Heart Failure/low sodium

[Leythersrus1]

Hi My dad going through a bad time at the moment. He is 89 and for several weeks about 8 as been having headaches fuzzy heads, he calls them dizzyness.

He has a pacemaker which was changed a few months ago and a echocardiogram in March diagnosed a weaker left ventricle of 25 to 30% efficiency.

He takes aspirin,amlodipine,bisoprolol and ramipril for his heart. Also takes other medications.

The consultant put him on Eprilone following diagnosis of worsening HF. Also said possible change ramipril to another when Community HF have seen him,which they havent yet.

He was admitted to hospital overnight as his blood test came back showing low sodium level of 124. They also gave him CT scan which was ok. They was going to do MRI but cant because of pacemaker

His headaches and dizzyness returned after a day or 2. His repeat bloods now show low level of sodium again but GP doesnt know why has referred him urgently to a specialist not sure why not AE for another drip also Dad doesnt know what the level was.

Is it possible the low sodium is caused by HF as the last time I was in AE the doctor said it was unlikely.

How bad is the 25 to 30% ejection fraction as he unable to exercise at all

Sorry for the long post but you may have similar experiences.

Many Thanks for reading.

[10gingercats]

Has he been told not to exercise?If not he may find seating 'boxing' exercises useful.You punch out for a minute and then punch down for a minute and up for a minute etc. There is a link on You tube called Boxing for Seniors. You do not have to listen to the instructions. You can just follow through with mike as he demonstrates what to do. It is very easy and quite pleasant. It is called a cardiac exercise and lasts about 12-15 mins.

[Leythersrus1 in reply to 10gingercats]

HiThanks. No he cant exercise as very unbalanced on his feet at the moment. But does do some chair exercises when he feels like it. If he still not well tomorrow he may be going back to A and E for another drip of saline solution. Unfortunately it takes about 12 hours.