What to ask doctor

Not sure if I am a CRT non-responder. 3 months echo EF 40% as against 35% before CRT. During 3 month doctor visit in August they did interrogation, which I thought was not due till the following month. They immediately did limited echo.

Looking at interrogation, A-Fib several, but one VT/VF brief non sustained. This may be what prompted Eliquis immediately and Amiodarone orally. 

Am I finding out that I am a non-responder to CRT? 

4 Comments

Long road

by Benjijohn - 2019-09-14 16:43:26

Believe me, this is a long road, with ups and downs, twists etc. Your crt-d is obviously helping you. Do not think too much about the EF numbers etc. They are just numbers, which also depend on the day of the test, the doctor etc. 

What is important is how you actually feel. And I am sure you are feeling much better after the implantation of Crt-d

I can truly understand why you are puzzled. At the end, we are all human beings, and we want our problems to be solved in one shot and as quickly as possible.

Surely you will get the best answers from your doctors. But as someone going through similiar issues, I will strongly advise to listen to your body rather than focusing on numbers. Ask questions about what your body is telling you, not about numbers or worrying things that you have read on the net

And try your best to enjoy your improved life rather than worrying about things that are out of your control, which most probably will never ever come true

good luck

responder

by ROBO Pop - 2019-09-14 17:07:20

No, based on what little you've said, it shows you are overly fixated on nothing. If one were to assume your EF numbers were exact, then clearly there's been some improvement, however, 40% versus 35% are within the accuracy of an echo, echos are quick and dirty tests and highly subjective. In other words there may be no a total difference or even bigger than you think.

Bottom line you are looking for 2 things. 1: trends in the reading and 2: how you actually feel. 

Still, everything else you mentioned has nothing to do with treatment by your device. Although stress can cause a lot of heart issues and constant worry is a stressor.

But here's the real answer, don't wait to ask us. Ask your Cardiologist what all this means when you are there. If you don't understand get him to explain. I guarantee he'll tell you, but it's also your responsibility to ensure you understand what's going on before you leave that office. You pay him for a reason.

Thank you Benjijohn and Robo Pop

by Jereems - 2019-09-15 09:36:20

Yeah, i need to talk to doctor. 

Report appears on website some days after I leave. I don’t know what to ask when I am there. 

I just get an uneasy feeling that my friends know more than I about prognosis etc. while I know nothing. 

Kinda feel like a fool!

Trends in the reading:

by Jereems - 2019-09-15 10:06:34

Benjijohn and Robo Pop,

Thanks again!

The report can be 30 pages long. Can you help me focus on specifically those trends that are revealing. Information overload, little  real communication. 

Echo reports are brief, but days late.

CRT Interrogation reports are long, But they are not immediately available when I am speaking to the nurse. What to look for in those reports is my question. 

So maybe between us we have answered question: What to ask my doctor?

I will ask him: What are the trends I need to watch in the reports? 

 

 

You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

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