Heart failure tests

[Caitlyn6]

I have had symptoms of heart failure for over a month, legs and stomach, abit swollen, nausea when eating, tachycardia, exhaustion, sleeping 12 hours, cold hands. I feel like I'm not getting enough oxygen. Echocardiogram done last week was normal, ejection fraction 65. I am due a 24hr ecg in two weeks. Been on propanalol 10mg daily for a week. BNP less than 50. I was seen by RACP cardiac nurse who has requested tape test. I'm confused? What test would show heart failure if echo is normal?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Other tests might include an X-ray to look at the heart and to see if there is fluid on the lungs or any other lung condition. To complement the X-ray they could carry out both blood and breathing tests. You mentioned in a other post that you are diabetic. How has your control been recently - is your HbA1c reasnoble and are your BGs stable? A decent HbA1c with Bags bouncing between 2 and 25 is not good control.

[Caitlyn6 in reply to MichaelJH]

Diabetes stable- hbaic 7.2. Thanks for advice

[Chappychap]

Isn't there something called Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction, or words similar to that? I can't remember the exact details, I have atherosclerosis so heart failure isn't something I've specifically researched, but I recall reading about a condition where the heart isn't getting enough blood into the ventricle in the first place, but it pumps out a decent fraction of what blood is there. Consequently the "ejection fraction" is pretty high, but there's still insufficient blood being pumped for the body's needs.

This is only a half remembered guess, so please don't put too much credence in it. But maybe search further around this concept and see if it makes sense.

Good luck!

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Chappychap]

Yes I have heard of this. I just want a diagnosis for what my symptoms are so I can start treatment and hopefully feel better. Thank you

[Fortepiano in reply to Caitlyn6]

Echo and BNP are the tests for heart failure. HF with preserved ejection fraction would also show up on echo.

The tape test is presumably for the tachycardia, which could be makng you feel unwell too.

Hope you get your symptoms sorted soon.

Have you had a full range of blood tests from your GP?

[DaveTR]

Hi there, The BHF site lists tests for heart conditions. Here is the link ... bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo....

[Semley]

Obviously I'm not an expert but from what I know having had medically-managed Heart Failure (horrible term which nobody likes) for about 5 years, is that there are a range of symptoms but you won't necessarily have all of them. Doctors put a lot of faith in the BNP test and there are several websites which explain why this is so and what the expected readings are for different age and gender groups, e.g. healthline.com/health/bnp-test

In my case the GP spotted it and it was confirmed by a blood test (BNP raised). I was quickly put on diuretics (already on beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors being a long term cardiac case) which has done the trick. So discuss it with your GP and/or cardiologist and specialist nurse - the latter being extremely helpful in my experience. Good luck.