2 Months post-op

I am two months post-op and just had my first echo since implantation(CRT-D). Before implantation my ejection rate was 30-35. It is still 30-35. Shouldn't it have come up a bit??? Diagnosis was primary cardiomyopathy.

3 Comments

Sounds a bit like me...

by slickmv - 2015-12-07 03:12:24

Did they put in a biventricular (three lead) CRT-D?

With mine, they are expecting a boost of at least 10 percentage points in my EF, up from the 30% it had risen to after months of drug therapy (beta blocker, ACE inhibitor, aldosterone receptor antagonist). I haven't had a post-insertion echo yet, but even after less than three weeks I feel like *something* has improved.

From scanning the literature, it looks like they have a cautious goal for the device of stopping any further degradation of your heart function, plus being able to provide a "Jesus Jolt" (defibrillation) if required.

Still, I would at least hope for an improvement in EF, and I would certainly raise the issue with every doctor I see.

2 months post-op

by arg - 2015-12-07 07:12:42

Yes it has three leads. I don't feel any different but then I didn't have much in the way of symptoms (no fainting, no swollen ankles, not out of breath). Left branch bundle block showed up on heart cath so went on Coreg. Three months later echo showed 30 EF so Dr. recommended CRT-D. I've gone through this and no improvement. Strange.

Try not to be discouraged

by Grateful Heart - 2015-12-08 01:12:44


It's easy to get focused on the numbers. Give it a few more months for the meds to work too.

It's important to go by how you feel.

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