Heart Failure

[lovewinston]

After an echocardiogram earlier this year The results came back with suboptimal images with an impaired LV Could not decipher ejection fraction However there is also hypokinesis with the inferolateral and anteroseptal walls I was prescribed Bisoprolol and Ramipril which I have been taking for 3 weeks now I am seeing a cardiologist next week but I fear that what he has got to say will not be good

I am fearful of this diagnosis at my age and with moderate to severe COPD which I have had for 10 years now

I don't know what to expect from the consultant going forward I am also waiting for the results from a MRI scan of my heart from another hospital which I suspect will not be good

[Deejay62]

Hi lovewinston, I’m sorry to hear of your diagnosis. It seems like you’re being looked after, many on here have waited months to see someone. You will probably know more about the various diagnosis mentioned when you see them, if not take your letter or make notes with questions and go through everything with them, also take a note pad and write the answers down in case you forget. If possible take someone with you.

The heart failure meds given now can work wonders, but we are all different. Let us know how you get on.

All the best.

[lovewinston in reply to Deejay62]

Thanks for your reply I will let you know how I get on , on Friday Another concern is my heart rate that has now fallen below 60bpm so I am bradycardic Tried to make an appointment with my GP but cannot get one as I am seeing the cardiologist Friday I need to stay out of hospital if at all possible as my wife has terminal Cancer

[Deejay62 in reply to lovewinston]

60bpm too bad but keep an eye on it and let your cardiologist know when you see them. Keep a record. If you’re concerned it’s dropped lower contact the BHF nurses.

[lovewinston in reply to Deejay62]

I saw the Cardiologist Friday (19th) and he has rubbished my Echo saying I do not have heart failure but I now have another appointment at a different hospital on June 6th Then he said he is keeping on open mind on this diagnosis He told me to stop taking Ramapril and Bisoloprol but my GP has said NO don't stop taking them until you have seen the consultant at Glenfield Heart hospital

(They have my MRI results from March 4th)

This consultant I saw on Friday thinks that everything is down to my COPD So at this stage I am no wiser than before Friday

[Deejay62 in reply to lovewinston]

That’s awful, one minute being told one thin, now this ones saying something else. Wait until you see the new cardiologist, hopefully you’ll get some sense out of that one. Usually an Echo tells them what your EF is and what’s going on with the heart, it shouldn’t be rocket science, he’s a cardiologist.

I really hope you get this sorted out soon so you know where you are. Let us know how you get on when you see the new cardiologist but if your heart rate drops to much see your Gp or call 111.

[SAMARJIT]

You are in the early stages of diagnosis and treatment. This diagnosis is well understood and managed nowadays by cardiologists. The treatment takes some weeks to have its maximal/optimal effect. You are on the standard recognised medications for the condition. Ramipiril, in particular, is often increased gradually as the response of the condition is assessed by cardiologist or the Specialist Nurses. But the ramipril dose can vary between 1.25mg daily up to 10mg daily. Hence it takes time to get it right. Hence supervision by the medical team over weeks is the norm as progress is made. Regards.