Good news

[Bigheart58]

Three years on from my heart attack, I was delighted to discover that my ejection fraction has increased from 35 to 49. Almost normal!

I also managed to do 80,000 steps in a week (35,000 in two consecutive days).

I hope this provides encouragement to anyone who has recently had a similar experience. Don’t give up hope.

[Hidden]

Hello

Wonderful news so pleased for you x

[Bigheart58 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! x

[Hidden in reply to Bigheart58]

x

[Hidden]

Dear Bigheart58

Thank you for taking the time in posting about your recovery, it is indeed very uplifting to hear from you and your amazing progress.

Fantastic also to hear about your ejection fraction increase which is hope for many on here.

Keep up the incredible walking target, you have achieved so much, well done

Keep taking care

[Bigheart58 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much.

[Bigheart58]

Thanks!

[Hidden]

Brilliant Stuff. Do you have anything in particular that has helped and made the most improvements? Any meds? Do you exercise as well as the steps?

[Bigheart58 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I don’t really have much to add but I do take my meds religiously every day.

I’m on Atorvastatin, Bisoprolol, Candesartan, Edoxaban, Eplerenone, Dapagliflozin and Lansoprazole plus Vitamin D every day.

The 80,000 steps were achieved on holiday rather than during this ghastly winter weather!

Aside from walking (and the odd game of golf), I don’t really exercise although my cardiologist recently told me he wants me to walk every day for 15 minutes fast enough to get a bit breathless and sweaty. I’ve just bought a treadmill for this purpose as I find brisk walking outside quite difficult .

Now I just need to stick to the healthy eating regime, cut out desserts and lose 20lb!

[Yumz199725]

Wow that's an amazing achievement so happy for you ☺️

[Bigheart58 in reply to Yumz199725]

Thanks, Yumz!

[Hrty]

Thqt's brilliant news.

[Bigheart58 in reply to Hrty]

Thanks.

[Familyk]

That's amazing news. So happy for you xx

[Bigheart58 in reply to Familyk]

Thanks so much xxx

[Smitty1956]

congratulations on your increased ejection fraction! That is amazing!

Also, that step count is beyond awesome! Your step count is almost scary to me—lol—I muddle along walking about 15 minutes per day. I hope to do better as I go along, but I have had a lapse in my walking over the last few days.

Anyway, you are inspiring! Keep going and best wishes to you.

[Bigheart58 in reply to Smitty1956]

Thanks, Smitty.

I don’t manage that many steps every week but we were on holiday and the weather was nice so it was easy to get out and walk. I do find that the weather makes a huge difference to how much energy I have.

[Maidenhead1]

So glad to hear this good news this morn. I had HA& 5 stents 10 months ago, & although I walk, & Cardio re hab once a week, I have t got round to the aerobics, Pilates& & Zumba that I used to love. Just don’t know if it’s suitable for me now!

Btw what is increased ejection fraction?

[Bigheart58 in reply to Maidenhead1]

Thanks. I was told all I needed to do was walk for an hour each day including 15 minutes brisk walking - fast enough to become slightly breathless and sweaty.

The ejection fraction shows how effective the heart is at pumping blood around the body. A normal person will typically have an ejection fraction of around 55-70%.

[Smitty1956 in reply to Bigheart58]

I also think that ejection fraction is usually measured in the left ventricle (left bottom chamber) of the heart. The “normal” EF for men and women is a little different. For men, it is 52-72%; for women, it is 54-74%. EF looks at the general efficiency of the heart in pumping blood to other parts of the body, but it also can be used to classify various stages of heart failure. I researched some of this when I was going through various testing after my HA.

[Maidenhead1 in reply to Smitty1956]

thank you Smitty, I have taken a note of the percentages 👍

[Smitty1956 in reply to Bigheart58]

Big heart 58, you said something else that is incredibly important! You said that you take your medicine religiously.

The day that I had my HA, I did not take my medicine that day. I simply skipped it. I didn’t take my blood pressure medicine nor beta blocker, nor anything. I didn’t have a real reason for doing this. I just felt pretty good, and I sometimes skipped the medicine. They asked me about this at the hospital, and I could not give a good justification. It was just silly and dangerous.

Now, everyday, at the same time of day, morning or evening, I take my medicine religiously. That one thing is so important to our health. I got a pill minder that allows me to plan out each day’s pills for the week.

[Bigheart58 in reply to Smitty1956]

I’m pretty obsessive about taking my pills. I have an organiser that has seven boxes, and each box has two sections, morning and evening.

I also have an alarm on my phone morning and bedtime plus one for the evening on my Fitbit.

I’ve forgotten to take them in the morning on three or four occasions in three years.

[MWIC]

That’s brilliant - welcome news indeed and great to hear - positivity is All

[Bigheart58 in reply to MWIC]

Thanks!