New to this

Welcome to the Club, RWK

by NiceNiecey - 2018-07-25 07:10:09

We’re all in this together, that’s for starters.  It’s anybody’s guess what your August 22 tests will reveal.  

A recurring “theme” on this site is that many of us swear we had no symptoms before we nearly dropped dead.  I absolutely believe everyone that claims they had no idea (including you and me) but looking back, I did have symptoms.  I just chose to attribute them to something else, or ignore them.  Bad idea!

I’m sorry that you have been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.  Also worrisome is an EF of 17%.  Depending on the type of cardiomyopathy, there is an outside chance that it could spontaneously clear up; I read that online.  It’s unlikely but not out of the question.  The EF of 17% can definitely improve.  Many people in our club have experienced significant improvement in their EF.

Thank goodness you’re healthy overall.  Honestly, if I were running outside in Arizona in June, I would have ended up on the pavement, too! And not from heart failure but a heat stroke.  I am NOT made for hot weather - even if it IS dry heat!

Keep us posted on ”your case” and the test on August 22.  Also, use the search function for the site and you’ll get a lot of good info.

Niecey

Thanks

by Rwkinaz - 2018-07-25 15:00:13

Thanks for the comments and info.  Doc said the cardiomyopathy could be genetic or it could have come from an old viral infection that found it's way into my heart and has been slowly working away at it over the years.  He said usually when he sees a case as bad as mine it's from years of drug abuse.  I've never even smoked a joint, so.....    I asked if my running for years had caused it, he said definitely not, that my being in good physical condition and the guys who gave me CPR are why I survived the cardiac event.   So, not much else to do now except keep doing what I'm doing and see how the echo goes next month.  

Welcome to the club

by BladeRunner - 2018-07-25 20:12:23

Although you might not have symptoms, if your ef is 17, your body is suffering. Low blood flow can be hard on your liver and other organs. The collapse you experienced was a warning sign and it’s good that you’re having it checked out. 

Keep us posted. 

Did you need stents or anything?

by BOBTHOM - 2018-07-27 23:47:51

Usually an event needs to be resolved like an ocluded artery that needs a stent or something, you didn't mention it?   Ecsho is a simple painless but depending on the the tech sometimes uncomfortable in how they position you.  It will show more of the structure of left ventricle.  For me, most important med is Bayer Aspirin!   Also, sometimes with low EF your heart can start throwing premature ventricular contractions (PVC's) which can sometimes cause air bubles which in turn sometimes form a temporary little blockage, but they clear up and disappear quickly, only thing left behind is a little scar tissue on your heart muscle.  Good luck with it, o but don't over due, especially if on Entresto.  They are trying to keep your heart rate down and stable, as close to 60bpm as possible.  Might help if you start charting it a little.  Amazon sells the oximeter (clip on finger O2 and heart rate) for like $15 and same with the wrist self inflate blood pressure monitor.  Keep track of that and your weight daily.  It's a morning routine for me, wake up, weigh, turn on computer, start coffee, take O2/HR and blood pressure, grab coffee, enter info onto a small spreadsheet I built.  My doctor loves it as he can quickly see any changes across time.  Sorry for rambling on so much.