EF FUNCTION HAS DROPPED TO 40%

I am new to all this, a 69 yr old female I had a PM put in 1 yr ago due to a blacking out from low heart rate now down to30 beats. Drs think my heart was damaged from past chemo and radiation treatments for breast cancer that occurred yrs ago, plus bad luck with the genes.
I have been fine after 1 adjustment to the PM to pace immediately without any lag time. Since then everything OK, until they did a follow up Echo and my EF function, which was normal last yr is now down to 40%, which I understand is heart faliure. Dr put me on Carvedilol which I just started and they will be increase dose in 2 weeks. I am so stressed out they told me the PM would correct my problem and I would be fine. Now the EF function is dropping and I wonder if the PM which is pacing 100% is causing my drop in heart function. Also am trying to deal with the idea that my heart is basically failing.
Dr said meds have a 50=50 chance of helping the EF function. If not he plans on replacing the PM with one that will sync the pumping of my heart.
Has anyone else had this happen after a successful PM inserted? Any successful options to helping improve the EF function besides meds?
Thanks for help.
BLACKCLOUD

3 Comments

Panic

by Cabg Patch - 2016-03-31 10:03:42

I know this can be frightening, but don't panic. As a patient with an EF of 20% and hanging tough, I know of which I speak.

There are a number of factors you have to keep in mind. The most important of which is...what really is important with your EF is how you feel. That number is just that and especially when that number is determined with an echo, it can be highly subjective. One technician reading an EF can come up with a totally different number than another.
What is important about the number is more trend. Does it remain at 40 or vary over time. and so on.

40% is not too bad even if accurate and it's been caught early on. FYI 50 or 55% is considered a normal EF. Nobody's heart pumps anywhere near 100%. You stand a good chance the treatment regimen your Cardiologist has prescribed will help improve the situation.

Much is dependent on why your EF is what it is. Many conditions are highly treatable and if you follow your treatment plan you should be good.

Again I cannot stress enough that number (EF) is only important to the doctor. What's important to you is how you feel.

Don't let this get you down, it's not the end of the world. Get on with life and follow your doctors instructions.

Take it a step at a time

by Grateful Heart - 2016-04-01 12:04:03


And listen to Patch, try not to panic (easier said then done I know).

The typical protocol for Carvedilol is to start a low dose and increase it gradually. It is a good med. No one wants to be on meds but we do what is necessary to get better.

The CRT device is what your doctor is talking about to replace the PM. The CRT will synchronize both ventricles and the pumping will be more efficient.

My EF was 24% and with Carvedilol it increased to 30%....better but not enough. After 6 months a CRT-D was implanted...that was 7 years ago. My EF is now 55%. The meds and then the CRT if necessary, is the best way to go for heart failure if that is what your doctor recommends. Baby steps...start with the meds.

It's scary in the beginning but we've all been through it. It's a little setback but you will get passed it.

Like Patch said, go by how you feel.

Grateful Heart

Recent Dr comment

by 62cwil - 2016-04-05 04:04:05

I have a St Jude Biventriculay implanted 2/17/2016. Two weeks ago was in hospital with pulmonary edema. While their they did echocardiogram and determined my EF was 40. I was told Heart Rate at 80 was too high and needed to be reduced via PM to 60. Two days later at follow up with cardiologist he had St Jude Rep change HR from 80 to 70. He said heart had gone through a lot in Feb wit AV Node Ablation and PM insertion and would take a while to get back to normal. I have follow up in 90 days along with another echo to determine the EF and if any adjustments to HR should be made at that time. He feels ER will be up then.

Has anyone experienced similar experience and how did it turn out. Also any comments are appreciated.

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