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Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation

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Not the best news

Anyone else on here with heart failure , caused by left ventricular impairment ?

Wonder what treatment you are on. I got a call Monday from the cardiac nurse to tell me my ejection factor which was around 40% last year, is now 25--30% from a scan last week.

The damage I believe was caused Chemo back in 2007.For someone who eats carefully mainly vege and used to go the gym plus running a few years ago, this news is hard to take in, the exercise bike has been getting harder this last year or so I admit. Such is life I guess.

I have an appointment with said nurse next Tuesday and talks about a drug called Entresto I think. Already on low dose Ramipril plus Bisoprolol for A/fib.

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HamishBoxer

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4 years ago

Hi HamishBoxer, I'd say that the first thing to do is to make sure you aren't panicking over the term 'heart failure'. You probably know already that it means the heart is finding it more difficult to pump blood around your body through a slowly increasing stiffness or weakness. So many people hear those words and imagine an imminent and certain death sentence. It's a really awkward medical phrase which doesn't mean what it appears to mean to so many.Many people go on to live with a really good quality of life for many years. My friend's husband got his diagnosis in his 70s and he's in his 90s now!

I don't know what medications he takes but he's still as sprightly as a 90+ year old might hope to be. He just needs to take more care, but what 90+ year old wouldn't need to?

Have you joined any of the heart related sites at HealthUnlocked? Someone in one of those would probably be able to help better from a medication perspective, if no-one else here comes forward.

I'm sure your cardiac nurse will go through everything thoroughly with you during your appointment. But please remember to ask all the questions you have then as well as expressing your worries, as knowledge is power and the best way to handle your condition going forward. Take good care.

HamishBoxer• in reply to4 years ago

Thank you for another positive reply, I have certainly read enough on the subject and not certain whether I am on the heart group or not.

4 years ago

Hi I'm sorry about this I do know people with heart failure and they been alive for many years the drugs keep people going on into there 9os often I'm sorry can't be of more help I worry sometimes I may have heart probs as I get breathless after a meal and I was exposed to carbon monoxide due to faulty oven at work this was on going leak, I do have slight asthma and I'm sure mines to do with this, the heart is very strong and when one parts faulty other parts help I'm no expert so don't want to say anymore than I've read take care 😊🌟xx

HamishBoxer• in reply to4 years ago

Thank you for your positive reply.

hypercat544 years ago

Hi you would probably have better replies on the British Heart Foundation which is also on HU so try putting your post in there as well.

HamishBoxer• in reply tohypercat544 years ago

Thank will try.

purplerain584 years ago

Hi, You may need your drugs tweaked, everyone is different. Entresto is a "new" drug which is only offered to people below a certain EF, in theory should replace the ramipril etc. and bring your EF back to a more functional level. As I understand you have to be brought up to a certain tolerance level with the other drugs before the the switch. My husband tried it but he couldn't tolerate it, other people find it worked for them, everyone is different. From my research it seems that younger people have more success ( my husband was in his late 60's when diagnosed. He seems fine on ramipril, he had a very low EF went down to 15% before on drugs now about 35%. Try not to worry, do your drug research, try the entresto if offered and hopefully things will improve for you. Good luck and let me know how you get on.😊

HamishBoxer• in reply topurplerain584 years ago

Yes, the nurse said the same thing about the Entresto and it had a 5 year trial but was that good they wanted it approving as soon as .I am 74 years old, so hope it helps. The Ramipril I am on is only 1.25 Mg twice a day

purplerain58• in reply toHamishBoxer4 years ago

Oh that's a very low dose, so I wouldn't worry too much, Once you're in a good place keep up with your exercise as you are doing. Have you looked at the Dash diet, if not that may be worth looking at. Relax I'm sure it will get better, take care.

HamishBoxer• in reply topurplerain584 years ago

Thank you again.

purplerain584 years ago

This is PS to previous message, I know my husband didn't get on with initial beta blocker, it may be worth asking about the dosage of this too or change if you are experiencing any of the side effects to a greater degree, could it have slowed things too much? Ask as many questions as you can when you have your appointment, I guess you can't take anyone with you, so take a note book and write down what you are told, it can be too much to take in and you will need time to absorb the information. Good luck.

HamishBoxer4 years ago

Thank you, I have been on present dose of B/Blockers for the last year or so, but will certainly ask.

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