Darkovice: Doctors told Stanislav (61) that he survived his death

“I came to the doctor saying it was just a simple virus that wasn’t getting better. My breathing was getting harder and harder,” Stanislav recalls. The practitioner then prescribed him antibiotics. However, the patient did not feel better even after them. The practitioner therefore sent him for an examination to a pulmonologist, who tried to treat the pneumonia with other antibiotics. “Even that didn’t help me then. I walked five steps and had to stop and lean against the wall because I couldn’t breathe and was just wheezing. I couldn’t sleep lying down either, only sitting up in a chair,” describes Stanislav’s terrible condition.

The pulmonologist therefore recommended a visit to a cardiologist during the check-up. He ordered it two and a half months later. “Fortunately, after about ten days, I got a call from the doctor’s office that they had a place and I could come,” says Stanislav.

Swelling of the abdomen and hands

He learned from a cardiologist that the cause of his breathing problems, dehydration and other health problems was heart failure. In this disease, the heart is unable to pump a sufficient amount of oxygenated blood into the body and supply other organs with it. As a result, there is an accumulation of fluid and symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of the abdomen or legs, which were also manifested in Mr. Stanislav.

The cardiologist therefore had him transferred to the hospital immediately. “At the University Hospital in Ostrava, they drained several liters of fluid from my lungs. They told me I survived my death. I didn’t arrive at five minutes past twelve, but at five past twelve.” he recalls today with a smile. At that time, his heart was only functioning at 15%, while the normal limit is around 55%.

He also returned to his craft

Stanislav was in the hospital for a whole week “on drips” and after returning home he had to take a large amount of medication in order to restore his heart as much as possible. “Now I’m ‘stepping’ at 48%,” he praises himself.

Gradually he even returned to his work as a craftsman. But he admits that it’s not like before – he gets tired faster. “When I’m working on my knees and then need to stand up, I have to do it slowly so I don’t get dizzy. Before, these problems did not bother me, I put much younger craftsmen in my pocket as well,” Stanislav recalls.

Although his heart is working better today thanks to treatment, he has to go for regular check-ups. “After I was released from the hospital, I had check-ups several times a week. Today I go once every two or three months, but they still watch over me,” concludes Stanislav.

Don’t underestimate the difficulties

The increase in cases of heart failure is becoming a significant medical problem. Statistics show that half of patients with this diagnosis will die within five years. “The prognosis of heart failure, especially in more advanced stages, is similar to that of some types of malignant tumors,” says prof. MD Jan Václavík, Ph.D., FESC., FEFIM, head of the Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Ostrava University Hospital.

Doctors see the cause of the increase in cases mainly in the general aging of the population, but also in an unhealthy lifestyle and associated obesity, smoking or alcohol consumption.

According to doctors, it is crucial that patients with heart failure are under the care of an outpatient cardiologist. This is extremely important especially for heart failure patients who have just been discharged from the hospital. After all, they should be under the care of an outpatient cardiologist no later than two weeks after discharge.

“At this stage, it is crucial for the patient to properly set up and monitor further therapy. When this does not happen, he is at high risk of repeated failure, deterioration or even death. On the other hand, properly conducted modern treatment can protect him from further hospitalization and complications,” describes MUDr. Marie Lazárová, Ph.D., ambulatory cardiologist from Rýmařov and specialist in heart failure at the Ostrava Hospital.

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