Lbbb

[Kazza_1]

My daughter is 30 year old we have just found out she has left bundle branch blockage and heart failure the heart muscle is 39% she having her mri next week has any other young people on here had this she got told off someone prognosis at this level 5 year she has a little girl of 7 single mum is devastated things going so slow found out by accident in sept and only just been given meds

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

LBBB is a Left Bundle Branch Block. This shows up on a ECG and can often indicate other heart problems. So what have you been told and are further tests planned?

[Kazza_1 in reply to MichaelJH]

She is waiting mri they know her heart muscle weak 39% and have given dietetic and needs blood pressure monitor on for 3 days

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Kazza_1]

Sorry for stating the obvious. When I initially saw your original post the text just said "This is a diagnosis" and I assumed you had been told LBBB and nothing else. Although I know what it is I have no real knowledge of the condition.

I can only assume something got out of sync...

[Kazza_1]

Can you help

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

Hi. I was diagnosed with heart failure aged 31. I think my heart function was 35% if I remember rightly? It's been a long journey, but I'm doing really well six years on. There are so many fantastic treatments available. It takes a while to get the medication right (lots of side effects at first) but once they do, the difference can be amazing. I also had a device fitted to make my heart pump more effectively and that worked wonders for me, though it's not suitable for every case. New treatments are being developed all the time and I feel very positive about my future.

I have a six-year-old (I was pregnant with her when diagnosed) and I am able to be a very active mum to her, as well as working part time. I hope that goes some way towards reassuring you. I know the diagnosis stage is very scary and overwhelming, but it does get easier. Feel free to message me any time you like, your daughter too. Lots of love x

[Kazza_1 in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Thank you so much hun theu have said cnt get pregnant agait if does needs to abort as will kill her il show her this

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star in reply to Kazza_1]

Yes, I was told the same, very hard to accept. Some people do choose to take the risk but the risk is very significant, especially when you have a child already. X

[Judym in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Hi Laura.I have lbbb and loads of ectopic beats my cardiologist wants to avoid ablation if possible.I notice you say the drugs you were put on had side effects initially lasting for some time .I'm now on ivabradine and bisoprolol also furosemide and ramipril which I've had for some time. The bisoprolol and ivabradine seem to be causing nausea lightheadedness and what I can only describe as weird feelings in my chest did you take any of them and did they cause your side effects?Parting comment from cardiologist don't worry you're not going to drop dead!Hardly reassuring when you feel so awful .

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star in reply to Judym]

I take similar medications, but not identical. Light-headedness and exhaustion were definitely the main side effects I experienced. I do remember being aware of weird feelings and palpitations in the early days but I don't know if that was the medication or just being hyper aware after the shock of diagnosis, plus the general anxiety of course. Lots of the side effects are very similar to heart failure symptoms so it can be hard to differentiate. I still suffer from light-headedness and tiredness but not to the extent I did when first diagnosed. My heart function hasn't improved so I can only put the improvement down to tolerating meds better. I've had some doses reduced over the years (because of tiredness and a spell of kidney problems) but am still taking pretty decent amounts. At the moment I take carvedilol, entresto, spironolactone and furosemide for my heart. Hope that answers your question. I would add that it's always worth keeping your doctor up to date about any symptoms/side effects, especially any changes in them. Good luck x

[Kazza_1 in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Thank you for all your info laura i posted further down that i took herto gp today after yesterdays prediction she now knows at her age thays a load of crap so we are now just wziting for mri nxt wed

[Flossy66]

I have been diagnosed with lbbb and heart failure ischemic cardiomyopathy, my heart muscle is damaged and my ef is 35%-40%,this all started last March and I only just got my Mri results back which I had in October, my cardiologist didn't even see me to discuss my results they were just sent by post so I still don't know what caused my heart problem, my BP & cholesterol are fine and I also had a angiogram which was all clear, I have been on meds since July and I feel OK just really tired all the time, I didn't really have any bad symptoms to start with just horrible heart palpations. What symptoms does your daughter have and what has the cardiologist said. Hope all will be Ok for your daughter. IM 51 years old and I have a 15 year old son. Xx

[Usagold in reply to Flossy66]

What do you mean by heart palpitations? I’m wondering if I could have something like this. I’ve always gotten intermittent PVCs (skipped beats that feel like fluttering in my chest), but since I turned 50, now 51, my heart flutters so much at night, I can’t sleep. If I lie on my side, it’s much worse, so some nights I have to lie on my back propped up on 2 pillows. 2 yrs ago my ef was 55 and a monitor showed PVCs and sinus tachycardia, but it’s gotten worse. It’s worse after I eat. I don’t have energy to do anything. Or if I try to exercise, my heart races up too fast and starts skipping. Trying to figure out if it’s anxiety or a cardiac issue.

[DIBBER14 in reply to Usagold]

Your palpitations sound just like mine. Had them for 18 months. Awaiting appointment with cardiologist. I can be sat comfortability and sometimes after eating the palpitations will suddenly kick in and laying on my side in bed at night. I also suffer awful anxiety btw. This in itself can cause the heart to race. Your body is releasing adrenalin which will speed up the heart. Vicious circle. It can get to the stage where you are exoecting the hr to rise and therefore it will. Un saying that though palpations can and are more likely to be caused by electrical activity within the heart chambers. Thats what they think i have. My hr can be mid 60's and then as you say a flutter , mine just below the left ribs and instantly i will be aware of hr of over 100. Then anxiety will kick in and excabatethe problem

[not2worry in reply to DIBBER14]

Has your cardiologist ever discussed arterial fibrillation with you? Some of the symptoms are signs of A Fib.

[Flossy66 in reply to Usagold]

Usagold. My palpations were like fast heavy heart beat, my cardiologist said thy wasn't anything to worry about, I haven't had any since last April. X

[Kazza_1 in reply to Flossy66]

Didnt mri show anything ?? i hope you are ok is yours hereditry they think sarahs is as dad has idchsemic hesrt and angins he jas haf 10 year on a cocktail of tabs for life

[Flossy66 in reply to Kazza_1]

The Mri results said ischemic cardiomyopathy & lbbb and said no cause was found, don't make sense to me, my cardiologist hasn't called me back to the hospital to discuss my results. My care under the hospital has not been great or helpful. Don't think my heart problem is heridatary, my mum or dad didn't have heart problems, I had a older sister who was born with heart problems and she died when she was 6 months old. When I was told In July I had heart failure & lbbb I got really worried & scared I got meself in a state felt depressed but am feeling better now, I kept looking on Google like your daughter and that didn't help makes you panic more. Hope all goes well with your daughters Mri and let us know how things go. Xxxx

[Kazza_1 in reply to Flossy66]

I do think the hospitals could help a lot more for evwryone there info and advice they give tho it is a fact as it a scary thing il keep posted x

[Usagold]

Surely there are meds or devices that will help your daughter’s condition. My friend has been living with heart failure and an ef of 40% for the past 20 years and is going strong, although there are limitations as to what he can do. He does have a pacemaker and defibrillator implanted.

[Kazza_1 in reply to Usagold]

I am hopefull there be somerhing they can do i cnt believe thats it this has beengoing on since sept anf jist gavr her diuretic and one other tablet

[Si1972]

Hi, I’m very sorry to hear about your daughter did you mean her Ejection Fraction is 39% and she has been given 5 years life expectancy. I’m not an expert in this field but experiencing heart failure. Who gave your daughter that life expectancy ? Please try to be positive, your daughters heart EF is only 15% from being normal. I hope you get some good news xx

[Kazza_1 in reply to Si1972]

Thank you all for your input it was a nurse practitioner gave her the life expectancy we literally dnt know anythibg she wore heart monitor for 24 hrs had echo cardiogram then was prepped for angiogram and stopped by cardiologist sayimg she wanted mri doing angiogram wnt let her see what wants to know has that done valentines day in castle hill hull

[Si1972 in reply to Kazza_1]

Guess what a nurse told me I had 5 years to live at christmas!!! I’m not as young as your daughter but I’m 45. I then saw another nurse who told me it’s nonsense they cannot place times on your life. It wasn’t St Heiler Hispital was is ? As if it was I expect the same nurse who thinks he’s a cardiologist. I hope you get a resolution xxxxx

[Kazza_1 in reply to Si1972]

It was a nurse practitioner in scarborough been today to gp all been explained to her properly now thoroughly hopefully my daughter will calm a bit now thinking of reporting the nurse tho

[Prada47]

Hello Kazza

Just to say I am one of the people on here also with the wonky heart !!

16% of my Heart Muscle is damaged and yesterday I had a Stress MRI to see what can be done to improve it. My understanding is that you need either a Myocardial Perfusion Scan or an MRI to determine the extent of muscle damage !!

I have never known anyone be given a life expectancy period who has Heart Failure and certainly not from a Nurse Practitioner. I am a supporter of Nurse Practitioners and I think they are a valuable asset for the NHS, but I would talk to my GP or Cardiologist about life expectancy. A call to the Heart Foundation Nurse would be a good start as you can explain much better when having a two way conversation with someone who knows what questions they need to ask.

Regards

Frank W

ps try not to get hung up on EF it is a variable with the right Medication.

[Kazza_1 in reply to Prada47]

Thank you so nuch for all that xx

[Sina-6491]

Aww bless your family and your daughter for the recent trauma you are all going through.

I think a lot of anxiety has come from and been caused from that last appointment. Evan though really none of you have any idea what is actually going on.

My advice is, sit down, take a deep breath and think.

Think what yours and your daughter's next step will be.

For all of us on here, that first time we were aware we had heart issues was just as an anxious time as you are now going through. But in time, we have all learnt to calm down and take in the facts. Only then could we move forward.

Now you haven't said how and when your daughter got this news.

May I suggest there is a possibility that some anxiety has stepped in and taken over. Therefore in an anxious state you and your daughter may have misinterpreted what the nurse pratishaner actually said?

May I advice that with your support, your daughter books an errgent appointment with eather her Gp or the practice nurse at her surgery.

So that she can calmly descuss what she has been told so far.

She can make it clear to them how anxious she feeks right now not really knowing what this all means.

Ask for as much support from her surgery as there is available.

Tell her to keep a diary of everything of how she feels. A record of her meds and when they are taken. Diet, sleep patterns, physical activity, mental activity. Anything that has contributed to her mood etc.

As for this memory she has of being told she has a life expectancy of five years. Hmmm? I think this is where your daughter may not be retaining what was actually said.

I think if it was indeed actually said. That the nurse would perhaps of gone on to say. In the pastnin yester years. The life expectancy would have been around five years. But of course now, the medical field has really advanced to a stage where they can pretty much sort everything to do with the heart.

Therefore our future prognosis is far better than it was say evan five years ago.

I can't believe a nurse pratishaner would say that just like that. It is not really their place to give any kind of factual diagnosis.

So I really do think due to the obvious anxiety that would come from getting the news of undesirable heart health. That you and your daughter need to receive support. Also to try and wait for correct diagnosis from the MRI.

Hoping you get speedy support and feel better soon. Sending hugs,

Jo 😊 😊

[Kazza_1 in reply to Sina-6491]

Thank you so much we went back to gp today she put it all on a different light for us i posted below tgis site helped so mich x

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

I don't think the five years comment is helpful or accurate. My EF was lower than your daughter's (still is as far as I'm aware but my current consultant doesn't view it as a particularly relevant measurement so I haven't heard anything about it for a good few years) and I'm nowhere near death! There is an element of the unknown with heart failure, but many people stay stable for decades. Nobody has ever tried to predict my life expectancy, because it just can't be predicted. I would try to focus on getting the treatment plan up and running and do your best to put that comment to the back of your mind. Not easy, I know, but it sounds like a figure plucked from thin air to me.

[Kazza_1 in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Im really glad i joined this site i took m

y ddaughter to gp today and got a lot of answers as my daiughter jad trouble with breathing since yesterday when this was said to her she has explained to sarah she hasnt got 5 uears and all she can do os applogise that nurse did that i told gpi think sarahs breathig panic attacks as only started yesterday evening im strong for my girl but looking for real details and info as she panics about every single thing and reads google thank you all for your help and information mri nxt wed for her i wish you all success in your journeys i will keep popping on xxxx Thank you

[Becky-Biscuit]

I'm glad you and your daughters minds have been put at ease re 5 year life span. I was diagnosed with heart failure last May and my EF rate is in the mid 20's even after medication. Last week I was fitted with a defibrillator and pacemaker. My hospital doctor told me that 20 years ago I would have a life expectancy of 2-3 years but now will have an almost normal life expectancy. So the nurse giving that news to your daughter should be given some updated training and perhaps a warning about telling patients this kind of information. I hope you both feel a little more positive about the future now and I am sure she will receive the very best care and treatment to keep her well. Best wishes to both of you.