Afib low ef

[Biglad1]

Been on entresto max dose for low ef for 9months now, had been told ef was 37% with a couple of contrast echo's but got sent for an mri and was told it was 29% from that and afib makes it difficult to get a proper reading. Cardiologist doesn't think cardioversion will work as I have a dilated left ventricle. 1st diagnosed with afib 5yrs ago after a bout of pneumonia& 10 days in icu and was never offered or tried cardioversion back then was just given medication and left to get on with it. Don't know what's going to happen now can't work due to loss of hgv license and time between hospital appointments takes forever

[Tos92]

Hi Biglad1

I’m sorry to hear about your heart failure and AFib.

Have you asked your cardiologist to review your case again?

There is an AFib association which you may benefit from which I have attached below.

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

In terms of heart failure, others will tell you that your ejection fraction can improve on medication. It is a scary term, but it’s definitely a treatable condition. I will tag another member who is knowledgeable on heart failure Lezzers and can give you more of an insight into heart failure based on her experiences.

Also, have you thought about claiming benefits perhaps to help you out?

I have attached the below link for the types of benefits which you may be eligible for. I hope there’s something there which you may find suitable to help with your current work situation.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

All the best.

Tos

[Lezzers]

Thanks to @Tos92 for copying me in on your post. Unfortunately I'm not gonna be able to help much as I'm only just learning about the electrics of the heart myself. I don't really know anything about aFib. From what I understand MRIs are more accurate than echos but even they have a margin for error. I would normally say don't get hung up on your EF, it's really just used as a diagnostic tool. Lots of people have low EF's and have few to no symptoms whereas others have high high EF's & are very symptomatic. But of course the low EF is an issue for you as this does obviously affect your employment. What has your medical team advised about it?

My husband was having VT's & a cardioversion didn't work for him so he was chemically cardioverted which reduced the VT's & then he was given a ablation. I don't know if that's an option for you.

I'm really sorry I can't help any further but I would certainly look into what benefits you could apply for.

Good luck 🤞

[Biglad1 in reply to Lezzers]

Got another appointment on 27 thso hopefully get to know more if anything can be done 🤞. More annoying part is they never tried cardioversion or ablation 1st time round just left it to run it's course. Don't know if trying to get me back to sinus rhythm to start with might of helped or not.

[Lezzers in reply to Biglad1]

My suggestion is to do a bit of research on this group and I think there's also an Afib group on HU that may be able to help. Write down loads of questions to ask at the appt &, if you can, take someone with you as they can write down the answers for you. I know from experience that it's too easy to forget things or to get tied up focusing on something and forget the answers you're looking for.

Tbh, they only did the cardioversion & ablation as urgent procedures for my husband because he's was having severe VT's & lost consciousness several times with them. Initially they did try to increase his beta blocker to control them, which I believe is the first line of defense, but that didn't work for him due to other issues he has.

Good luck with your appt, let us know how you get on 🤞

[Anon2023]

hi. I’ve had different EF readings from various scans and different technicians. There is an accepted 5% + or - margin on any scan. An echo recently put my EF at 45% but a perfusion scan put it at 53%. The echo said it was difficult to get accurate pictures so the cardiologist has gone with the readings of the perfusion scan. Hopefully your appointment on 27th will give you some reassurance.

[Fullofheart]

Hi thereDon't know if this helps but my MRI also showed an EF figure much lower than echo (53% on echo, 43% on MRI).

I've had AF 18 years and was largely untreated in that time which seems to have caused the problems.

My cardiologist takes the view that when you are in AF the MRI is not very accurate as there is too much movement. He feels the echo is more accurate. EP has a slightly different take but essentially they agree borderline or asymptomatic HF.

I am starting heart failure meds but am not symptomatic other than breathlessness on activity which could be the AF/ fast heart rate rather than HF.

I am 48 and working full time but it definitely impacts my life.

I'm hoping that the new meds will help.

I have enlarged atrium but they did try cardioversions and ablations. I had three ablations last year that were not considered to be successful but, quite unbelievably, 5 months after the third I am now in normal rhythm. Its only been 2 weeks and might not last (hence still discussing medication options) but it's flipping lovely!

What options are being discussed in your case?

[Biglad1 in reply to Fullofheart]

None as of yet, you sound pretty much th same as me if I'm honest. Got appointment on 27th and see what gets said he already told me cardioversion probably won't work cos I've a dilated left ventricle. More annoying is they never tried any cardioversion or ablation when I was first diagnosed 5yrs ago to try put me back into sinus rhythm. Just beta blockers and digoxin, on max dose entesto now nearly 5 months but so far nothin

[Fullofheart]

I was discharged about 14 years ago and received no treatment since then, including no meds. Previous cardiologist felt I wasn't a candidate for ablation. And as I developed an allergy to one of the meds they took me off that and left it at that. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't do that now.I think I'm really lucky that the cardiologist I'm under now was prepared to put me forward for ablations even though my AF had been persistent for about a decade. The EP was also pretty "aggressive" in their approach by doing 3 ablations in one year. They could easily have said it was too late in the day and not tried.I think it's still possible that they will offer you an ablation. Let's see what they say!

Entesto is the one I'll be starting I think. And I'll go back on digoxin if I go back into AF. Was on it previously. I'm told it helps the AF and the HF by keeping the heart rate low and protecting the heart.

Really hope the appointment goes well on the 27th. If you feel you're not getting anywhere you have every right to ask for a second opinion through the NHS and a private consultation, if necessary, would cost less than £300.

Let us know how you get on!