Drop in EFF after receiving pacer

Four months ago I received my 3rd pacemaker, a bi-ventricular pacer as I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, LBB, left ventricle not pumping and have been in A-fib for the past year. At that time my EF was at 40% and had been stable for several years. Last week, my echo showed my EF at 24%. I'm at a loss as to what could cause this problem. Yesterday I had a Muga to confirm the Echo. No results yet. Any ideas or comments? I'm new here and I'm happy to know there is a pacemaker club where I might have some support.

1 Comments

LVEF

by Dave H - 2016-03-01 03:03:15

Current EP didn't have much to offer after my latest echo showed a drop in my LV from 30% to 20%. BUT! Remember ----- EF numbers are mostly subjective. My EP referred me to a heart failure specialist who, at our first meeting when my wife asked if he was an EP, he answered, "NO!" "But I KNOW how to read an echo better than any of those guys!" Couple of weeks later, he performed a PM optimization with an excellent sonographer and a device clinic nurse to make the changes in my PM while the Doc. watched the echo. He was able to increase the blood pumped out of my left ventricle by 25%. It's tough, but one has to find a competent doctor.

--Dave--

You know you're wired when...

You have a high-tech ticker.

Member Quotes

I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.