Heartfailure

[Biglad1]

I had covid/pneumonia easter2019 discharged on digoxin and other meds and ended up in persistent afib and not seen again until I had a covid and flu vaccine booster 2022 and ended up back in hospital. Lost alot of weight since then and diagnosed cardiomyopathy and put on max dose of entresto and eplerenone and ejection fraction went from 38% down to 28%. Come off entresto as side effects was numbness in hands on a night and chest palpations generally feeling horrible. Recently put on 5mg of ramapril instead hopefully increasing dose to 10mg soon. Cardiologist go to solution is is a defib which I've said no. Feel like he's not listening and unwilling to try other things 1st. Whilst under his care I've got worse rather than better. Anyone else had a similar experience

[BobD Volunteer]

Another way to look at it is you got worse despite his care. Most such heart matters are progressive.

[Buffafly]

Why have you said no? Was the offer pace and ablate or just defibrillator pacemaker? Because if the latter it suggests he considers you in danger of cardiac arrest which would solve all your problems permanently of course….

[Biglad1 in reply to Buffafly]

Just defib

[Biglad1 in reply to Buffafly]

I personally think it's all covid related from 2019 when I ended up in icu for 10days then had my booster 2023 and it sent everything haywire again and ended up back in hospital. As for got worse during his care let's wait and see when I ask for another echo after coming off the entresto and back on ramapril.

[faranbrygo]

My afib cannot not be medically remediated and required defibrillation to avoid heart failure. I'll pick a defib every time.

[Jishuang44]

I have dilated cardiomyopathy and developed AFib due to a bout of metapneumovirus last Spring. I refused an ICD for years as I had never had an operation and was very worried by the idea, and was quite reluctant to take any pills unless absolutely necessary . It turned out to be a bad decision on my part as I ended up with an arrhythmia which caused cardiac arrest and I was on a ventilator for weeks and my husband was told I only had a 4% chance of survival. I think my cardiomyopathy progressed more rapidly than it needed to as I was only on a beta blocker and a diuretic for 7 years. I was fitted with an ICD and put on 7 new drugs while I was comatose in Barts Hospital. I would have a hard think about having the pacemaker defibrillator. I was only saved by my husband being there and knowing how to do CPR & the ambulance arriving quickly. I also had a horrible reaction to Entresto & am now back on Ramipiril which is fine apart from causing reflux. My ejection fraction has been no higher than 25 for the past 7 years. Good luck with your decisions.

[Sustainedvtach270 in reply to Jishuang44]

Thank you for sharing on the importance of ICD!

[Alemo27]

I believe the defibrillator/pacemaker should be implemented .

It’s not difficult procedure . It prolonged my mother life . Was done in90

Good luck

[Biglad1 in reply to Alemo27]

Not having it end of if I am as bad as he has it taken going on 3yrs to come to that conclusion. If it was a pacemaker defib I may of considered it . I want another echo 1st after trying the ramapril to see if there is any improvement because I'm fairly sure the entresto was causing some of the issues because since stopping it going on ramapril all issues I was having have stopped. Also if they stopped the afib with ablation I think the ef would show improvement.

[Buffafly in reply to Biglad1]

Most new ICDs act as pacemakers as well I believe. Your cardiologist should have given you details. I’m assuming ablation is not an option for you?

[Biglad1 in reply to Buffafly]

Never been mentioned q