told to go to the ER, where they did a chest x ray and discovered fluids in my lungs. The next few days in the hospital required many tests such as more chest x rays, an echocardiogram, EKGs, and a CT scan with and without contrast. After 2 days on Lasix and steroids, I apparently released 10 lbs of fluids in my lungs, 10 lbs! More than a gallon of water. I am feeling much better breathing wise, but I have a long road ahead of me. My next step is a heart catheterization.

The 1st indication I had that I was experiencing CHF was severe loss of energy. A simple walk up a flight of stairs, and I was huffing and puffing, practically gasping for air. That's when a friend who happens to be a para medic, pointed out to me that my ankles were unusually swollen. I passed the lack of energy off on the fact that I was about 35 to 40 lbs. overweight and did not exercise. I was what you could call a lazy couch potato. I smoke about a pack of cigarettes a day, and although I don't drink anymore; I went through about 12 to 15 years as a very serious alcoholic. (1 QUART of Jack Daniels per day plus 12 to 24 beers). It was when my testicles got swollen to the size of a couple of grapefruits, that I went to the ER. The diagnosis was Congestive Heart Failure. I've been hospitalized 3 times since that fateful day, most recently for an infection on my lower leg that oral antibiotics would not cure. I take a lot of diuretics and am on a strict diet with my goal being to loose 40 lbs. I still smoke cigarettes, but have cut down substantially. The doctors tell me I won't die, THIS TIME!

I was being treated for moderate asthma, when it worsened despite new medications. In the Doctors office, my pulmonary function was down to 38%. They sent me down to the ER, it was congestive heart failure. I have had many issues with my heart since 1998 including electrical issues that were ablated twice. Many different types of arrhythmia as well.

The very first symptom was shortness of breath and generalized weakness. Then the weight gain started at about 7 lbs a month for 3 months. Then a rapid weight gain of 22 lbs in 3 weeks. I went from 114 to 159 lbs in 5 months! No one took it seriously until I could not get my shoes on and the skin was splitting from the edema toes to knees. I developed severe shortness of breath, continuous coughing, 02 sat of 78 and x-ray showed lung congestion. I would wake up gasping for air. I finally demanded that something be done and it was then told to me it was acute congestive heart failure. I was hospitalized for 1 week. From the very first symptoms of shortness of breath to increasing weakness I could not get a doctor to take me seriously. Not until exacerbation was spinning out of control.

Congestive heart failure was preceded by years of atrial fibrillation. Symptoms were cough, and a "wheezing" sound caused by fluid building up in lungs, feeling very tired plus I was also sleeping 12 or more hours. I have had bronchitis so I thought that was it, but the pulmonary doctor said I did have COPD from smoking, although she thought the main issue was CHF. The heart doctors confirmed it, and I was on Lisinopril and Warfarin.