Reduced Heart Function: I have HCM... - British Heart Fou...

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Reduced Heart Function

Curryandchips profile image
28 Replies

I have HCM. Over Xmas I got Shingles. Since then I have been suffering poor sleep, lack of energy, nausea and I am retaining fluid.

Increasing my diuretics is having limited effect on my swollen ankles.

I have to get blood tests and Echo but Doc thinks my heart may not be pumping as well as it should and my medication may need changed.

Anyone else had drugs that pump up the heart?

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Curryandchips profile image
Curryandchips
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28 Replies
10gingercats profile image
10gingercats

I found exercise helped when I retained fluid...around heart and in lungs. If you cannot get out then even chair exercises can help and/marching on the spot.

Curryandchips profile image
Curryandchips in reply to10gingercats

Thanks for your reply. I suspect I may be beyond the benefits of exercise. I am out of puff just going to the toilet.

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply toCurryandchips

Hi What meds are you on now, it may help someone point you in the right direction !

Regards

Curryandchips profile image
Curryandchips in reply toPrada47

Entresto (can only tolerate minimum dose)

Spiro

Dapa

Edoxaban

Nebivolol

Bendro and Bumetanide

Partinavia profile image
Partinavia in reply toCurryandchips

Hi, I was also diagnosed with poor heart performance about 2 years ago, the consultant put me on Entresto, which had fantastic results, my heart is now performing well.

Curryandchips profile image
Curryandchips in reply toPartinavia

Entresto is a magic drug.

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply toCurryandchips

Looks like a pretty standard cocktail you are on + the Curry and Chips are sure to be helping !! When you have an Echocardiogram is will really tell how your Heart is performing in terms of the percentage you are pumping out on each beat.

Wishing you well

Pjjmhaa profile image
Pjjmhaa in reply toCurryandchips

Hi I have HCM and issues with the pump the meds I have is Entresto, spironolactone, bisoprolol, feurosomide, everyone is different I have issues with electrics and have a ICD now with all these things has really helped me! I am no dr so speak to your dr and tell them everything goodluck!

Pouchielou1972 profile image
Pouchielou1972

I have DCM and was out of breath just walking into another room in my house, let alone up the stairs. I would have to take a break whilst having a quick shower and I carried a hell of a lot of fluid in my lower body. Almost 2 years on and that's thankfully a thing of the past. I'm back weight training in the gym and running around after my 10 year old daughter.

I'm on the top doses of:

Entresto

Dapagliflozin

Bisoprolol

Spironolactone

Curryandchips profile image
Curryandchips in reply toPouchielou1972

So glad it worked out for you.

Pouchielou1972 profile image
Pouchielou1972 in reply toCurryandchips

Thank you so much. Wishing you all the best and that the meds kick in soon. The hesrt nurses did warn me at the beginning of my journey that it can take months or years for them to improve your health, but please just stick with it.

Haybel profile image
Haybel in reply toPouchielou1972

Hi Pouchielou1972, out of interest, could you tell me what the top level dose of these medicines are? I'm on the same meds with EF of 39% but I think I'm only on minimum dose due to low BP. I had heart attack last August and due to see cardiologist in 2 weeks so keen to have as much info as possible. Thanks in advance

Pouchielou1972 profile image
Pouchielou1972 in reply toHaybel

Hi Haybel ...No problem at all. My EF was 10% which is extremely severe. My Bisoprolol was reduced slightly from 10mg to 7.5mg as it was making my heart rate too low and makkng me absolutely exhausted, but I feel like my normal self on 7.5mg. I'm on the following:-

Bisoprolol 5mg x1 AM & 2.5mg x1 PM, Entresto 97/103mg 2 times a day, Dapagliflozin 10mg once a day, Spironolactone 25mg once a day, Furosemide 40mg (as and when needed)

Haybel profile image
Haybel in reply toPouchielou1972

Many thanks for this, it’s really useful. I’m on 1.25mg Bisoprolol, dapafliglozin 10mg, ticagrelor 90mg am & pm, Entresto 24/26mg am & pm, atorvastatin 80mg and spironolactane 25mg. With low heart rate and low BP it will be interesting to see if they can increase any of these meds.

Thanks again

Pouchielou1972 profile image
Pouchielou1972 in reply toHaybel

That's the good thing with being on a lower dosage is that there is scope to increase if they need to. My fear is that there isn't for me with being on the highest doses. But with you being on such a lowdown of Bisoprolol, you wouldn't want to increase that if you have a low heart rate, as that is the med that causes it.

Shabana1974 profile image
Shabana1974

Hi yes I found out through echocadiogram that I have severe Heart Failure (20 -25% function,) I take bisoprolol, Entresto, Dapagliflzin, Atorvastatin, Spironolactone and Asprin. They don't start everything straight away they add and increase tablets and dosage over time. My legs were so ballooned they throbbed. But on 4 months echocadiogram my heart function has increased to 32%.

No my legs are normal size and my breathing is normal. You need to limited fluid intake to 1.5 litres a day

Hope this helps

Curryandchips profile image
Curryandchips in reply toShabana1974

Currently, I am restricted to 2.5 litres and I struggle with that!

Bluebert profile image
Bluebert

Hi sorry to hear this. Connect with me on linked in (Chris Jones Bright HR) and read my post re Mavacamten. I can’t post a link as it won’t let me

Curryandchips profile image
Curryandchips in reply toBluebert

Mavacamten is a new drug to treat OHCM. I dont think its available for those of us with HCM.

Velda1 profile image
Velda1 in reply toCurryandchips

what is OHCM?

Curryandchips profile image
Curryandchips in reply toCurryandchips

Ooops, got my letters mixed up. Should read Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

Blackknight57 profile image
Blackknight57

any Ida’s what the results of echo was? Been told 35% plus for ha sufferers

Curryandchips profile image
Curryandchips in reply toBlackknight57

I have been waiting for an Echo for over a year now. Scotland's NHS is not the best!

fishonabike profile image
fishonabike

you might find that the Cardiomyopathy UK site has some helpful info for you - e.g. explaining HOCM and it's effects and support aabout living with this condition

Deejay62 profile image
Deejay62

Hi I hope you begin to improve with diuretics. I had an infusion of diuretics through a cannula to get rid of the fluid and they had to monitor me before releasing me because my blood pressure dropped a lot. After urinating many times I felt the fluid lift from my lungs and stomach. That helped me to improve along with a medication change. I was slowly put on a heart failure cocktail of drugs, replacing the ones I was on, in stages.

I don’t know what drugs you’re on with HCM, I have Dilated cardiomyopathy.

I’m sure they will find a way to improve your situation. All the best.

Curryandchips profile image
Curryandchips in reply toDeejay62

Thanks for that. I just wish these things would be picked up before people ended up in hospital.

Deejay62 profile image
Deejay62 in reply toCurryandchips

To be honest I was doing ok very active on diuretics and other meds I had a CRT-P fitted and I had regular 6 monthly checks with HF nurse and annual check with cardiologist, then I was put on a diabetic tablet by my Gp, because a blood test showed I had become a borderline diabetic. I reacted to that and became ill. These things happen.

With underlying illnesses when we become ill it can lead to more problems.

Curryandchips profile image
Curryandchips in reply toDeejay62

That sounds familiar. I was OK until I had Shingles at Christmas.

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