Hi, after having a heart attack end of Feb, I was unable to be stented, leaving me with my heart pumping at 29%, I am on quite a lot of medication, has anyone been in this situation and seen any improvement, I know its only three months, but i am just wondering.
I am to have a defibrillator fitted soon, hopefully, any thoughts on this procedure? good or bad. as I am hoping to return to work at some point, I am only receving the basic sick pay and becoming very stressed because of the financial situation.
Thank you
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GKAAA
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Hello GK, this is a rather long post and I advise a cup of tea, biscuit and sit down to read.This is obviously a worrying time for you but please try not to stress. In my experience, stress is often the result of insufficient information about a situation and it always makes things worse.I have not been in your position but have been in an unusual situation when it comes to a medical condition and the appropriateness of what would otherwise be considered 'standard' treatment protocols. Mine though, is more to do with the head than the heart!
Anyway, I can think of a dozen questions that, in your shoes, I would be asking to find out what the best next steps are for me. I would write them all down on a sheet of paper and take it to my next consultation with the cardiologist, or email it to him/her for a reply to each question if there's no consultation soon booked. In my experience, secretaries are generally helpful when it comes to getting messages through to consultants for their attention and reply. Consultants sometimes assume a level of knowledge/understanding that we patients don't possess - and fail to communicate as a result.
If I didn't already, I'd want to know why my heart has only 29% capacity. Is it injured muscle or a faulty valve that's the problem or the blood supply that's reduced/compromised its ability to work, something genetic or a mix of lots of things?
Are the arteries clogged up or otherwise narrowed (or dilated) and for what reason?
What's blood pressure (BP) doing - high or low or normal?
There are things that the individual can do with lifestyle and dietary changes that can reduce BP, ramp it up, make the blood less sticky and better flowing, activate anti-coagulants to improve their effectiveness etc., etc. Good hydration is critical. Lifestyle changes where appropriate can improve heart rate and flow by regular exercise and resting routines.
The list of possibilities is long, but it is important to a) know what you're dealing with, b) know what you're doing and c) have fully informed approval from your consultant. Don't engage in strong exercise, take any herbal supplements or radically change your routine without ticking these boxes.
As for implanted defibrillators, I know there are mixed views about these. I think you need to have a full and frank discussion with your specialist about the advantages and disadvantages of this method of intervention, particularly if the prospect worries you as you head towards senior age (you're not there yet!).
You've made a good start by asking community members for their experience, which will undoubtedly be informative. But it's just the start.
I think you should go back to your consultant armed with many questions with the objective of obtaining the answers you need in order to move forward fully informed, including a prospective return to work date. You need to be given the power to make informed judgements and choices about suggested next steps rather than get stressed about inadequately explained treatment options and their impact on future expectations.
At the moment, it seems to me that you may be struggling in the dark. Ask your consultant to answer your questions and thereby shed much more light!
bridgeit's advice is sound. I would just add that thanks to meds and a pacemaker, my EF has improved from 20% to near 60%, and a check this week showed all was working well. There is hope for improvement if you work with your cardio team. There is lots of useful advice on the BHF website which you may find helpful.
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