Maintaining my Ejection Fraction and Hearts Condition

Hi, this is my 4th post to this forum. I am very pleased that this site even exists and I have a lot of questions. I presently know enough about my PM to be dangerous, lol.

  From my earlier posts you will see that I received what I think (not certain) is a Dual Chamber PM roughly 3 weeks ago. It is a Saint Jude PM.

  With the holidays and all the confusion, I haven't had much time to analyze my situation. I know I feel a lot better than I did before in many ways and I thought I felt good before. So I am very thankful. Being in that cardiac unit for 3 days, 3 weeks ago came out of the blue and was quite sobering.

  Exercise, particularly swimming, is very important to me. Over the last 5-6 years, I transitioned from running 5-8 miles a day to swimming 1-2 miles a day 4 to 5 days a week. I am not a Masters Swimmer, I just enjoy swimming as a way to stay in shape and maintain a positive attitude.

  My question is this, my Ejection Fraction at the time my PM was implanted 3 weeks ago was 65%. I had never heard of an Ejection Fraction before and I was told this was good. After a little reading I have learned that some people experience a deterioration in their Ejection Fraction after the implantation of a Dual Chamber PM. Does anyone know how likely that possibility maybe vs the possibility of my maintaining my current Ejection Fraction, or improving it? 

  Also, if I continue to exercise, can that preserve my Ejection Fraction going forward, or might exercise cause it to decline given my Dual Chamber PM's involvement. Should I explore the possibility of a Bi Ventricular PM? 

  I would greatly appreciate any input other athletes might have regarding the questions I asked, or pertaining to questions I didn't ask but should have. Thank you. 

 

5 Comments

I appreciate the information

by Johnny63 - 2019-12-29 19:30:15

This is very helpful. I will contact my Surgeon and determine how he proceeded. Thank you! 👍

long time

by dwelch - 2019-12-29 20:56:11

if it happens it should take a long time like 20 years.  I was almost 30 years into pacers before my EF got low enough to need a three lead.  And the three lead broght the EF back up.  

 

Maybe 15 years in they will start doing echos to look for this, maybe sooner maybe later, maybe echos are a common thing now.  

Thanks

by Johnny63 - 2019-12-29 21:15:59

Thanks, I have been reading about LV remodeling as a result of RV pacing online. I hope your right. I feel great after 3 1/2 weeks. I will discuss all this with my physician. I am glad you're doing so well. 

RV or BiV/CRT pacing

by AgentX86 - 2019-12-29 22:03:38

My EP implanted a CRT pacemake in me right out of the gate, even though my LVEF is ~60%.  Ihe decision may have been based my having had an AV/His ablation and so am paced VVIR. Usually CRT pacing isn't used unless the LVEF is in the 30-35% range, or lower.

Added:  They way to keep the heart muscle healthy is to exercise moderately (not enduracne sports) and keep the cholesterol down (and all the rest of the eating right stuff).

Thanks

by Johnny63 - 2019-12-30 15:45:50

Thank you for your time and interest in replying as I get a handle on all this. 

You know you're wired when...

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Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.