Just wanted to share some positive news. After not seeing a cardiologist for over 2.5 yrs, I finally had a face to face appt last week. The cardiologist was fantastic and she spent over 20 mins chatting with me. I had been concerned as after an echocardiogram last June, neither me or my GP had seen any results so the GP had made a referral for me. Since my massive HA backing Oct 2019, my EF is still the same at 31%. I asked the cardiologist if I should maybe swap from Ramipril to Entresto to see if it may help. I had tried the drug in 2020 but had got massive side effects. We discussed my exercise regime etc and when I told her that I regularly walk over 20km a day and also do 2 5km runs per week, she was taken aback a bit.Her words were, with the severity of yout heart failure, if you are doing that amount of daily exercise then the medication you are on is working just fine. She offered to swap if I wanted to try but I've decided not to try mend what isn't broken. She said I was doing incredible and had flown through my MOT which was very reassuring for me. Hope this post may help people who are in a similar position, feel less worried about their condition.
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Hoocher
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Your exercise regime puts me to shame, massive well done x
Hi Hoocher - well done, that’s wonderful news and always great to hear the cardiologists say they have no concerns!
I was very interested to see this as we seem to be in a very similar place. I too had a STEMI in 2019 which caused a lot of damage and left me with an EF of 34% (by CMRI, Jan 2020) or possibly 35-40% (every annual echo since, but that’s less accurate.
Like you I have been able to exercise regularly at the gym - nothing daft but not limited to hand weights - and jog c. 5k a couple of times a week. I was beginning to think I was a bit of a freak! I do wish I could relax about it a bit more - always wondering if it’s all suddenly going to go wrong…
I am on Entresto btw, and have been since late 2020. It’s made no difference to my EF and with continual supply issues I have occasionally wondered if I should go back to the Ramipril, but both drugs seem to be doing a good job of keeping us ticking over nicely!
Glad to hear that you are both doing well and keeping up the fitness. But I have to ask, what are these annual echo's and Cardiologists that you speak of ? 🤔 Despite also having a STEMI in October 21, (co-incidentally after a 4 mile run), I cannot get my doctor to even put a stethoscope on me. The only thing she seems interested in is getting the diabetic foot nurse to look at my feet. Built the running back up to 14 miles a week and should do a sub 55 minute 10k later this year just before my 61st birthday. Frustrating to never get the ticker checked though, so no idea how hard I should push. 😉
Do you have an NHS gym in your area? If so you will get a lot of advice and monitoring from their qualified staff with advanced equipment. GP's don't necessarily have the time, the equipment or the skill to examine your heart. Seems a bit risky to do your level of exercise without advice.
Dear You,
Fantastic positive and uplifting post, I am so pleased for you, especially after the worry over the delayed readings of your last echocardiogram .
You really do seem to be doing well and to have the endorsement of you Cardiologist must have seemed like the icing on your hard work at cake.
I am on Entresto E/F -20% { ejection fraction } top dose and it hasn't done anything for me either, not saying it wouldn't work for you by why rock that boat?
So happy you was able to finally see a cardiologist face to face and got such a positive appointment. Your amazing! I'm taken a back a bit aswell with how much exercise you do 😅😍. Seriously inspirational. I try to exercise by going to gym and do 3km a day 😅😌.
Wow, am so delighted to hear your positive news 👌🏼You are most certainly doing very well and are a great example of what can sometimes still be achieved post diagnosis of HF😊 Thank you for posting.
Wow that great Hoocher,ime on Ramipril 30% ejection fraction and doing five to seven miles each day on racing bike also doing plenty of DIY. Hope it inspires many others,keep moving on up.
Hi Hoocher,It is always so lovely and uplifting to hear other people's good news. I'm so pleased for you, well done!!! Onwards and upwards. Enjoy every day and stay safe.
Well done. Exercise helps a lot to keep your heart pumping. My EF was 15% a few years back, but with a struggle, exercising in the water, in January an echocardiogram showed it’s risen to 23%. I was put on Entresto when my EF fell to 15%. I haven’t reacted to it like some people on here, but I can only tolerate 1 twice a day or I feel dizzy. Keep doing what you’re doing it may well rise.
I’m not sure Digger0 if you’re speaking to me or Hoocher, but I do water aerobics and I try to swim. It’s hard swimming because my breathing isn’t good, but the water aerobics is easy. It is painful after on the joints. My cardiologist told me to keep doing it. They told me to do aerobic exercises, so when I decided to do Aqua I asked if it would be ok and they said yes. I was worried if my heart could manage it, obviously it as. I do get very tired after though.
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