My dad has an enlarged heart
Thoughts_Arrive
Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
He found out today from the doctor and now has to have a heart scan in the new year.
Just in time for Christmas, this year has really been a shit one for me, this just tops it off.
He has had a bad cough since March and kept ignoring my, my mums, and my sisters pleas to go see a doctor or specialist, his stubbornness and I am fine attitude has now meant he's got onto it late.
Very worried here.
Anyone know anyone that has had a similar health issue?
Just in time for Christmas, this year has really been a shit one for me, this just tops it off.
He has had a bad cough since March and kept ignoring my, my mums, and my sisters pleas to go see a doctor or specialist, his stubbornness and I am fine attitude has now meant he's got onto it late.
Very worried here.
Anyone know anyone that has had a similar health issue?
Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
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Sydney 14/02/2003
Sydney 07/11/2006
Sydney 18/11/2006
Sydney 22/11/2009
EV Sydney 18/03/2011
EV Sydney 19/03/2011
EV Sydney 20/03/2011
Melbourne 24/01/2014
Sydney 26/01/2014
EV Sydney 13/02/2014
I am so pissed off at him.
I can hear him coughing like crazy as I sit here.
He couldn't get it checked out months ago but chooses Christmas time.
So angry at him. Men think they are invincible.
Thank god I only have one day of work before a long weekend because I need it my mind is on this constantly now.
Men do think they are invincible. I too am guilty of the she'll be right attitude...
Sydney 14/02/2003
Sydney 07/11/2006
Sydney 18/11/2006
Sydney 22/11/2009
EV Sydney 18/03/2011
EV Sydney 19/03/2011
EV Sydney 20/03/2011
Melbourne 24/01/2014
Sydney 26/01/2014
EV Sydney 13/02/2014
Each time they just prescribed anti-biotics.
I kept pushing him to demand the doctor refer him to a specialist or a xray/mri place.
Doctors are clueless at times.
i dont think im invincible but id have to bleeding out my eyeballs before id go to a doctor. last time i went to the doctors was 2003/4... twas whenever it was that audioslave toured down here. my doctor actually said to me.. what are you doing here? i raised my arm and said im just here to get stitches taken out.... im not sure who was more relieved.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
That sucks, Thoughts... Why'd they postpone the scan till the new year?
What I know of it (not a whole lot) is that there's three kinds of enlarged heart condition (one kind commonly found in sportsmen!) but I think you should take this opportunity to sit your dad down and have a good long talk with him. No ifs or buts... He's going to have to change his lifestyle. Which will not go down well if he's a "there's nothing wrong with me, just gimme some meds" kinda guy... :roll:
No appointments available until then.
He doesn't listen to me, just tells me to shut up and gets pissed off.
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Thank you.
The article has eased my worry slightly, I am just worried he has to wait a couple of weeks for the heart scan.
He is just shy of 64 yrs, takes blood pressure pills daily, apart from that in good health.
people ... basically heart disease but I only know this and little from family
experience.
The cough is a sign of this.
Its a progressive disease but not an instant killer more a warning.
So he is getting help that is the main thing and if he listens to the doctor
about some lifestyle changes will probably do well.
Most heart attacks happen over the Christmas holiday, its the highest incident time.
So light small meals more often, limit alcohol, watch the smoking and mostly watch the stress
both physical and mental.
Best medicine ... relax and enjoy each other.
Yes, a family member of mine has the same health issue. I don't know much about the condition itself though.
I've gone through similar things with family members not addressing being unwell, so I understand how frustrating that side of things can be. Seeing someone get progressively sicker, and having them ignore your pleas to go the doctor is not an easy thing to go through. Sometimes it takes a rather big health-scare for them to finally seek out help. I think it is really important for your dad to find a great doctor so there is continuity of care (somebody who is very thorough, and a person he feels comfortable with).
Has your dad had his lungs checked? I had a bad chest infection earlier in the year that I passed onto my family, and one of my family members coughed for 5-6 months and had pneumonia.
I received this same reaction for months ...when my family member was particularly unwell one morning I spoke to her very frankly and she still wasn't willing to let me take her to see a doctor. I didn't leave the house that morning and hung around in the next room and checked on her often to see how her breathing was. About 12 hours later she had a similar episode, and she was taken to the outpatients and they admitted her into hospital for about 5 days. She is doing fine now and has started to see a regular doctor, it just took a big wakeup call!
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Heart failure?
I don't get how, he does not smoke, only drinks red wine, eats typical European food his family eats and they all got to old age. Also he is not overweight. Scary stuff if it is that that means death doesn't it?
He does not exercise, he does keep active by gardening.
He hasn't had his lungs checked I believe.
Try not to worry, he is seeing the Doctor, heart disease is not the killer you are imagining.
The Doc may suggest an exercise routine like walking, as gardening may not be
aerobic heart strengthening. (But not till the Doc prescribes that though.)
Enlarged heart is not uncommon in his age group especially if he has had high blood pressure.
Enjoy your holiday's, no worries, just love him up!
Note: My dad had his 'underlying causes' treated and he is fine (to a point - he's 82 now!).
My father had teh same diagnosis a few years back. Actually it was due to a massive bloodclot in his heart the doctors discovered his heart was enlarged as well. My dear aunt and I agreed that it was all his extra love for us all. He did however get a pacemaker put in, which has given him a few surprises since.
My father does not listen to doctors either, he eats what he wants to, he does not drink hard alcohol like whiskey and snaps any more, but he does like a cold beer on a good fishingtrip. His idea of "working out" is making flies and lifting his immense coincollection. We've talked it over a few times and he said he didn't want to be 'raised' by his own son on his older days. When he parks his boots, they are parked. But I could rest assured he had lived his life to the fullest from day one.
But I can see how it's a wake-up call for you, and for everyone in fact when they realize their parents aren't immortal either. I actually think it's a thing that goes two ways; if you think as long as your parents get regular check-ups they'll be just fine forever. And I am not trying to get you to feel bad or anything at all, I mean it's Christmas time, so a kiss on the forehead from me to you and the rest of you guys. Pass one along to your father and let 2012 start out slow, good and mellow.
The way my kids are pissed at me... you are pissed at him. Just so you know... I have completely changed my life... food, smoking, exercise...
Men get scared and act when they get scared... My heart attack probably saved my life... No I have to suffer with my wife giving me shit for 40 years
The best wishes to your dad and family... and It's a good thing he found out.
I was speaking of our experience with these symptoms ... could be a sign of,
relating our family experience.
Cough was a symptom of congestive heart failure/ enlarged heart in our cases,
when the heart has trouble the lungs back up with fluid causing a cough.
Yes some of our family members lived well into their 80's ...
as long as 87 with congestive heart failure.
Why I mentioned it is not necessarily life threatening and not uncommon
most especially for those with high blood pressure during their lives,
also our cases.
I think big picture here as we get old ...
its either cancer or your heart that will be your demise.
For my family it has been heart as we are long livers, living into our 80's.
Well except for the smokers which totally changes the odds.
The diagnostic investigation should be conducted as soon as possible . This is no time for procrastination.
I hope for the very best for your dad.
i myself have an enlarged heart. and at least one or a few other issues with my heart.
a heart is a muscle and will grow when over worked. this due to high blood pressure and being a big bastard. i am fairly healthy in the heart. no clogged arteries. i do have a thickening on one of the four chamber walls or something to that affect. my blood pressure is controlled nicely w/ a small handfull of different medications.
i do not smoke cigarettes anymore. i quit them for the 43rd and final time over 2 years ago i'm guessing. it has been one year and two days since i drank alcohol. the worst i do now is, i still smoke a lil pot.
lance armstrong has an enlarged heart. his due to being born with it im thinking. mine caused from high blood pressure and a lot of me to run.
i swim a mile or more daily and i watch what i eat more than ever.
my fucking knees hurt so bad i eat pain killers like candy. although for the last week or so i am slowing down those things something fierce.
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I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
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Seriously hope all goes well
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I'm sending my prayers and hugs to you, your dad and your family. Take care and try to enjoy the holidays and spending time with your dad.
You're right. You are a monster! You are sick! Get help!
At least, I am not a fuck-up! A lying fuck-up!
He used to tell it us his heart was enlarged because he had so much love to give.
He was right
I am actually pissed off more at our family doctor.
I expected better from her.
Never trust what a GP says, if you feel they are misdiagnosing demand a referral to a specialist.
Our family GP just kept sending my dad away with prescriptions for antibiotics and cough syrup.
I kept telling my dad to demand our GP refer him to a specialist.
Merry Christmas all.