HOW TO MANAGE DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY?

[Vivi2711]

I'm a dilated cardiomyopathy patient. On regular medications. Salt restriction upto 1500 mg daily.Regular exercise. Fluid restriction of 1.5 litres. Included dapagliflozin 5 mg for the six months. Spironolactone plus torsemide 10 mg daily is my diuretic for 3.5 years.

Unintended weight gain is being witnessed. Increased from 72 kgs to 75 kgs in four months.

No ankle or feet or stomach swelling. Till now no shortness of breadth also. EF is 36% for the past 3.5 years. Carvedilol 3.125 mg twice daily, atoravastatin 10 mg once daily, clopidegril 75 mg once daily, tamsulosin plus dutasteride once daily (for bph) Febuoxostat 40 mg are my medications.

BP is always around 110/75 & not diabetic.

Where I am failing?

Or is it progression of DCM?

Or are my kidneys failing?( Serum creatinine is 1.5) Age 61.

Kindly advise as to what is to be done?

Thanks in advance.

[Putterguy]

Hi Vivi, my husband is also a DCM patient just coming up to 12 months since diagnosis. Not sure what your main question is really is it the weight gain or the breathlessness. Don’t really understand sorry. My husband at the moment is stable weight wise ( he lost 9 kg from diagnosis) you don’t mention exercise in your post. He walks everyday approx 5 k. Plays golf 3 times a week ( needs a buggy now) and has just started rehab ( due to COVID only just restarted). I would suggest you speak to the heart nurse or Doctor if you are concerned about the weight gain. If you are getting short of breath definately speak to the heart nurse or doctor as you could have water retention somewhere. Give them a ring.

[Vivi2711 in reply to Putterguy]

Thanks a lot.