Congestive Heart Failure

My Dad called a cardiologist on Monday and was able to get an appointment with his PA (a whole 'nother topic, this PA situation!) An EKG was done and he took along the chest X-ray that had been done at the oncologist's office last Friday. The PA listened to Dad's heart, looked at the EKG and X-ray and then she went to get the cardiologist. He did the same things and then asked my Dad why he thought he had CHF. Dad told him the PA at the oncologist's office (see the pattern here? Another PA!) told him he had CHF and, besides, he had all the symptoms.

The cardiologist told Dad that "you may have a lot of problems, but your heart is NOT one of them." He also told Dad that he "could take anything that they threw at him." I guess that was in reference to the surgery. The new blood pressure medicine that the PA (yet another PA!) at my Dad's primary care doctor has recently put him on causes swelling of the feet and ankles as a side effect. Perhaps this fluid retention is also causing the weight gain. I want Dad to insist on a different medication without these side effects. His BP at the cardiologist's office yesterday was 130/60 which is MUCH lower than it has been recently.

I had sent Dad's uro/surgeon an email telling him about the diagnosis (by the PA!) of CHF and he called me on the phone to talk to me about this and some concerns I had about the PET interpretation. He said Dad needed to see a cardiologist and have this addressed and that surgery would not happen until this was fixed. He said he wanted Dad to be "safe" during surgery. I emailed the uro/surgeon yesterday to let him know about the cardiologist visit and his reply was "thanks for the update"! So, I assume the surgery is a "go". The cardiologist is faxing his findings to the uro's office.

Thanks, Patricia and Kathy, for your replies. I guess I'm going to believe what the cardiologist says over what the PA at the oncologist's office says about whether or not Dad has CHF. Getting the right blood pressure meds can be a hit-or-miss proposition, but I think Dad needs a different medication. Dad says he will address this AFTER the surgery.

Kathy, Dad had the cystectomy/prostatectomy in April of 2007. This is a different surgery to address a possible recurrence or maybe something that his original surgeon missed during surgery.

Hi harleygirl. I have to agree with Pat. I'm sure we are alarming you but CHF is something very serious that has to be dealt with before even considering surgery. My Dad had CHF, didn't listen to his cardiologist, breezed through knee replacement surgery and died four days later in the hospital from a heart attack. That surgery is a walk in the park compared to RC. CHF can be fatal on its own, so I think he should forget the bladder for now and concentrate on making sure he gets treated for CHF and then is responding to the treatment - heart back to normal size, blood pressure normal, no swelling in feet or ankles, weight normal, heart rhythm normal, etc. Thank goodness you found out about this before his surgery. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your Dad as you move towards his regaining his health. Kathy

Yes my mother had congestive heart failure ...she was on several medications including lasix and a blood pressure drug. There is no way he will be cleared for surgery with CHF. Please get him with a very good cardiologist immediately..maybe Dr. Raj can suggest someone at their facility.
www.medicinenet.com/congestive_heart_failure/page4.htm
Pat

Has anyone here had experience with Congestive Heart Failure? My Dad had an x-ray last week and the oncologist said Dad's heart was slightly enlarged which indicated CHF. Dad has been having swollen feet and ankles, shortness of breath, unusual weight gain, all of which are classic symptoms of this condition. Yet, the doctor did not prescribe any medication to treat this. Dad has also been having trouble keeping his blood pressure below 160 or so.

He has called a cardiologist whom he saw 20 years ago for an enlarged heart and the office said they would try to locate his records and get back to him tomorrow. We'll see if that happens.

This is a concern to me since he is scheduled for surgery on 9/25.

Thanks.