Recent LVSD diagnosis following heart attack 2yrs ago

[Spangles77]

Suffered full occlusion to LAD (blood clot) in October 2019 and within approx hour and half had been taken to Papworth and stented. I did not arrest.

When I was discharged I was advised "minimal" muscle damage to heart. At the time there was no mention of LVSD but, in hindsight, reading the discharge notes I still have possession of I see that they had recorded LVEF of 46%.

Fast forward approx 28 months later... echocardiogram at hospital following some lengthy periods of irregular heartbeat that came and went during November 2021 (ectopic heartbeats I have been told) - now told my LVEF is 40% and that I have moderate LVSD.

Am very confused and worried by this and what has not helped is that I have had no single point of contact during this strange journey with regards to a cardiology specialist. The recent echocardiogram analysis was reviewed by a "guest" doctor at the clinic I attended and I had no opportunity to ask any questions that later came to mind (this was new info and new territory for me and I had not the time during the appointment to comprehend what exactly I was being told and therefore work out some questions to ask...). I tried to contact the same doctor the next day to be told that she was based at another practice that I was not registered to so and therefore would not be entertaining communicating with me. Good God!

Questions - has my LVEF truly plummeted from 46-40% in 2yrs? Are the numbers being quoted variable and dependent on who is doing the calculation?? Could another echo come up with yet another percentage - up or down??? What is my prognosis?

I had been pretty optimistic after getting home from hospital 2yrs ago but now I feel I am being given mixed information and nobody specialised in the matter that I can speak to easily. Starting to feel quite depressed.

[Pammy124prms]

hello spaangles77 not sure what lvef is but mines only 42 i had 5 stents fitted a year ago is it something to do with the heart working at a certain rate, after my 1st ha it was 48 2nd was 42, i thought oh my god thats terrible but apparently its only meant to be 55, so not so bad....hopefully. how much exercise do you get im terrified of walking outside , i do an online1 mile wlk 4 times a week,

[Pammy124prms]

ps ,dont read the doctors report we know nothing about it and its very very technical, if they were worried they wouldnt have discharged you.

[Spangles77 in reply to Pammy124prms]

I was told that an LVEF in the 30’s is described as Heart Failure… hence my concern.

[Babsben]

Hi, I have lvsd (left ventricle systolic dysfunction) my EF was 29% and with medication and lifestyle it went up to 47%. My left ventricle is now midly dilated having improved. My cause is unknown I went for investigations as I passed out for a couple seconds and was having irregular heartbeats.

I never quite understood most of the letters sent but I was referred to a HF nurse and she explained them to me.

This is all in the space if a year and half. The HF nurse monitored how I was responding to medication my lifestyle etc. ..

❤️

[Spangles77 in reply to Babsben]

I am guessing you did not suffer a heart attack before the issue? My problem is that I have heart muscle damage due to the blood deprivation whilst the artery was blocked. I have been told that muscle will not repair.

[Lezzers in reply to Spangles77]

Hi Spangles, Your EF can still improve after having a heart attack. My husband had a massive heart attack followed by cardiac arrest. He has extensive damage & severe stiffening of his heart due to the damage and with meds his EF went from 30 moderate/severe HF to 51 mild HF. The muscle cannot repair itself but the meds somehow re-model the heart so that it works more efficiently. Plus exercise, within guidelines, can help strengthen the parts of the heart that is not damaged and that takes over the work ( to some extent) of the part that is damaged. Hope that helps

[Spangles77 in reply to Lezzers]

That does help. Thanks

[Lezzers in reply to Spangles77]

Ps: I forgot to mention my husband's HA and CA happened over 20+ years ago and he was diagnosed with HF in 2012! Apparently an echo is not a accurate reading of your EF. A technician works out the value but apparently this can be out by + or- 5% & different technician can/do give different values. Also your EF can & does change on a hourly/daily basis so you'll probably never get the same value if you had a daily echo. Plus most cardiologists are not too concerned bout your EF, it's usually just a marker, cardiologist are more interested in symptoms. Its very common for someone to have a very low EF and have few if any symptoms whereas someone with a near normal EF can be very symptomatic, try not to get hung up on your EF as it is just a number. No one can tell you your prognosis but people with HF can & do live fairly normal life's for many years, I know of people who've had it for 30+ years, others even run marathons!

[Babsben in reply to Spangles77]

Hi, no I didn't suffer a ha. I had no blocked arteries. They don't know what's made my heart dilate. They pretty much ruled out the heritary side of things. I'm on meds now which control symptoms.

[Spangles77]

You have made me feel much more positive. Many many thanks.

[Spangles77]

Had another echocardiogram (approx 6mths after my previous one - I had to push for it as my GP does not seem to care) - was hoping that since I had Ramipril added to my daily prescription following previous echo that my LVEF might have improved but still recorded as 40. Impossible for me to tell if the Ramipril has helped (i.e. would my LVEF reading have continued the trend downwards and been lower than 40 without it?) or has Ramipril actually made no difference? Who knows. What I do know is that these meds I am on (Statins, Bisoprolol, Ramipril, Aspirin) have made notable changes to my metabolism and the general biochemistry of my body. Did I mention ED? - am finding it increasingly difficult to pretend the issue is not depressing me. Would happily give up all the pills tomorrow.

[Gigi70]

Hi

Ive had to do a lot of fighting to get the cardia care I need and when you are just out of hospital it seems unreasonable.

Ask your GP to refer you to a cardiologist for a second opinion asap. See if you can find someone who looks like they have an interest in this area of ejection fraction. Everything is available on the WWW.

It is possible that your disease has progressed. It may not be the HA that caused this change.

I had a major MI 2 months ago and was told minimal damage occurred to my heart but my Heart rate is going up and down and they are not letting me begin cardio rehab till they confirm the cause. Very frustrating. I am certain you will get this sorted if you make a lot of noise - politely!

Good Luck

Michele