Newbie and nervous

[Melz79]

Afternoon from sunny Wales

My husband had a heart attack 7 weeks ago, just unlucky they said, as hes normally fit, no diabetes, no family history. But he had a stent fitted. We've had another echo last week, and his ejection fraction had gone from 32.5% just after the attack, to 40%. He had a call from the rehab team this morning, and they said they didn't really know what to make of the results?

He's doing OK really, we need his meds tweaking as he's lightheaded occasionally and having flutters, so we're seeing the Gp on Thursday, but I was just wondering whether anyone had any knowledge?

I've been lurking since it happened, and I'm so grateful to have this space, thank you 😊

[Heather1957]

Can't help sorry but also in sunny Wales (Pontypridd) at the moment. I would be tempted to ask the rehab nurse about the meds as my GP was very honest with me and said that their knowledge re cardiac meds is mainly general.

My cardiac nurse couldn't prescribe but she would write to my GP who would change/add my prescription accordingly. The rehab nurse usually has a better idea of what causes the side effect.

I hope you get a better answer from someone with knowledge of your specific question.

[Melz79 in reply to Heather1957]

Thank you for that. We've only got a rehab physio at the moment, but we've been referred to a nurse (no appointments until August though!) so I'll ask if the GP can potentially access something else? Thanks for your reply

[Qualipop in reply to Melz79]

Definitely get his meds looked at. After my HA I was put on beta blockers which didn't suit me at all. I was so tired I could barely get out of the chair.

[jamessmith1332]

HI!

[Melz79 in reply to jamessmith1332]

Hello

[uzininemm]

Hello there, in regards to the lightheads, when do they happen?

I found in my case it was when I got off the sofa it happened. My solution was to sit up straight beforehand wait a few seconds and then get up. This helped a lot.

Mentioned this to my consultant, and he told me I had done the right thing and that was what he would have recommended I did.

My understanding (and may I say this as a complete layman) is that it could be as a result of one of the meds. Do ask the GP though.

[Melz79 in reply to uzininemm]

Hi there, yes, exactly as you describe, going from sitting on the sofa. So I'll suggest he tries that, simple but hopefully effective solution, thank you 😊

[Melz79]

That's reassuring, thank you. He's a keen cyclist, and he's worried he won't be able to go back to it. Early days I suppose. We're on Anglesey too, got lots of washing dry today!!!

[Blencathra22 in reply to Melz79]

Hi, follow the advice of the rehab nurse and physio they were great when I had my heart attack. I was also a keen cyclist and went through the same fear of not being able to cycle again in the future. I had one stent fitted and took it slowly initially following the rehab teams advice but made a full recovery - just back from the Alps cycling last week. I had lots of support from other cyclists, who had also had heart attacks, through this forum which helped me mentally at the time.

[peterjones105]

I'm on BP meds and have in the recent past leapt out of bed or from the sofa with dire results, a moment's pause and leaning forward at the same time whilst getting up steadily has resulted in no more light headedness and/or hypotension.Good luck.

[Ewloe]

Welcome from north east Wales. You’ve had lots of good advice and I agree that the rehab nurses know more than the gps about the medications the rehab nurse here have been putting on education seminars for the gps on medications. It’s their speciality. Like your husband I was fit before HA and exercised intently. My ejection fraction was initially 40% then improved to 46% which is good. Rehab told me the muscle damage had improved but it was still a lot to do with the medication working and that if I stopped the medication ( not that I was going to) the 46% would drop a bit. The beta blockers can cause light headedness from sitting to standing it’s not a nice feeling but you’ve received good advice on how to deal with it.

Also some of the drugs your hubby may be on might be for a raised blood pressure even though this has never been a problem. So his blood pressure may dip quite low. Rehab said these drugs can help the heart muscle to heal hence the improved ejection fraction Good luck on Thursday.

[Melz79 in reply to Ewloe]

Thanks Ewloe, that makes a lot of sense explained that way. We were told that the meds could help with that, so fingers crossed they continue doing. The physio has told us to ask for a repeat echo in six months too. Thank you so much for replying, its such a reassurance, my nerves are shot!!

[nilmonisikdar40]

Hi, Your hubby is so well considering that his ejection fraction has gone up to 40%. Anything between 40% to 50% is considered acceptable as normal. What was the cause of his heart attack?

[Lezzers in reply to nilmonisikdar40]

I think you may have got your figures mixed up. A normal EF is considered to be between 55-70, anything between 46 & 55 is considered low normal, 46 & under is considered to be heart failure. However, that doesn't mean the EF can't improve even further, my husband's improved from 30 to 51 with meds so his heart failure was considered to be mild but he still had heart failure as it was the meds that made the improvement.

[Melz79 in reply to Lezzers]

Thank you both for replying. He had a blockage in one of his arteries which he then had stented, and I understand that this is what's caused the damage naturally. We were told that 55 % is considered the lower range of normal, but that people can 'get by' with an EF of 10% even. There's just so much to take in!! I really appreciate you both getting back to me thank you xx

[Lezzers in reply to Melz79]

You would be surprised how many people have very low EF's and are leading fairly normal life's, working/holidays etc & have few or no symptoms, someone with an almost normal EF can be highly symptomatic! Most cardiologists are interested in symptoms not numbers. Best wishes for your husband's continued recovery, it can take time to get the meds right

[Hoocher in reply to Melz79]

Hi, I was the same, had a Massive HA , 3 rounds of resuscitation to keep me here and had a big stent fitted. I was told it was a big blood clot that had caused it. No history of HA in family, was running 30 to 40 miles a week before. No narrowing of arteries, never smoked dont drink hardly ever.. They just said I was unlucky. My EFcwas 31% so I had an ICD fitted. My meds were all over to start with. They then put me on Entresto which escalated the problem even more. I was put back on ramipril and my feurosemide reduced. That seemed to do the trick . 2.5 yrs on and just had another echo cardiographer and waiting results. I don't run so much now but walk about 70+ km per week at a good pace . You will get there with a bit of tweaking to meds. It's the same for most people, good luck