AFIB caused heart failure?

[Aprilrain2024]

Hello, my 76 year old mom was hospitalized a month ago after feeling very sick and ended up having to be intubated in the ICU for a day because her lungs were full of fluid - she had heart failure with an EF of 15%. She has had afib for over 17 years and had an ablation done when she was first diagnosed, and has been seeing her cardiologist every 6 months with good reports so this was a total shock. She was in the hospital for 2 weeks, and was supposed to have a cardioversion done before she came home but they found a blood clot in her heart so they cannot do the procedure until they make sure that is gone.. She is now scheduled to get a cardioversion in about a month, but in the meantime she says she just does not feel well, she is very tired and dizzy - and depressed. Has anyone recovered from an EF of 15%? I'm just trying to find some reason to give her hope that she will feel better once the cardioversion is done and her heart is back in a normal rhythm again.

[WhitstableWanderer]

Sorry to hear of your mum's recent issues. Others on here will provide more detailed advice but, specifically, I can add that my EF slipped down to 9 when I suffered 'heart failure' about six years ago. This gradually recovered to 16, then 22, then around 30 over the 16 days I was in ICU. The Cardio team were considering installing a pacemaker as that's the protocol if EF is below 35, but in discussion we agreed to wait a month and see if the improvement continued. Thankfully, it did, to the middle 30s and I felt considerably better. A few years on, my EF has settled at 46 or thereabouts and I don't worry about it. A 'good' heart is maybe 65, not 100, by the way! Incidentally, I was also scheduled for a cardioversion that was cancelled because of a clot. The thinking was that this had formed in the LAA and had to be dispersed before the CV was attempted.

I trust that your mum gets good treatment. You'll get good support here, at least.

[Aprilrain2024 in reply to WhitstableWanderer]

Thank you so much, I am so glad to hear that you got better after such a low EF!!! That is amazing!!😊

[Ppiman]

I’m quite sure that your mother will recover. EF from 50% is deemed normal, and any degree of arrhythmia is likely to reduce this.

I guess your mother needs some further investigation or at least they should offer an explanation of the low output.

Steve

[Aprilrain2024 in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you - I think that will be part of the plan eventually. I'm hoping it was all caused by the afib and that once she's back in a normal rhythm she will start feeling better - thanks again for you reply!!!

[Ppiman]

I’m sure all this has been done, but some thoughts came to mind as a friend is being treated for COPD and heart failure. His EF was low but with treatment is now in the mid 40s and he’s altogether happier. It’s just a thought but I guess as well as the lung congestion your mum had swollen ankles and maybe tummy, too? Have they checked on her kidney function as that it’s important when the heart fails at all?

She’s likely on a diuretic to increase her urine output and reduce swelling (oedema). These can cause unusual mental disturbances so that needs to be considered (as they affect electrolytes). This happened to my grandmother and was missed by her doctor initially.

Heart failure from AF is often different from what is called CHF (congestive HF). This is what my friend has and it’s more serious, I think.

Steve

[Aprilrain2024 in reply to Ppiman]

She is on a diuretic... I am really glad you mentioned that because she is definitely having some cognitive issues that she did not have before all this happened. They did check her kidney function while she was in the hospital and everything was good with that. I'm going to ask her to talk to her doctor about this, thank you again!!

[Ppiman in reply to Aprilrain2024]

Just another thought. What you call cognitive symptoms… a low heart rate, output or blood pressure can temporarily affect the mind in some people creating a sense of distancing and brain fogginess, even confusion - and anxiety can create memory lapses.

I expect this is your mum’s problem. She’ll be well again! I feel sure.

Steve

[Aprilrain2024 in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you so much Steve!!!😊