Diastolic heart failure runs in my family. The men have strokes and the women heart attacks. My great grandfather was working in a saw mill when he had a stroke and sawed his arm off. My grandmother had diastolic heart failure starting after menopause then died of a heart attack. My father had a stroke I have had symptoms of DHF for many years but was only diagnosed 1 year ago.

I had the following symptoms:

Age 12 up: Paroxsysmal Atrial Tachycardia

Age 19 up: first angina pains, in the jaw

Treated for the PAT and Angina from age 23 to 30.

Then a quiet period with no symptoms.

Age 37 — walking on a treadmill when suddenly so fatigued I couldn’t walk anymore. I think, in retrospect this was a heart attack

Age 48 — driving and chest pain so bad I had to pull over and rest. I think this was a heart attack

Age 37 to 49: swelling, mainly left ankle, lower leg; wheezing, shortness of breath, lots of fatigue. Weight gain. This progressed to both legs swelling. Finally a rheumatologist sent me to an interventional cardiologist who actually listened to me. He did the treadmill test, nuclear med. test, echo, and a cardiac catheterization. This is how my diastolic heart failure was finally diagnosed.

I am on lots of pills: altace, lipitor, toprol xl, diuretics and others. My favorite is Ranexa. I do not believe I could work if I didn’t take it. It relieve my angina very very well.

I still fatigue easily but I try and do as much as I can. I walk, swim, work. I also get lots of rest. This helps a lot.

Anyone else with DHF, CHF?