Not sure what to think about LVSD EF 40 - 45

[Robbie38]

Not too sure what to think ,Just coming up to 3 years post Heart Attack, Stemi to the LAD , Complicated by a out of hospital cardiac arrest , One stent fitted at the time within 90 minutes at LHC hospital. , Had a further 2 fitted a year later having some chest discomfort , Looking back probably anxiety All scans this far show EF 40 - 45 so I have LVSD. , My Cardiologist has said I’m not in heart failure and says I may never go to that stage currently in NYHA class 1 , Described it as a mild weakness to the heart muscle. , However I’m on lots of medication including Spiralactone , I was nearly 20 stone heavy drinker and smoker with a bad diet , And a workaholic , but I was only 47 and things like this Only happens to other people or so I thought , I stopped drinking and smoking that day and never touched them since, down to 16 stone now and counting , Changed my diet and work ethic , Truth is I’m fitter now than I was 25 years ago , But I dread heart failure , Read many clinical studies on it and their is not much up to date data on my ticket . Anyone out there like me. Take care Robbie

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hello Robbie

Well done with the progress you've made, I know it's not easy giving up smoking, drinking and basically completely changing the habits of a lifetime.

It was exactly 18 months ago today that I had a heart attack/cardiac arrest. I had one stent in the LAD and the echo gave a result of an EF of 30% therefore heart failure.

I haven't smoked since, hardly drink these days, completely changed my diet, lost 40 lbs in weight and got a lot fitter

At my last appointment with the consultant, I was told that my EF had increased to 40-45% and that, like you, he considered that I was no longer in heart failure, sayings that I am completely asymptomatic and can exercise without limitation. Just told to carry on doing what I've been doing.

It was all a total shock to me - as you say, these things only happen to other people. But still here, which is quite an achievement, when you consider the survival chances of cardiac arrest.

Heart Failure is a terrible phrase, I prefer Impaired Heart Function, but when they first tell you that you've got HF you feel like the end of the world has arrived. Thankfully, things aren't as bad as they sounded. I think the way forward is to continue with the changes you and I have both made. Personally at the start I found the healthy eating a bit of a struggle but it's now become the norm.

Best wished for the future

[Robbie38 in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Thanks for the reply , I get reassurance from not being alone with this condition, Heart disease can be a lonely place, Best wishes for the future , Take care