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Message
re: Question for OT cardiologists
Posted on 5/6/19 at 6:43 pm to Jim Rockford
Posted on 5/6/19 at 6:43 pm to Jim Rockford
So...followup today. "Moderately below normal ejection fraction." Dr. doesn't know why. Doesn't think she has a blockage, and valves are okay. Started on beta blockers, come back in two months. She was freaking out over it, the Dr said "let us do the worrying, we will take good care of you." I don't know what to think. I'm glad they're not wheeling her into the OR, but a below normal ejection fraction doesn't sound good.
Her bp is normal to below normal, she's not overweight, nonsmokers, she exercises vigorously without fatigue or shortness of breath. I guess the only risk factor is she's highly stressed.
Her bp is normal to below normal, she's not overweight, nonsmokers, she exercises vigorously without fatigue or shortness of breath. I guess the only risk factor is she's highly stressed.
5
Posted on 5/6/19 at 6:47 pm to Jim Rockford
Sounds like good news, man.
Posted on 5/6/19 at 6:57 pm to TigerNAtux
Thanks. I hope so.
Posted on 5/6/19 at 8:36 pm to Jim Rockford
Best shape of my life and had first bad bout of Afib 12 years ago. Had a couple more bouts early on and can't be converted with medicine-always have to be paddled back to normal rhythm. I hated the invasive tests but when they figured out it was electrical and not structural they have treated it correctly and I'm told it's not a long term or defining condition. Just tell her to avoid tasers lol...
Posted on 5/6/19 at 9:26 pm to done dancing
Good luck to you buddy 
Posted on 5/6/19 at 9:49 pm to Jim Rockford
Well the good news is her valves are not her problem and she has no blockages. That’s what was wrong with me and why I now have an artificial mitral valve and have had a double by-pass.
As for the below normal ejection fraction, to be honest, since her valves are fine, I don’t really know what else would cause that besides a valve issue. Course I’m just a patient and not a doctor. Either way, i wish you all the best. And if it comes to it, I can recommend one of the nation’s top heart surgeons to fix her up.
As for the below normal ejection fraction, to be honest, since her valves are fine, I don’t really know what else would cause that besides a valve issue. Course I’m just a patient and not a doctor. Either way, i wish you all the best. And if it comes to it, I can recommend one of the nation’s top heart surgeons to fix her up.
Posted on 5/6/19 at 10:10 pm to Jim Rockford
Did they do additional tests like the angiogram? What about the ventricular tachycardia?
I would have thought EF issue would have come up with earlier nuclear stress test.
I would have thought EF issue would have come up with earlier nuclear stress test.
This post was edited on 5/6/19 at 10:16 pm
Posted on 5/6/19 at 10:19 pm to dallastigers
Angiogram was mentioned but she really didn't want to do it and the Dr wasn't insistent. Everything I'm reading about below normal ejection fraction associates it with heart failure but the Dr was rather nonchalant. Another appt in two months so it doesn't seem particularly urgent. Asked about activity restrictions and he said none. "If you want to take up mountain climbing, go for it."
The longest VT string was 12 seconds. Said he doesn't worry too much about anything under 30 seconds. Wasn't sure if the VT was a result of the low ejection fraction or vice versa. This is one of the top guys at Tulane FWIW.
The longest VT string was 12 seconds. Said he doesn't worry too much about anything under 30 seconds. Wasn't sure if the VT was a result of the low ejection fraction or vice versa. This is one of the top guys at Tulane FWIW.
This post was edited on 5/6/19 at 10:22 pm
Posted on 5/6/19 at 10:22 pm to Darth_Vader
Thanks for the good thoughts Darth. Best wishes for your continued health.
Posted on 5/6/19 at 10:24 pm to Jim Rockford
I say James, the best to you and Mrs. Rockford.
Posted on 5/6/19 at 10:24 pm to S
Cheers, my good man.
Posted on 5/6/19 at 11:15 pm to Jim Rockford
Ok. It just seemed like this would have been mentioned earlier unless another test showed the lower EF that hadn’t shown in earlier tests. Nuclear Stress Test is one that can measure this.
If other symptoms showing heart failure I think EF helps to show how severe heart failure is. Unless it’s really low & getting close to point of possibly causing desync issues, since she did not have a separate heart failure diagnosis or diastolic dysfunction/impaired relaxation diagnosis (or symptoms) Lower EF is probably something you have to monitor like with a diagnostic test every so often like she will probably have to do anyway. It seems less of an issue than the VT, so thankfully they decided the VT was not as bad as initially thought.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16950-ejection-fraction
If other symptoms showing heart failure I think EF helps to show how severe heart failure is. Unless it’s really low & getting close to point of possibly causing desync issues, since she did not have a separate heart failure diagnosis or diastolic dysfunction/impaired relaxation diagnosis (or symptoms) Lower EF is probably something you have to monitor like with a diagnostic test every so often like she will probably have to do anyway. It seems less of an issue than the VT, so thankfully they decided the VT was not as bad as initially thought.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16950-ejection-fraction
This post was edited on 5/7/19 at 11:43 am
Posted on 5/7/19 at 4:41 am to Jim Rockford
quote:
Me too. She's very fit and a little underweight. She walked for an hour after her appt today to work off the stress.
She does suffer from pretty severe anxiety. I think that plays a big part in whatever is going on.
Amphetamine use can cause all the above...she using meth, adipex, ritalin, etc?
Also, hyperthyroidism/thyrotoxicosis.
I am sure her doctor checked these things. Good luck.
Posted on 5/7/19 at 5:45 am to Jim Rockford
quote:
"Moderately below normal ejection fraction."
Not a real big deal. Mine is below 25. At one time it was below 12 and they were talking heart transplant. Been fighting HF 10 years now, but over time, meds, my heart has somewhat repaired itself some.
Doctors keep telling me just keep doing whatever I am doing. More beers and JB in order. 
Posted on 5/7/19 at 5:54 am to DeathValley1924
quote:
Go see Dr. Gremillion at Our Lady of the Lake
Was my first Cardo Doctor. He is good and caring.
When I came down with HF, he told me I was one of those cases that was outside the box. I have zero blockage. Dam virus infection did the damage. 
Posted on 5/7/19 at 8:43 am to LSUERDOC
quote:
Amphetamine use can cause all the above...she using meth, adipex, ritalin, etc?
Also, hyperthyroidism/thyrotoxicosis.
Nahh. She doesn't even drink. The only thing ahe takes regularly is antidepressants. AFAIK thyroid function is normal
Posted on 5/7/19 at 9:05 am to Jim Rockford
quote:
Angiogram was mentioned but she really didn't want to do it and the Dr wasn't insistent.
Yoga technique.
Pranayama. There are whole books on it. "The breath is senior to the emotions".
Means she could dampen stress with regular pranayama. Takes discipline. 5 minutes before each meal. At least doing long slow exhales. Time the exhale. Do better each day.
2. What is the issue for refusing angiogram?
My experience is with design and testing of Whopper computer systems. There's always someone up against it who asks for help but won't actually try what I say to do to pinpoint the problem.
Forgive my ignorance. Why not do the test if that is what MD suggests?
Posted on 5/7/19 at 9:11 am to fishfighter
quote:
Not a real big deal. Mine is below 25. At one time it was below 12 and they were talking heart transplant. Been fighting HF 10 years now, but over time, meds, my heart has somewhat repaired itself some. Doctors keep telling me just keep doing whatever I am doing. More beers and JB in order.
I was in the same boat as you. Before my bypass and valve replacement my ejection fraction was down to 10% and I was in stage 4 CHF. Two & half years later I’m ticking like a Timex (literally) and up to 45%. They initially told me I should only expect to get to about 20-30%.
Posted on 5/7/19 at 10:17 am to CelticDog
quote:
2. What is the issue for refusing angiogram?
My experience is with design and testing of Whopper computer systems. There's always someone up against it who asks for help but won't actually try what I say to do to pinpoint the problem.
Forgive my ignorance. Why not do the test if that is what MD suggests?
She doesn't want to do an invasive procedure. She's funny that way. I'm just glad she agreed to start her medicine. It wasn't a slam dunk that she would do that.
Posted on 5/7/19 at 10:27 am to Jim Rockford
quote:
She doesn't want to do an invasive procedure. She's funny that way. I'm just glad she agreed to start her medicine. It wasn't a slam dunk that she would do that.
It’s not really a very invasive procedure though.
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