I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has had experience with left sided heart failure.

My Mother has been diagnosed with it. It is less common than right sided heart failure, and l.s heart failure can lead to r.s heart faliure.

Her main current issue is breathing difficultes. There is nothing more that can be done in terms of meds. She was on a diuretic as a preventive for fluid retention, but had to stop this due to a rapid and alarming decrease in kidney function. Fluid retention since ceasing the diuretic is an intermittent problem. Kidnet function has returned to an acceptable level.

I have been told O2 therapy (ie:- oxygen bottle and prongs) is no longer considered as a safe option in thes instances.

My Mother is still living independantly.

Thanks.

Sorry, I don't have any experience, but just wanted to send my hugs to you. It sounds like a hard time for you and your family.

No, I dont have any experience in this either, but just wanted to send you my love and a hug and wish you and your family love and peace. It sounds like a very hard time for you all.

Thanks Peaceforg and thanks None. I really appreciate your support.

Watching beloved parents age is a difficult journey. Even in middle age, it is hard to accept that someone that has been there for you all your life, is coming to the end of theirs, and there is nothing you can do about that, let alone make the journey any easier.

I was just hoping there may be someone out there who had experienced the same diagnosis with a relative who could shed light on what ot expect, and how this condition would progress.

There still may be, but in the mean time, thank you so much for your support

Camon, sorry to hear about your mum. Left sided heart failure is also sometimes called Congestive Heart Failure. It can go on for years and years and can be hard for the patient. Beta blockers and diuretics are the drugs of choice - compression stockings, monitoring fluid intake and elevating feet when sitting can all help. My mother in law has it and I've nursed a few people with it. We have been getting my MIL to walks bit which has helped with the swollen legs - that's the worst for her because they're so sore. New drugs seem to be helping too. I hope your mum is okay and can manage her symptoms.

Congestive heart failure is normally associated with the right side of the heart failing, and appears to be more common. You are right with that being associated with fluid retention. This isn't Mum's primary issue. She has been on Beta blockers for a very long time, and was only put on diuretics as a preventative measure against any fluid retention that may occur, should left sided failure, trigger right sided failure, and hence cause fluid build up.

You are correct about it potentially going on for years. However, given Mum's deterioration, and difficulty breathing, I don't believe it will be physically possible for her to continue for years. Sad, but true. I've been told as much, but guess was just looking for a guage of time span should someone else have cared for a relative with the same issue.

Left-sided failureCommon respiratory signs are tachypnea (increased rate of breathing) and increased work of breathing (non-specific signs of respiratory distress). Rales or crackles, heard initially in the lung bases, and when severe, throughout the lung fields suggest the development of pulmonary edema (fluid in the alveoli). Cyanosis which suggests severe hypoxemia, is a late sign of extremely severe pulmonary edema.

Additional signs indicating left ventricular failure include a laterally displaced apex beat (which occurs if the heart is enlarged) and a gallop rhythm (additional heart sounds) may be heard as a marker of increased blood flow, or increased intra-cardiac pressure. Heart murmurs may indicate the presence of valvular heart disease, either as a cause (e.g. aortic stenosis) or as a result (e.g., mitral regurgitation) of the heart failure.