Managing Life After A Heart Failure Diagnosis

My heart failure diagnosis came at the young age of twenty-eight.

Four months postpartum, I found myself hearing the unimaginable.

You have congestive heart failure, and postpartum dilated cardiomyopathy (or PPCM). I had developed heart failure induced by pregnancy. There were so many questions, and I feared what my diagnosis meant for the future.

One thing was clear, the life I had before may never be reclaimed.

What my life was like before heart failure

I led a very active lifestyle before my heart failure diagnosis.

From my pee wee years through high school, I can recall participating in a number of sports as well as traveling and enjoying family gatherings on a regular basis.

I would have never imagined that ten years after high school graduation my life would take a major shift.

Adjusting to a new reality

Letting go of the active life I was leading, and embracing my new journey unfolded like grief.

I experienced a loss, sometimes longing for the life I had before heart failure. The stages of grief are most commonly used for a loss associated with the death of a loved one or friend.

However, losing the life I had known before heart failure came with those same mix of emotions. I experienced the shock and depression which eventually led to acceptance.

Learning to let go of the past, and embracing my new journey began like a balancing act.

Positive changes after heart failure

Although I led a healthy and active lifestyle before, with my new diagnosis I had to become intentional about what I ate, exercising, stress, and supporting my mental health.

I had the healthy eating thing down to a science.

My days consisted of three meals and two snacks. All while staying within my new limits of forty milligrams (40mg) of fat, and two thousand milligrams (2,000mg) of sodium daily!

It took work, but I made it happen.

However, managing life’s daily obstacles while overcoming heart failure began to take a toll on my mental health.

Heart failure can create mental health struggles

Some of these challenges were the result of imbalances with my health.

While others were caused by outside factors such as housing and discrimination due to my disability.

As a result, I sought support through the assistance of a therapist.

During my initial consultation I was surprised to learn that living with a chronic illness is considered living in trauma daily. Which made so much sense once we talked about it.

My therapist became an outlet to release while equipping me with coping tools to help me protect my mental health when faced with the challenges life can throw your way.

How do I manage my life today with heart failure?

I’m still facing those challenges today.

My heart failure was exacerbated following a medical procedure.

I now find myself with a PICC line, my LVAD, home nursing care, and frequent doctor’s appointments.

Managing life after a heart failure diagnosis is a process. I have accepted the “new me” and my new journey with all of its inconsistencies.

I also cherish the memories I have of the past with gratitude for the memories I will make in the future. Besides, this new journey has led to a life of servitude and purpose that evolved from my PPCM diagnosis.

How have you managed life after your heart failure diagnosis? Have you found tools to help you grieve the old you, and to help you accept the new you?