What to Expect from End Stage CHF Congestive Heart Failure

This week we're talking about CHF Congestive Heart Failure and what is it like to die from it. Learning about what to expect helps us live better so that we can be better advocates for ourselves at the end of life.

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#hospice #congestiveheartfailure #hospicenurse

[kelly-robertbrown]

My mom is 90 and has had CHF for many years. She has ridden that roller coaster of ups and downs a lot more for the past 4 years. She is now winding down and is likely a couple of weeks or less away from going to see Jesus. I’ve learned a lot from your videos. Hospice helped my dad who had dementia and now my mom with CHF. It’s been a very long road and soon her suffering will end. But 90 years! That’s a good long life! Thanks for educating people on the uncomfortable (for some) topic of death and dying.

[diannemarchese]

My mother just passed away from CHF last month. I had been watching your videos even prior to her actuality going on hospice and am so grateful to you for making these videos. She was at home with family by her side and I held her hand as she took her final breath. She had the death rattle and also a growl just as you described in one of your videos. Knowing what was happening made it easier for me to handle what I was seeing and hearing and I was able to educate my family during her dying process when our nurse was not present. Thank you again for taking the time to lovingly educate us all. ❤

[Kensington]

My mama passed away in April and she had CHF along with multiple other health issues, including dementia. Thank you for posting this. She passed in her sleep and that's what I'm truly grateful for.

[janetwhite]

My Coach (basketball) just this month died from it. I loved him so much. Visited him in the spring, but went back for his standing-room-only funeral. RIP, Coach Rippy. You were my main man.

[janetcarlson]

My husband had a successful transplant Oct if 2023 and passed all tests including heart prior to the surgery. About 6 weeks later they found a herniated intestine. About 10 days later he got a UTI. Then, he started passing out if he stood. Numerous inpatient hospitalizations yet no physician ever gave us a diagnisis but just sent him home to hospice! Our nurse assumed we knew the dx. After seeing this and another hospice nurse's podcast, I finally have answers! For him, in a matter of 2 months he lost 80 pounds of fat and muscles so is skin and bones. He is no longer is eating and very little fluid. Howver, he is on the rollercoaster with his blood pressure. I now can have more useful conversations with his nurse.

[betsybuick]

Julie -- I just love the way you explain things, define terms and speak to everyday human beings. This from a retired nurse. You are a gem and are doing a great public service. Thank you!

[gingermcintosh]

Thanks Julie. I think you did this for me. I have had open heart surgery twice, and have CHF. I was hospitalized in CCU in January of 2021 and told I was stage 4 and maybe I had a year or two. But I had a cardioMems installed and watch my fluid closely. At my last checkup he said I was stage 3, which has a 70% chance of 5 year survival! I also have stage 4 kidney disease but all things considered I think I’m looking at a few more years at least. Still, I want to plan ahead to make the end as peaceful and pleasant as possible. Your videos are so great and so helpful. Thanks for all you do!

[leigh]

Thank you for this channel. Honestly. I only discovered it a few days ago and my mom passed away on Sunday from late stage COPD. She was 75. She was in a nursing home in Frail Care after 6 months in and out of hospital. It was pure hell. That video you did covering "The Rally" hit really hard. This is precisely what happened with her 1 week to the day of her passing.
I wish I'd seen that video earlier.
You are doing important work for all who are dealing with caring for frail and ill older parents.

[IMadeThis]

My mother has been stair-stepping for years. When she gets home health care, ER care, hospital bed, etc. she gets better because she cannot smoke, cannot drink alcohol, and is given healthy meals. She gets better, her kidneys rebound, her EF goes up slightly, and she is released. Her exacerbations are clearly caused by her lifestyle choices. It’s very sad to watch, but I’ve learned so much. Thank you, Julie!!

[TumbleFool]

I just started as a hospice nurse and your videos are helping me so much!

[barbiec]

I like when you discuss from the point of view of your loved one as in, “Your loved one may experience this or that” instead of “YOU might experience this or that”.

[christineludlow]

Hello Nurse Julie love your videos! I have nursed many relatives and friends over the years but there seems to be a common misunderstanding about the dying process! Our culture is in complete denial regarding the fate we will all face. More education is needed instead of blame! You're doing a great job 👍 Nurse Christine RN

[BeanieScooter]

Thanks for the information. A doctor diagnosed bronchitis. The hospital determined it was Congestive Heart Failure. Was fine on meds for 14 years, just hospitalized overnight for fluid retention around my heart and lungs. Modern medicine has come a long way. Walking, and legs elevated, are daily requirements. Thanks again for this.

[bevconklin]

Explaining that we can go on& off hospice—that’s important for my family to know.

[TheFeralBachelor]

Yep, my mother turned 91 this year and it has been exactly as you described it. It seemed every year since her first CHF diagnosis she's been hospitalized one every year or two. However in the last three months she has been hospitalized 4 times and the last time they suggested putting her on Hospice. We moved her into a nursing home with Hospice and she is getting the care she needs, and is actually doing better than when she was living in her apartment. The peace I got from this video is there were no surprises I should be looking out for. Thank you for your Hospice work and these videos.

[joiedevivre]

You are amazing!
I agree; the music is distracting thanks for all!

[joanb]

Hi ! This is such a timely video for my family and my almost 99 year old mother who has CHF. You are spot on with the good and bad days, the decline then the plateau . I don’t think she is end stage quite yet but I know that we will eventually be at that point. Your videos are so helpful as we help her to navigate each step of the process . She’s feisty, spunky and snarky so there is never a dull moment!
Thanks for all that you do. I’ve learned so much !

[YMAD]

My dad passed away a couple of months ago and its hard to even say what he died from because he had type 1 diabetes since age 8. He had CHF for 5 years or so. Maybe longer. He had a couple of heart attacks but didn't feel them because of diabetic neuropathy, but he was just very sleepy and that's how we knew to take him to the hospital. We took him to the hospital in March for his third heart attack (which we didn't know he had had at the time). He thought he just needed to have his CHF symptoms managed. Once he was in the hospital for a few days he also developed terrible swelling from his legs where he was dripping fluid from burst bubbles on his legs and feet. He also had low blood pressure that they were trying to raise. Eventually they decided his kidneys got bad enough that he started peritoneal dialysis which seemed to make things worse. He was on that for 2 weeks. Then was admitted back in to the hospital for one night with critically low sodium and died the next day at home from a heart attack after begging to be taken home that whole night in the hospital. He was also very confused and in a lot of mental (but not physical) anguish. Once he got home, though, that morning he calmed down. I think he knew he was going to die and wanted to be at home. I just don't understand how everything went downhill so fast. I thought the dialysis would have helped. Maybe his heart was too weak to handle it? I never thought he would die because he was chronically ill his whole life but after every hospitalization, he bounced back and was always so positive. So it was such a shock to me. I always thought I had more time with him.

[Sentimentalist]

My dad died 2 years ago with CHF and had hospice care. Thank you for helping me to better understand.

[portuguesehydrangea]

Definitely rode that CHF roller coaster with my dad. So many visits to the ER due to water retention. He fought it as long as he could. Sadly, he passed December 2022, just a week shy of his bday.