Echo test results.

[pjw17]

After recent Echo, results are 44%EF..mid/moderate HF stage 1 NYHA, ramipril being upped to 10mg daily and refer to HF nurses. Before I talk to GP anybody had something similar and can advise.

Ta.

[Honeybee1961]

Hi, Not sure if it’s the EF you are primarily concerned about? I had a similar EF result on my echocardiogram after my HA last summer. I was also referred to HF nurse, who’s role it seems is to primarily help manage medication. I am still in a bit if a quandary about what the true significance of this “mid range” HF, as it is neither “reduced”, as in below the accepted 40%, or “preserved”, as in above 50 or 55%, depending where you look. From my reading, it seems this mid range has only been recognised as a thing in its own right for the last few years, and so research and consequently evidence regarding best treatment is scarce. Some papers seem to suggest it is most like preserved EF, whilst others say it is more like reduced EF, hence massive confusion and a distinct lack of answers from medics to my many questions. The balance seems to sway towards treating it like reduced EF heart failure. I wasn’t aware that NYHA class could be determined by an echo. Would be interested to hear what your GP has to say about it. My GP admitted she knows next to nothing about echocardiograms!

[pjw17 in reply to Honeybee1961]

Thanks honeybee, will reply when I can.

[Hatchjd]

Has this decreased from a previous echo or have you had increasing symptoms that are causing concern? I had an echo the day after 2 stents were inserted and had EF 45%. with ventricular myocardial stunning. I was

told it was slightly reduced but not concerning and sent on my way with the usual medication regime of beta blocker, ramapril, blood thinner and cholesterol meds. That was 18months ago. Other than some annual blood work it has not been mentioned since and I have no symptoms.

[pjw17 in reply to Hatchjd]

HA last may 1 stent. Not been given EF till now.Ta.

[Hidden]

Let us know if you get much clarity from your GP. My experience is that they are very short on explanations unless you pester them. My cardiologist just described my latest echocardiogram as being ‘at the low end of normal’. After the telephone appointment I thought I should have more detail. Rang up her secretary and she sent me a copy of the report produced by the Philips machine.

Once I used the internet to look up all the abbreviations it was actually useful!

Good luck.

[pjw17 in reply to Hidden]

Will doTa.

[Prada47]

Hello

I think the mid/moderate should be taken as Mild/Moderate which I think 44% fits into.

Class 1 on the NYHA scale is really " you experience very few or no classic HF symptoms" i.e. short of breath when doing some work/ household tasks etc. !!!

In my experience H F Nurse will talk to you about lifestyle and she /he will be able to titrate your medication up or down depending on how your feeling.

In my experience they tend to be guided by what you are telling them as to how you are feeling and how you are handling the medication. All a bit trial and error to start off, but it sounds positive so far.

Vaccinated Hands Face Space to still stay safe

It sounds a pretty positive Echo

[pjw17 in reply to Prada47]

Thank you.

[pjw17 in reply to Prada47]

Yes sorry it is mild /moderate, Thanks.

[Hidden]

Can't give any help on your EF I'm afraid but how do you get this information from your Echo? All I'm given is not much change from last year

[pjw17 in reply to Hidden]

Hello suzukis,It was all in report sent to me.

Ta.

[Hidden in reply to pjw17]

Ok thanks. I have nothing like that on mine. hay ho.🤔

[Heartbear]

Hi there,

I'm 51 (52 in a few weeks) and had a "big" HA on 12 July last year as I was emerging from bed to go running with the group I'm in. Still unexplained why the LAD got blocked because I don't have any of the risk factors, family history, and my bloods were/are all in the normal ranges. Whilst in hospital they did an MRI on me which showed an EF of 48%. A couple of days later they did an Echo which showed the EF to be 45% - so in the same range as the MRI and not surprisingly slightly different given the different method of measuring it. I had another MRI in October which showed the EF as 45% which they said was 'no change' from what was measured in hospital by the two methods. The cardiologist said that in my case it's not a disaster because with people that have a HA 'of the size' mine was (whatever that means - my LAD was 100% blocked, so maybe that's classed as 'big'?)...they usually see an EF as low as 25 or 30%, he said "...which is bordering on heart failure". He thinks mine at 45%, whilst lower than a healthy heart at 55 to 60%, is probably a reflection that I was fairly active/fit, and he says at 51 I'm relatively young. He did say that my heart has some 'moderate damage' and the bottom of my heart "...isn't working as well as it should", but he wasn't overly concerned about it and it is to be expected following the HA. His clear message was to stick rigidly to the meds plan and do the rehab course - which I completed and have continued every other day since. Not sure if this helps your question, but perhaps puts a bit of perspective on EFs from what I was told.

Take care, Graham

[pjw17 in reply to Heartbear]

Thanks Graham for help.

[Vivi2711]

EF is merely a number & is constantly fluctuating. Even experts who compute the EF are likely to err & hence the thumb rule 7plus or 7 minus still prevail.

In my humble opinion it is the symptoms that matters, like unintentended increase in weight, heart beat is always on the higher side, increased shortness of breadth while climbing stairs, bloating of stomach & mild swelling of ankles, inability to carry out the work which was being done hitherto easily, mild shortness of breadth when bending, setting in of fatigue, loss of appetite, constipation, inability to carry out brisk walking, unable to lift the grocery bag which was earlier done effortlessly.

To be on the safer side reduce intake of salt by half (don't worry. Within a month taste buds get adapted to it & no difference will be felt) Start walking daily since exercise is the key to strengthen the heart muscles with the approval of the HF nurse. Take the prescribed medications.

There will be absolutely no problem even now & if at all something prevails it can be totally reversed.

All the best.

[pjw17 in reply to Vivi2711]

Thanks for help.

[Prada47 in reply to pjw17]

Sorry forgot to mention earlier

A major plus with having a Heart Failure Nurse is that they can get quicker access to a Cardiologist should the need arise. They can also prescribe Heart Medication only a Cardiologist or Heart Nurse can prescribe Entresto i.e Cardo / Nurse will have to start you on Entresto before your GP can prescribe it.

Vaccinated Hands Space Face to keep safe .

[pjw17 in reply to Prada47]

Hopefully seeing HFNurse next Tues, I will be loaded down with questions to ask!!!!Thanks.