Yesterday I was discharged from a five day stay in the hospital with pneumonia and later discovered CHF with an EF reading of 35 (however IV stress test was negative for blockages). I came home with a sack full of pills having never had to take prescription pills in my life (age 60, obese female).

My doctor said I might have had CHF many years without even knowing it, but my cholesterol level has always been in the 168 range, no diabetes, and no hypertension that anyone ever told me about.

Four years ago I had a surgery for an abcess on my upper thigh that had spread to my bloodstream and was treated with some powerful antibiotics in the hospital .. then released without any prescription drugs to take. Apparently my blood pressure was OK then. And NOW four years later I have congestive heart failure and the doctors can’t seem to know how or when it started. I was wondering if the powerful antibiotic treatment four years ago might have damaged my heart, but haven’t mentioned it to my doctor.

I feel physically fine, but now I’m afraid to exercise or move around too much out of fear it will trigger a heart attack or stroke.

I am SO afraid of having a relapse that I carry around a wrist BP cuff and take my BP and heart rate (runs high) whenever I walk more than 20 feet in the house.

With an EF of 35 I feel like my life is over .. so this is my story as a newly diagnosed CHF patient. FEAR has taken me over.