Heart failure?

Heart failure or Afib

by AgentX86 - 2020-04-02 20:30:48

Hmm, there isn't a lot in common between the two.  THey're very different things, though perhaps he meant that the Afib might be putting you into heart failure or something else is.  The question is what's causing the heart failure.

"Heart failure" doesn't mean you're dying, just that the heart isn't pumping enough to satisfy your body's needs.  It may be quite fixable and you can live a normal life. 

I was in heart failure (because of Afib - not either|or) in 2007.  They prescribed diuretics to get rid of the excess fluids, a beta blocker to keep the heart rate down, and warfarin to lower the stroke risk.  After that settled down a bit, I was cardioverted.  Then seven years without incident.  After that the fit hit the shan but the heart failure never came back. 

Heart failure can be very serious but it's likely not an immediate death sentence, either.  It's not like your heart is stopping, rather its output isn't has been reduced so it can't supply all of your body's needs.  There are many reasons for this some may be an external, even.  it may take them some time to track it down but in the meantime they have to treat the HF as a symptom.

heart failure

by Dave H - 2020-04-02 20:59:57

What was the old axiom?  50% of those diagnosed with heart failure will die within 5 years. I'm in year 7 - I'll do 2 miles daily on treadmill and 10 -15 miles dialy on a recubent bike at 12 mph. 2 years ago, I could do 5 miles on the treadmill, then 4 miles on an indoor walking track. Something changed in Jan 2019.- maybe that's when my 3rd lead began faltering.  I can walk a mile outside but uphill in the heat? - Forget it. Hopefully, I have a couple years left.

Why do you have a pacemaker?

by PacedNRunning - 2020-04-03 02:15:26

Maybe he's talking about the cardiomyopathy that be caused by chronic RV pacing,  If you pace greater than 40% in the RV lead or bottom lead it can lead to low EF.  This can take years and years to happen.  But that would be my guess. The good thing is it's an easy fix. They usually just add a 3rd lead and then it will help coordinate things between the 2 bottom chambers and then your EF will increase. :). 

Heart Failure

by KAG - 2020-04-25 13:52:44

I've had a pacer for 7yrs, total AV block, 2 wires and Rt vent paced 100%.  I was diagnosed in Feb with heart failure, major shortness of breath that came on slowly, lots of stressful events happening.  An ultrasound showed my left ventricle EF was at 10%, lots of fluid buildup.  Dr put me on diruetics and got rid of the fluids and changed meds to more heart friendly, entresto etc...  Had an angiogram, no blockages and EF was up to 25%.  Dr thinks it's most likely due to my left vent not being paced for so long, wants me to get a 3rd wire intalled.  Need a new pacer anyway as battery is getting low.  Hopefully will get this in the summer if the virus allows.