My apologies for not touching base in a while, but my summer’s been full of unexpected health problems like the wicked upper respiratory infection that took two courses of antibiotics to stop. Then there were the torn ligaments in both feet caused by my failure to see a step on the island of Patmos in Greece, but it’s another condition that’s left me in shock: At the beginning of the summer, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. While people of any age can have heart failure, I’m discovering that heart failure and women over 60 is not as uncommon as you might imagine.
Two of my girlfriends, as well as a male friend over 60, also have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and each of us has a different kind.
In the broadest definition, congestive heart failure means your heart isn’t able to pump enough blood to keep up with your body’s needs. This can cause fluid to back up around your heart, along with a host of other problems like kidney failure and needing a heart transplant. My type of heart failure is “with preserved ejection fraction” which means my heart muscle’s in great shape. As one of my doctors said, “Your ejection fraction–your heart’s ability to pump blood–is outstanding, not just for someone your age, but for an 18-year-old.”
Heart failure didn’t keep me down. I went to Greece anyway. Me and NYTimes bestselling author, Cheryl Strayed, on the island of Patmos, Greece. She could walk. I hobbled.
So why do I have congestive heart failure? When I was in the hospital (that’s where I caught the respiratory infection), my electrophysiologist told me I was retaining fluid which led to the inflammation of my heart. As women, we’ve been “retaining water” since the day we got our first period, and we’ve learned it’s often linked to the amount of salt/sodium in what we eat and drink. Other than being a little puffy, it’s generally no big deal, but in my case, unless I get the amount of sodium and fluids I consume under control, it can be life-threatening.
My body can no longer tolerate more than 1,500 mg of salt/sodium a day. To put this into perspective, that’s 1/3 of a teaspoon of salt per day.
You can see a bit of the black and blue under the tape. A couple of days before, my feet were the size of blowfish. Needless to say, I couldn’t explore Greece.
I’ve always been the poster girl for a healthy lifestyle. But because of a never-ending to-do list in preparation for the May 2025 publishing date of my memoir, I’ve been eating a lot of what I thought was healthy take-out food: grilled chicken, steamed veggies, and salad with dressing on the side. But even the healthiest takeout grilled chicken and green beans have lots of salt, and other than vinegar and oil, you don’t want to know the amount of salt in salad dressing. And don’t even think about pizza, burgers, or Mexican and Thai food.
Before my heart failure diagnosis, when I had time to fix meals at home, often I sautéed ground turkey and onions and added bottled spaghetti sauce to a plate of gluten-free pasta. Since then, I’ve learned a cup and a half of spaghetti sauce, alone, is twice as much sodium as I’m supposed to have in one day! And I can forget almost anything that comes frozen or prepackaged in a box, a bottle, or a can because it’s loaded with sodium which the food industry uses as a preservative.
I was still in Greece but after keeping them elevated and using ice, acupuncture, electrotherapy, and deep tissue massage, my feet had started to come down in size although I had only one pair of shoes that fit my fat feet.
Now I’ve learned to check the labels on everything, but instead of looking at sugar, fat, and the amount of protein something contains, I’m also checking for sodium. I’ve learned most foods that say LOW SODIUM or REDUCED SODIUM are way beyond my daily salt allowance. If you’re interested, a good rule of thumb is if there’s more than 150mg of salt in one serving, don’t eat it.
In case you’re wondering what I can eat, let’s just say it’s challenging to keep from losing a pound a day, and I no longer have a pound a day to lose.
But here’s the real kicker! I’ve discovered my congestive heart failure was caused by the chemotherapy I received 20 years ago for breast cancer: The culprit was Adriamycin and Cytoxin—known as Red Devil—because of its bright red color and well-known ability to wreak major damage on the heart. It’s the most toxic of all chemotherapies for any kind of cancer. After the first instant this Red Devil hit my veins, I remember nothing until I woke up with a crash cart and my oncologist beside me. In his usual understated manner he said, “You had a problem with chemo,” but they knew how to combat it. In other words, how to keep it from killing me on the spot.
Shortly after eight rounds of chemo, the Adriamycin and Cytoxin began causing frequent episodes where I came close to passing out–sometimes while driving on the freeway–and heart rates that went from 60 beats a minute to 160 beats in the blink of an eye and put me in the ER. After multiple times of wearing a heart monitor, doctors discovered I had AFib/AFlutter, a condition that’s been controlled by medication, twice a day, but as we get older, AFib can make us more susceptible to having a stroke. Unfortunately, medications and remedies to prevent a stroke come with their own set of problems.
And now, chemo has given me congestive heart failure, but as far as I know, I’m still cancer-free so I’m looking at it as a tradeoff. I’m just grateful to be here.
76 thoughts on “HEART FAILURE AND WOMEN OVER 60”
Oh Brenda, I’m so sorry to hear this. I’ve been following your blog for about 2 years & always enjoy your timely topics & interesting adventures as well as interviews with some fascinating women.
What I love about you is your positive attitude. 65 has not been a good year for me in many ways. I struggle to stay positive & avoid dwelling in negative places. It sometimes takes just a simple update like yours to help me realise that we’re all in this together & much of how we navigate it comes from our attitude. Your grace and elegance, honesty & frankness are refreshing in this world of fakes.
Thanks for keeping it real & well done you for making the most of a very unfortunate Greek situation, at least you were there!
Last year I made some major diet changes, self imposed, to make healthier choices. It was a learning curve but breaking lifelong habits we didn’t know were so unhealthy has benefited in many ways. Hopefully your saltless future will explode with new flavours!
All the very best moving forward,
Cheryl x
Thank you for the well wishes, Cheryl, and I’m sorry to hear you’ve been having a tough time. None of us can escape rough patches, but they’re easier for me to navigate if I stay positive. My mother was a great role model for the woman I didn’t want to become. She liked being the victim, and she complained and moaned about everything. That’s not to minimize devastating life events. I’ve had a couple I wasn’t sure I’d survive, like the unexpected death of my husband James. He went for a walk and never came back. I was severely depressed for well over a year. As unlikely as it sounds, it was the ACL tear in our dog, Molly’s, knee that helped pull us both out of our despair. Molly was a giant horse of a dog, and James was her person. Her only person, and she grieved him as much as I did. But when her rehab fell to me, I had to learn how to manage her and get her to listen to me. We started with bathroom walks only, then progressed to hiking the Texas hills on our ranch. I helped Molly’s leg grow strong again, and we grew to love and understand one another. Her misfortune turned out to be a blessing for both of us. Wishing you blessings and positivity as well. xoxox, Brenda
Dear Brenda,
I have been thinking of you and wondering if you are okay because I have not heard from you on the blog. My girly gut intuition told me something was not so good. Only because it’s not like you to totally to disappear. I know you have been very busy with your book and that has been stressful.
Oh my goodness you have been through so much. What a shock to miss a step, falling can cause you so many problems that can lead to hospital stays or never coming out of the hospital. Your feet have so many bones and carry all your weight. I hope you have been able to find something that enables you to walk without too much pain. Having a good scooter around the house with a basket attached to the front is helpful to put your things in. I have one when I get flares from my progressive RA. I was diagnosed finally in 2013. It’s a painful insidious disease. Thank goodness for medicine, but as you know that comes with challenges too.
With your heart issue and watching your diet carefully and little to no salt intake hopefully adding fresh herbs can add to the flavor of what you are now able to eat. Everything we eat has so much salt in it. Wow, what a challenge.
I hope you have a wonderful cardiologist that will continue to monitor your heart. My husband told our cardiologist that he wanted to live to be 100. His reply was, “I better up my game.” Our cardiologist is so good, crazy smart, too cute and so handsome. I see him because RA can get into your heart. My EKG is never normal, but at least it’s not crazy off the charts.
Brenda, I hope you have helping hands you can turn to. I know you are independent from getting to know you. Sometimes it’s freeing when you surrender and ask for a little help. I’ve learned it makes the other person feel good they can help because they love you.
You have lots of courage and grit.
You remain in my thoughts, well wishes and prayers.
Hello Katherine! Thanks for your sweet note! Yes, I’m way too independent, but for the most part, that’s a good thing. If I ask a friend for help, they know I need it. A few days before I left Greece, the physical therapist I saw there said it was time to put all my weight on both feet. No more limping or favoring one foot. While it hurt like crazy, it was great advice, and since then, I’ve continued my exercises and except for the big toe on my right foot, I’m back to normal. And I know the toe will eventually get there. Progressive RA!! Ouch! I know someone else who’s dealing with that, and it’s painful. Take good care of yourself, Katherine. You have strength and grit as well. xoxox, Brenda
Godspeed every layer Brenda. You’ve got this. And those 3 words are hard to write to you. You having been there before, before, and before.
Do you have a juicer, healthy easy smoothies? Just an idea.
Regular white table salt, the type we grew up eating has extra ingredients that are harmful. Best to buy colored plain salts, pink….gray…. Until it’s discovered they have unsafe byproducts too. Just learned about white table salt recently.
You don’t mention, LA, Linoleic Acid . Huge heart health risk. Grilled chicken is healthy if raised on pasture. Fed via big ag, chicken is full of LA.
“Continue to avoid eating too many unhealthy foods that contain linoleic acid, including processed meats, potato chips and store-bought salad dressings. There are supplements available that contain both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which help you keep the balance that’s needed for optimal health.Dec 12, 2022
Linoleic Acid Benefits, Uses, Foods and Precautions – Dr. Axe
Dr. Axe
https://draxe.com › nutrition › linoleic-acid”
“LA consumption has now increased 25-fold, which explains the soaring rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer in the general population today. It’s imperative to avoid it as much as you can, which is why I urge you to read my free report, “The Lowdown on Linoleic Acid.”
You’ll also learn:
The most common food sources of linoleic acid
Why you must avoid pork and chicken at all costs
The best healthy oil substitutes you can use
Plus, you’ll also get a Shopping Guide Checklist to help you make the right, healthy choices when you shop at the grocery!
Access My Free Report
By clicking above you agree to our use of cookies, Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
© 2024 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.”
“Linoleic acid is the most pernicious toxin in the modern diet and is the primary contributor to chronic disease. When consumed in excessive amounts, linoleic acid heightens your risk of chronic diseases because it keeps your mitochondria from working properly.
Dr Joseph Mercola – The Lowdown on LA Linoleic Acid
dokumen.pub “
Great to see you here, Tara, and thanks for the lowdown on linoleic acid. I had no idea. Think I’m safe on most of these fronts since salt is gone from my diet and I buy organic and shop at Whole Foods. Gone are the days when I could zip in and out of the store. Instead, I’m there for what seems like forever, reading labels. As I remember, you’ve had some big changes in your life as well. Hope you’re adjusting and growing stronger. How’s your garden? xoxox, Brenda
Glad you are improving. I also have AFib but it seems be under control. I also have T2D. It has its own set of issues. There is so much sugar in most processed foods too. We have to be aware and cautious for our health.
Linda, You threw me a curve. I had to look up “T2D.” Read where you can put it into remission by weight loss. Is this true although there may be only so much weight a person can lose and still be up and moving. Yes. Let’s both be aware and cautious about our health. The good news is we’re still here. xoxox, Brenda
Oh Brenda! Like another one of your readers said, I suspected something was wrong because it’s not like you to go silent for so long. You’ve had a lot of misfortune hit you this summer, and I’m devastated for you about your heart failure diagnosis. My grandmother had heart failure but she was in her 90s. Sending you lots of love and hoping you have a good cardiologist. Xo, Barb
Hello Miss Barb! How are you? I always love seeing your name here. Actually, I’m getting a second opinion as we all should do when we receive a serious health diagnosis. As long as I keep my salt and fluids under control, hopefully I’ll be here for a long time. xoxox, Brenda
Brenda, I’m going to join the chorus in saying I’ve been wondering why we haven’t had one of your inspiring blogs this summer. Heart failure! Just hearing the words would give me heart failure but not you! You accept it and are grateful to still be here. What an amazing woman you are and I know your memoir will be filled with more inspiration because that’s who you are. Take care of yourself. We love you gal.
And I love all of you, Arlo. Thank you. It’s great to see notes from all of you, some of my favorite people on the planet. And yes, I stay positive because I’m blessed beyond belief and am so grateful. Now, if I could just get grass to grow where Annie has her “race track” in the back yard. xoxox, Brenda
Oh my goodness brave lady! When I think of someone who’s brave and inspires me when I get down, it you. Brenda Coffee. You’ve already mentioned that you haven’t told us about anything you’ve written in your book and having followed you almost since the begining of your blog, you seem to talk about the good, bad and the ugly, I know your book will deliver the biggies, and I can’t wait to read it. Blessings to you and take good care of yourself.
Hi Darcie! I haven’t heard from you in a long time, so thank you. No. I think most everything in my memoir will be new to even you, plus I saved a few things for a second book. Hope all is well with you. Thank you, again. xoxox, Brenda
I have Afib too and the meds to deal with it have me worried. How do you stay so upbeat and positive Brenda? I need some of what you’re having.
I’m sorry to hear you have AFib, Tracy, but stay on top of it, especially as you get older. As you probably know, after a certain age, AFib can make women, in particular, more susceptible to having a stroke. But there are proactive things you can do about it, so ask your cardiologist, and I highly suggest getting a second opinion. I am. And as far as staying upbeat and positive… I can’t imagine worrying and waiting for something terrible to happen as opposed to enjoying the time I’ve been given. I’ll thank my mother for that. I witnessed what being a pessimist and a worrier can do to us. xoxox, Brenda
Thank you for the update, Brenda. We’ve just met, but you are a real inspiration to me as a woman and a writer willing (or is it driven?) to lay the whole store bare. Thinking of you and your strong heart xo
LOL! I think we’re willing AND driven, Treena! We don’t have a choice. Did I tell you on IG that I said I wanted a new book cover? They said, okay… Still waiting to see what “we” can put together. Thanks, again. xoxox, Brenda
Brenda, I am so sorry that another of your European vacations has been cut short again by a health crisis. I remember your trip to see the Rolling Stones, the culinary trip, and now this. I don’t have to tell you to hang in there or any platitudes to get you going. You have grit and a never-quit personality. You are already helping others with your story and myself in particular. I love working physically hard outside because I accomplish something while staying fit. I have had to re-evaluate and move to a stationary bike in this Texas heat. Ten to 15 K several times a week is working great but not the same. I am heading to my kitchen to look up ingredients. Have only swelled a couple of times on cruise ships, which are human salt licks. Thanks so much for the heads up. Your being honest in your columns has really been a life saver. I owe ya lunch hon.
HaHa! Human salt licks. That’s hilarious. At least I’ve had some rain in the last few days to cool things down. Hope you’ve had a few drops where you are. Let me know the next time you’re coming my way, and let’s do lunch! Love, B
Dear Brenda
So sorry to hear this — knowing chemo can do this the alternative without chemo trying to beat cancer is no alternative. Hope this becomes manageable — facing real health issues is sobering and my own post back surgery challenges have at times seemed insurmountable. One foot at a time and never giving up hope and management
Sending love and warm wishes
Irene Bowman
Dear Irene, No. Don’t ever give up! I’ve heard that post-back surgery can often be as painful and challenging as before surgery, so please take care of yourself. I’m hoping you’re able to get some exercise. Exercise is one of the great healers. Love, Brenda
This isn’t right, Brenda! Of all people… You don’t know me, but you’ve singlehandedly gotten me through the toughest times in my life. When ever I’m down and thinking I’m not strong enough to deal with life I’ve gone back and reread some of your blogs. Do you know how much you mean to all of us? Not just me? You’re a bright light… We’ve never met but I know you don’t have a fake bone in your body. I’m with you in spirit, wishing you many more good years of inspiration and happiness. I’ve promised myself that if you’re somewhere signing your memoir, I’ll go there because I owe you so much.
Agreed! All of us who follow Brenda will probably show up at once to meet her and get a copy of the memoir that we cannot wait to read. She will never understand completely how inspiring she is to all of us. Are you reading this, Brenda? Get ready to meet a lot of your fans!
Awe… Thanks so much, Lisa! I would be over the moon if one of you could come and tell me who you are!! So fun! I can’t wait! xoxox, Brenda
Thank you. You’ve made me cry, Jan. To think I’ve helped anyone, even in the smallest way, would be more than I could have hoped for, so thank you. And I don’t know you, but all of my readers are cut from the same genuine cloth. Like birds of a feather, we somehow manage to find one another. I’ll be having book signings in person and doing online book club Q&As, so there are different opportunities for us to meet. And when we do, please remind me of this sweet note you left me. Blessings and love to you, Brenda
Checking sodium has been a long time habit with me because of my husband’s health problems. You can even purchase no salt canned veggies (if you’re into that sort of thing). We keep subtracting various things from our diet as we age….sodium, sugar, alcohol, certain fats, certain carbs, processed food in general. I still like the saying practice all things in moderation including moderation. This gives me an opening for a brownie or margarita on occasion. However, it loses its practicality when we’re talking diabetes or CHF.
Glad you’re on the mend and doing what is necessary to manage your CHF. Simply knowing what ails us often has its own sense of relief.
Icly, I’m not big on canned veggies, but I did buy NO sodium black beans and a NO sodium corn and put them in a salad this afternoon with nectarines, avocado, red onion, gluten-free/no sodium bow tie pasta, fresh lime juice, cracked black pepper, olive oil, and blood orange balsamic vinegar. Wow! That and a small piece of roasted chicken breast was yummy!
Don’t read my blog today!Im showing you how much salt to put in your pasta water!!
Yes, salt is in EVERYTHING!I found out too after hearing I was in heart failure as you know!
I like the smoothie idea for you someone mentioned above.And pasta with No salt works for us but create your own sauce never a bottle store bought.Fresh zucchini in olive oil with a clove of garlic is a good meal or Swiss chard with ricotta and fresh tomatoes!Ricotta has sodium so that’s your daily allowance in one meal!
Let’s talk soon!!
Xoxo
Elizabeth, Are you still salting your pasta water? Hope it’s not more than a few grains. So disappointing pasta sauce is off the charts bad for us!! I have thought of making my own, but haven’t had the time. I did order a no-salt tomato sauce in a bottle, but it needs a lot of help before it goes on pasta. Fresh zucchini, and fresh any veggie, and olive oil are already on my favorites list. I’m off to read your blog. Love, B
Since I had not seen your lovely face for a while, I wondered what was going on. You have a Calhoun closet of issues. Your post will cause a lot of us, even without heart issues, to rethink our salt intake. I shall share this with the Urban Farmer, who has yet to meet a salty food he didn’t like. You are in my daily prayer journal. xoxo
Thank you, Donna. I appreciate your note and especially your prayers. The interesting thing about no salt… and I was almost there, to begin with… is you can taste even the smallest amount when it presents itself. The salt stands out over things like garlic, onion, and rosemary. How’s the Urban Farmer’s blood pressure and arteries? Men don’t want to hear these things. Neither one of my late husbands wanted to hear about cancer, heart disease, and smoking, and that didn’t turn out well for any of us. xoxox, Brenda
Brenda,
Clearly God still has purpose for you and we are all so grateful you’re still here! Your writing encourages us that we, too, can make it through life’s challenges, and we eagerly await your book and every blog post you make. Praying you can find a super nutritionist to help you chart these new waters. God bless you with everything you need.
Thank you. Thank you. I hope God blesses you as well. He’s been so good to me. xoxox, Brenda
Oh, Brenda, I am so sorry your trip was so painful and in Greece. My husband has afib, and he had an ablation done eight years ago. It worked!
As far as chemo, now I know why my oncologist and primary have done so many heart tests and why they want me to see a cardiologist every six months.
Ligaments are so painful, and I am so sorry. I am praying for your speedy heeling and your precious heart.
Hello Sweet Friend, I don’t remember my oncologist ever sending me to see a cardiologist, but I wound up seeing one after chemo when I started having so many heart-related issues. I do remember, distinctly, my oncologist asking if I objected to having a medical student in the room during one visit while I was still going through chemo. This was after I “coded,” and they were giving me chemo, drip by drip, over 12 hours so it wouldn’t kill me again. The med student asked my oncologist if Adriamycin/Cytoxan, the chemo I was getting, was as bad for the heart as he’d read, and my oncologist said no and changed the subject. I let it go, but it raised a red flag. My days of letting red flags fly without commenting on them are now a thing of the past. You are in my prayers every day. Love you, B
Goodness Brenda, enough of this health stuff. You’ve had enough. Now it’s time for some good times!!!! I like the Contessa’s Italian recipes. They sound delish if you don’t salt the water. Fortunately your toenails look fabulous in tht burgandy color. So that’s one thing that’s good. Wait till you publish the book and all of us gang up and buy it before publication. Goodness how to bring some joy into your life. You’e had enough of the ba stuff. I must say between you and Elizabeth I impressed my cariologist when I asked him about my injecktion Fraction. F.el better my dear one.
Hello My Darling, Thanks for calling when I was in Charlotte, SC a couple of weeks ago. What a treat! And yes, don’t you love the nail polish color? It’s called “Ginger’s Revenge.” LOL! Enough with doctors! Between the three of us, we’ve helped several doctors retire. xoxox, Brenda
Brenda, I hate to hear this news but I’m not surprised that you’re taking it in stride with positivity. It’s what you’ve taught us, by example, to do. Sending you much love, Carlene.
Thank you, Carlene. I give it to all of you, and you give it right back to me. I love this arrangement we have going on. Love to you, Brenda
OMG Brenda what a start to your holiday , I can sympathise on your fall I fell down a step on my first day in France , splattered nicely on the floor in front of reception. Your poor feet look very sore and would make walking hell you one gutsy woman.
All my best wishes on the control of your heart failure diagnosis this aging business isn’t for sissies. Much love
Sending much love to you Jo. I’ve thought about catching up with you when you’re in France one summer, but we’d have to promise one another we’ll be on our best health behavior. Love, Brenda
Dear friend,
I’ve been wondering how you’re doing. I’m so sorry to hear this. I remember there being warnings of heart problems when I started chemo, and they did the heart ejection tests every so often to make sure my heart was okay enough to continue treatment. But it was understood that it could cause problems later. I’m so sorry that yours did. And worse, you’ve had a triple whammy! I’ll be praying for you. I know you’ve dealt with every blow over the years, and the Lord has carried you through it all. He is faithful and will never leave our forsake you. Praying He pours His grace on you and gives you wisdom and peace. Love you. XXOO
Beckye, If they told me chemo could cause heart problems later, I don’t remember it. Maybe chalk it up to chemobrain, although I’m sure it was in the medical release I signed… we all signed. Even if they did, I would have said, let’s get on with it. Hook me up to the chemo! Get rid of this breast cancer and save my life. Thank you for your prayers. He is great! I love you as well, Brenda
Goodness, Brenda! Your life certainly gives you lots to write about. I so sorry you’re going through this but grateful you share with us.
I too need to watch my diet and no longer cook with salt or add salt at the table, due to high blood pressure. With so many processed foods, takeout foods, and shelf-stable foods laden with salt, I’ve become a sleuth looking for what’s edible. Maybe the reason over half of the US population has high blood pressure is strongly related to the foods we have available?
May I suggest a great little cookbook? It’s the Truly Easy Heart Healthy Cookbook. The author is a dietician based in New York. The recipes put together flavorful ingredients even my husband will eat. The only limitation is that she’s not a good cookbook writer. In many recipes, steps or details are missed. And she recommends using parchment paper on a sheet pan when cooking under the broiler, which is a safety hazard. Parchment paper’s ignition point is lower than the typical broiler and will catch fire with either gas or electric broilers. But the salads, vegetarian, fish and poultry dishes are tasty and very quick to put together. I haven’t tried the desserts since we are also off sugar – again, something that affect blood pressure. Who knew?
Take care of yourself and get well. Sending healing energy your way.
Hi Ann, Sorry to hear you have high blood pressure, but you’re absolutely on point when you link a lot of our health problems to the foods we eat. I spent hours online, reviewing salt-free/low-salt cookbooks, and they all seem to be lacking in some fundamental way. More than anything, I’m amazed at how many list “low sodium” chicken broth as an ingredient. LOL! That has more sodium than I can have in three days! Or the authors fail to correlate how much sodium is in a serving size which again, makes their recipes prohibitive for me. You take care, too, Ann! Thank you! xoxox, Brenda
damn. sorry to hear all this. hope you had some time to enjoy patmos before the fall:( hearing about heart failure is so distressing. wishing you a positive path forward.
Thanks, Bonnie. I am on a positive path forward, and I’m doing well so thank you. Unfortunately, I tripped the second morning I was in Patmos, so no… I didn’t see a lot except for my hotel, the ER, and the physical therapist, but the Greek people were delightful. I still miss the physical therapist. She’s a love. xoxox, Brenda
Brenda, You lifted me up when I was diagnosed with breast cancer all those years ago so now it’s my turn to say you’ll get through this! I hung on your every word and you always steered me in the right direction so I know you’re taking your own advice. Be strong. Go within and meditate and listen to Belleruth Naperstek and know with every fiber of your being that you are loved and you will come out the other side stronger than you were before. You’ve already earned your Wonder Woman cuffs so I’m eager to see where you land. Sending you so much love!
What a sweet note! Thank you, Sandra. I think I said it in an earlier comment, but I lift all of you up, and now, you’re returning the love and positivity to me. This blog and all of you have been such a blessing. I hope you’re doing well after your treatment for breast cancer. Thank you, again. xoxox, Brenda
Brenda, so sorry to hear about your heart issue and your feet. Like others, I was thinking of you and praying for you as I was not seeing any new posts. I wish you speedy recovery with your feet and hope that all goes well with your low sodium diet. It is certainly frightening news . Thank you so much for sharing and just know that you’re not alone. Sending you much love and hugs!
Yvonne, We all have our seasons, and some are better than others. This summer was a challenging one, but I’m doing so much better, and am grateful my feet are close to being healed, plus I’m looking at the heart failure diagnosis as a good thing. Now that I know, I can take steps to ensure it doesn’t get any worse, so all is well. Thank you for the love and hugs! Sending them right back to you, so catch!! xoxox, Brenda
I’m so sorry to hear about your current health issues, Brenda! As the saying goes, getting older is not for sissies”! I always admire your resilience, positive attitude and grateful approach to life and health!
It sounds like you’ve done your homework re: sodium, but please call me if want to discuss nutrition strategies. ‘Sending you healing thoughts, prayers and positive energy!
Loved seeing you here, Lisa. We go way back! I emailed you this morning. If I don’t hear from you in a few days, I may try one of the phone numbers I have for you. Would love your advice and to catch up with you. Thank you! Love, Brenda
I’m so sorry to hear this! You are one of my favorite writers and I will continue to hold you in my thoughts for continued improving health!
Thank you, Joan. That means a lot to me. I appreciate you. xoxoxoxox, Brenda
Hi Brenda,
I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with all of these nasty issues. What a pain, getting older is not for the weak or timid, and it certainly has its’ challenges. But, I know you will get through this with grace and come out the other side victorious – over salt and whatever else is not serving you!
Take care, deep breaths girl. Life is (mostly) good.
Xo
Heidi
Love this, Heidi! Life is mostly good… Oh, how I agree with that. And you? What’s up with you? Traveling with your husband? xoxox, Brenda
Brenda, you stinker … we have many things ironically in common … most importantly our love of dogs named Annie. We spoke in a random text a couple weeks ago and you of course said nothing of your health issues and empath that you are asked how I was … I suspect the Red Devil has taken its toll on me too … and thank you for the sodium forewarning … the good and the bad of seeing the ripe old age of 77 … hug Annie for me!!! Love you! Linda ❤️
Hello Miss Linda!! Well, if the Red Devil was the chemo you were given, then perhaps you can be proactive and cut back on the salt… Way back! My Annie is sitting at my feet, under my desk. She’s worn herself out, barking at the cat across the street and the geckos in the courtyard. I rescued one in my bathroom and put it outside, but I fear Annie found it. 🙁 Love you back! Brenda
This blog post is incredibly informative and eye-opening. It sheds light on a crucial health issue that often doesn’t get enough attention. The detailed explanation of how heart failure symptoms can present differently in women is especially helpful, as it highlights the importance of early detection and personalized care.
I appreciate how the post emphasizes lifestyle changes and preventive measures, empowering women to take control of their heart health.
This is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the unique challenges and needs of women over 60 in managing heart health.
Thank you for providing such valuable insights!
You’re welcome and thank you for reading and leaving me a comment. Brenda
Wow. I am so sorry you’ve been through the ringer this summer, Brenda. I have too, for different reasons.
I am SHOCKED to hear your diagnosis, but not shocked to hear the cause.
The country is awash in pharmaceuticals and ultra processed food, and we are just finding out what they are doing to us long term.
I am confident that you will beat this – if anyone can, it’s you.
Keep us posted on your progress and know that we have missed you.
But you have to take care of yourself – first things first. I’ve had to take a year off of blogging, to care for elderly parents.
Take Care….❤️
Gray, Thank you for the well wishes, but you’ve been dealt a lot in the past year or so, and I think of you sometimes and hope you’re doing well. We’ve got grit and guts, girl. That’s for sure! ❤️❤️❤️❤️, Brenda
Oh Brenda, I’m so very sorry to hear this news. However, you are such a strong person if anybody can handle this situation its you! Life sure can be hard to take at times. It has certainly made me think about sodium content. Always concerned about sugar as I have to keep that in check and of course bad fats, so now I will pay more attention to sodium. I’m not someone that loves to cook, I cook because we have to eat and I don’t want to eat out all the time. I would love to be able to buy meals ready made that are healthy. So far, no luck finding them.
Sending you good vibes and big hugs
Thank you, Jeannette. Yes, I’m strong. I’ve got this! I used to consider myself a foodie, and I loved to cook, but since I no longer have someone to cook for I’m not as fired up about trying new recipes. Now, I spend the time I could have spent cooking, on reading food labels in the grocery store. Like you, I checked sugar and fat content, plus I was concerned about getting enough protein, but until now, I ignored sodium. And good luck finding low sodium when you eat out. Sending some big hugs right back to you! xoxox, Brenda
oh my. I thought something was up with no blog post during summer. what a quirky thing to happen in Greece. That’s something that would happen to me.
I like how you carried on after getting heart diagnosis. Grass will not grow under your feet. I’m curious re medical travel insurance. Must be costly.
Your positive attitude is inspiring.
Label reading is so important.
So far my husband’s immunotherapy has had no side effects but I will be asking now re effects on the heart.
Hi Rosemarie, I buy travel insurance, but it’s far from ideal. The medical portion is mainly for something catastrophic like needing to be airlifted out of someplace in an emergency. I didn’t apply for a claim on this trip. Greece has socialized medicine so my x-rays were free, and the physical therapist was $40 per visit, and I saw her four times so it wasn’t worth all the hoops I’d have to jump through to file a travel insurance claim. Yes, ask your husband’s doctors about any long-term side effects of his treatment. Stay well. Stay positive. Life really is a blessing. xoxox, Brenda
Hi Brenda
Brenda, you are a picture of health. This is so shocking…I will say this: my family always makes fun of me regarding salt. If I eat, even nice restaurants but not all, I find I am dying of thirst for the rest of the day. We had dinner at one of our best restaurants last night…no thirst after the meal. I salt my food when cooking. I never salt anything at the table. You can do this girl!!
Thanks Cindy! Salt is in everything. There’s 70mg in an egg fresh from mama hen, so two eggs and dry toast are a third of the amount of salt I can have in a day. The whole thing is shocking. Do be careful with the amount of salt you consume. The problems it can cause are no joke! xoxox, Brenda
Oh my goodness!! You have been on my mind and every time I get a moment to try to reach out…its midnight or 2 am. I just read this and my heart went out to you and I am praying for you as you get better and go through this. You are so incredibly amazing in so many ways!! Look at you still going to Greece with all the challenges. Please know how special and how loved you are!!
I adore you, Tammy! Thank you for your prayers. You’re in mine every day and I too have wanted to reach out to you. I’ve been wondering if your husband’s painful condition is under control. Be well, my friend. With all the stress you’re under, you’ve been a rock for so many. Love, Brenda
I have no words other than I’m so very sorry Brenda. I’m sure being the strong women that you are you will be able to handle this situation as you have all the other hurdles you have gone through. I’ve been enjoying your blog for many years now and will continue to follow this new journey. Take care
Such a sweet comment, Jeannette. I think I have the hang of the diet, and I’m exercising like I always do and feeling great. With God’s help, I’ll be here for a while longer. Thank you. xoxox, Brenda
Thinking of you today Brenda. Hoping you are coping with your new “normal”. Take good care
Oh Brenda, I just read your post. I am so far behind on emails and on this rainy day with remnants from Hurricane Helene, I had some extra time to catch up. Knowing you, you will get your health back on track soon! I have always been so disappointed in the restaurant industry for overloading our food with sodium. Even took a cooking class once and the chef walked over to our station, tasted the food and said you don’t have enough salt in your dish! She proceeded to add more! I was mortified when I saw how much she put in our pot! Eating out sadly is so unhealthy. Sending love and prayers! You got this!