Sudden Extreme Exhaustion

[woodpeke]

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?

[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 in reply to Ianc2]

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