Sudden Extreme Exhaustion: Hello... - British Heart Fou...

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Sudden Extreme Exhaustion

woodpeke profile image
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Hello everyone. I am 75 years old, have dilated cardiomyopathy, had an aortic valve replacement in 2015, have an ectopic burden of 53% and an ejection fraction of 30-35%. My problem is that, with very little warning, I get sudden bouts of complete exhaustion and chronic low blood pressure. My cardiologist says there is nothing they can do to stop this so I would like to know if any one else has the same problem and how they cope with it?

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woodpeke
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Ianc2 profile image
Ianc2

Hi woodpeke

I am 74, had my valves done in 2014, flowed by an ablation in 2015. in the last year or so I have had 3 slow and gentle fainting sessions. My wife tells me that I go white and crumple up, and then recover quickly.

So off to my cardiologist I did go and had an ECG, followed by a question and answer, very detailed discussion. I take rampiril to manage blood pressure and keep the walls of my arteries flexible. Your heart is ok he told me and identified a course of action:

1. Rampiril is a known cause of fainting . If you stop taking it the fainting will cease. However you will lose the protection it offers against possible stroke events. Rampiril stays in your system for about 12 hours - so take it at about 7pm. When you are lying down your blood pressure is more easily managed and side effects are lessened.

2. Avoid a very low salt diet

3. I am inside my BMI so be careful not to lose too much more weight

4. Drink 3 pints of water as well as my normal fluid intake. If you arteries and your body is full of fluid it is very difficult for the body to organise a pressure drop without a major bleeding event. Aim for about 3 litres a day total.

My main concern was for my driving licence, so I have stopped driving until I go and see him again, when he will review my progress. If the fainting has stopped I will be able to resume driving. Bit of a shock to the system drinking all the extra water , though it does seem to be working well.

Ianc2 profile image
Ianc2 in reply toIanc2

You haven't got to the syncope stage but you might like to look at the STAR website as well?

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