Should I be concerned

Im 42 had a biventricular pacemaker implanted 13 years ago for congestive heart failure. Went in this week for a 2 year echo and got a call yesterday that my ef went from 40% to 30%. They would now like to do an optimized echo. I feel great, no symptoms,workout 2.5 hours 5 days a week? Should I be worried,could the echo be wrong???? Anyone else gone through something like this???? Needless to say was not expecting those results and Im kind of freaking out!!!!!!

3 Comments

take a deep breath

by belle - 2013-09-06 03:09:51

hi I had chf 5 yrs ago with an ef of 10 per cent, that is really low, after going into hosp and getting liquid out and meds, I started to feel better..... fast forward I had to get my defib changed and the dr who did the procedure did an cardio in the room just in case he nicked my heart, this dr took an echo. After the surgery he came into my room and told me my ef was 30 per cent. I told him he prob had the wrong chart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My regular cardio always drummed into my head it is not the number (EF) but how you feel. Although, I don't really know about it going down. So don't worry too much.

So, I let this EF number get the best of me and was very depressed. Now I don't fear fear, 10% is low and I had to have a pet scan to see if my heart was even viable. Oh boy, that was a tough test. I go to 3 different cardios. one for regular, a specialist in New York and the defib dr.,

and of course they will NOT put me on disability

belle

Do the opt

by PacerRep - 2013-09-06 06:09:29

AV optimization echo's are designed to make your BiV more optimal. The tech will be there and they will start playing with the timing of your device. They will adjust the the AV Delay and also the VV delay so that your E and A waves are not fused together. At the end of the day, your heart will beat better.

I am a big advocate of doing an AV optimization on EVERY SINGLE CRT. I can't for the life of me figure out why everybody doesn't get one a few weeks after implant.

calm!

by Tracey_E - 2013-09-06 11:09:13

Don't freak out! That is a big drop, assuming it's accurate, but the fact you don't have symptoms and can be very active says it's time to be alert but not worried.

You know you're wired when...

Your kids call you Cyborg.

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