I’ve just been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure with new baby on the way.

Ive had some shortness of breath for the last 9 months or so. My Fiancé encouraged me to see the nurse at the school clinic. They did an X-ray to check for lingering pneumonia and noticed my heart looked enlarged. The Nurse Practitioner scheduled a heart sonogram to follow up. While doing the imaging, I saw the tech frantically texting. At the end of the procedure, she said the cardiologist wants you to go to the emergency room today, don’t wait until Monday.

At the ER I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. My Ejection Fraction is 10%, heart failure is considering anything under 40%.

They also stuck a camera into my groin to look for plaque but said I have very little plaque. They’re presuming my CHF could be from viral myocarditis but they don’t know.

They started me on 5 medications for my heart and I have to wear a defibrillator vest 24 hours a day.

Hopefully the medication will improve my heart function and they will recheck in 3 months. While I was in the hospital my weight dropped from 295 to 265, and I’m on fluid restrictions and lasiks to try and keep fluid away from my heart and lungs.

I’ve already missed about a week of work, and will have many more doctors appointments, medical bills, copays, and deductibles.

On top of this my fiancé Issys is 5 months pregnant, so I need to do everything I can to try and stay functional for her and the new baby boy. I have nicknamed him f’onion because he is the size of an onion, but I don’t think it’s going to stick.

Anything you can spare will go towards treatment and medical bills.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

-Scott