cardiomyopathy, systolic heart failure.

[Youngandbusted]

Hi,

I’m 28 years old and have suffered cardiac arrest. My heart stopped pumping blood to to the top of my heart causing it to loose oxygen I believe making it fail?

my ejection fraction when in hospital was 17% I worked it to health to 34% and now am sitting at 20%. I have a defib placed in my chest due to all of this!

I used to be a very active person now I struggle to get to work! If I go to work it will take my body 5 days sleeping to recover!

I guess what I’m asking is for a little insight into my conditions and life expectancy! My cardiologist told me “12 months and you will be 100 percent” it’s been a year and a half and my conditions are worse!

I have medical documents ready to go I just don’t know how to attach them!

[10gingercats]

Not sure anyone can tell you about life expectancy.However, why is your cardio. so sure of himself re. your health improvement within a year.He sounds pretty cock sure of himself. He needs to tell you why he has come to that conclusion.You could do with some medical evidence. I am not a medic but at your age I would suggest there is a lot that can be done to improve your health and ensure your longevity . Maybe you need a better cardio/EP to sort you out?

[Captain_Birdseye]

Don't attach medical documents here, it's an anonymous forum and we're not trained to read them as we're not medically trained... this is a peer support forum 🙂

You've been through a lot for 28, that must be difficult... Do you know the cause of the cardiomyopathy? We are unlikely to be able to offer insight in regards to life expectancy- but heart failure can be managed with today's medical interventions and it's probably more aptly named as heart inefficiency rather than failure. Many people go on to make improvements and live full lives.

[RufusScamp]

Medication and a pacemaker improved my E/F from 20% to 60%, but I still can't do all the things I used to. I am retired, so it is less of a problem, but if you are working it must be very difficult.

You do need to talk to your cardiologist. Please don't attach medical documents here. We can give you support, and share experiences, but we are not qualified to give medical advice. I hope things improve for you.

[Cherrelleford]

Hey. I have an ICD/defrib device. I have dilated cardiomyopathy and my EF is 15%. Since my diagnosis I have been advised not to work so I haven't. I see multiple teams including the transplant team. I still carry on as normal but I do have limitations. I have had my condition for 2 years and still have issues, I am 36. It's a marathon not a spirit. Take each day as it comes.

[Youngandbusted]

carpenter by trade. I build things!

Physically demanding labour! Hard bloody work! My body just can’t do it anymore! What am I meant to do? Like what is work for me? How do I live? Cause I’m about to become homeless again

[Fullofheart]

I think you need some solid professional advice here on a couple of fronts.Definitely medically.... You need to know what you are working with now and what you are working towards. If your GP is confident you are heading towards a full recovery then that's encouraging but you need to know how/ with what support and/ or treatment.

And socially/ legally....you need to know what benefits you might be entitled to whilst you recover and/ or take care of yourself.

I don't know the Australian system well enough, but I think a good place to start might be the heart foundation, Australia. Can you give them a call and see what they might suggest?

[Youngandbusted in reply to Fullofheart]

that cardiologist was wrong in telling me I would make a full recovery after suffering a cardiac arrest!

There is from what I understand no cure! But only processes to help you manage what you have! But the fraction ejection should get better to a degree! I think I worked that part out so far!

Australia’s health care benefits allow me $470 a week minus the $70 a week I pay in fines for my jail sentence! But my rent is $550! And that’s all they offer!

and i seen a cardiologist a second one and he told me that they don’t like taking other cardiologist patients so that I need to go back to my original cardiologist that installed the pace maker!

I’ve booked in for a Heart MRI scan but that’s got a 8 month wait!

[Deejay62 in reply to Youngandbusted]

Hi is that payment for someone who is also disabled?

[Winter4519]

I am 60yrs old with similar condition. currently I am sitting at 20%/25% ejection and yes this is making me very tired and very lethetic. I am currently of sick from work, as I had a turn. being having test. GP is concerns as to why only last year I had 34% ejection and now it as dropped to the above. I suggest talking to your GP about the medication prescribed. Also, look at diet and exercise.