Heart Failure Support Group
Heart failure is a condition that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the heart to fill with or pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body. It is often undiagnosed due to a lack of a universally agreed definition and difficulties in diagnosis, particularly when the condition is considered "mild."
I have been having chest pains and shortness of breath for going on a few weeks now. Before that I was able to exercise and move around fairly well. My heart would pound a little more than I was used to after a work out, but I thought I might just be more sensitive to it because of panic attacks.
I went to my doctor she ordered a stress test. I had one done 2 years ago and the results came back really good. This time however they came back at 48% heart pumping function. So I freaked out because no one would explain anything. Then I finally get in to see a cardiologist and he tells me above 50% heart pumping functions is normal and mine is just a little low. So he orders an ultrasound of the heart and a CT of the heart. I had the ultrasound done and it came back with my heart pumping function around 47%. The nurse told me on the phone it is not that bad. (What is going off in my head is warning bells and freaking out.) They added yet another drug called lisinopril which is supposed to help. Some random doctor put me on Imdur and another beta blocker before all of this due to an ER visit because I was freaking out.
Next I have a CT scan of the heart scheduled for this thursday which is supposed to provide answers to why my heart is not pumping right. So I get to wait in limbo, scared as hell until I find out what is going on.
All tests I have had done say I have never had a heart attack and I don't have any damage to my other organs.
I gained a ton of weight over the last year and now weigh in at 363 on 5'7 frame. I ask the doctor and he said this would not be the cause of the problem. Still since getting the weight off is the only thing I can control I am doing so.
I do not have a history of heart attacks, I am not diabetic, I have had blood clots but never had any damage from them and those were over 10 years ago.
Questions:
1. Can a person just have a lower heart pumping function than a normal scale and be fine? (Hoping for this)
2. I don't understand these heart pumping percentages. If a normal person is fine at 50% but I am at 47% why am I being tossed on all these drugs? Are they just covering their butts? or is this preventing it from getting worse?
3. The words heart failure have never come up yet, but every time I search for anything on all the drugs I am taking all I get is heart failure all over my screen. What percentage classifies heart failure for pumping function?
I just do not understand this all and the doctor is very abrupt, what ever happened to caring medical professionals. (I can answer that myself... insurance companies.)
I went to my doctor she ordered a stress test. I had one done 2 years ago and the results came back really good. This time however they came back at 48% heart pumping function. So I freaked out because no one would explain anything. Then I finally get in to see a cardiologist and he tells me above 50% heart pumping functions is normal and mine is just a little low. So he orders an ultrasound of the heart and a CT of the heart. I had the ultrasound done and it came back with my heart pumping function around 47%. The nurse told me on the phone it is not that bad. (What is going off in my head is warning bells and freaking out.) They added yet another drug called lisinopril which is supposed to help. Some random doctor put me on Imdur and another beta blocker before all of this due to an ER visit because I was freaking out.
Next I have a CT scan of the heart scheduled for this thursday which is supposed to provide answers to why my heart is not pumping right. So I get to wait in limbo, scared as hell until I find out what is going on.
All tests I have had done say I have never had a heart attack and I don't have any damage to my other organs.
I gained a ton of weight over the last year and now weigh in at 363 on 5'7 frame. I ask the doctor and he said this would not be the cause of the problem. Still since getting the weight off is the only thing I can control I am doing so.
I do not have a history of heart attacks, I am not diabetic, I have had blood clots but never had any damage from them and those were over 10 years ago.
Questions:
1. Can a person just have a lower heart pumping function than a normal scale and be fine? (Hoping for this)
2. I don't understand these heart pumping percentages. If a normal person is fine at 50% but I am at 47% why am I being tossed on all these drugs? Are they just covering their butts? or is this preventing it from getting worse?
3. The words heart failure have never come up yet, but every time I search for anything on all the drugs I am taking all I get is heart failure all over my screen. What percentage classifies heart failure for pumping function?
I just do not understand this all and the doctor is very abrupt, what ever happened to caring medical professionals. (I can answer that myself... insurance companies.)
A normal heart pumps out approximately 50% of the blood.
EJECTION FRACTIONS:
50-75% Heart's pumping ability is Normal
36-49% Heart's pumping ability is Below Normal
35% & Below Heart's pumping ability is Low
You should understand that all of the tests used to determine EF have a tolerance of accuracy and can vary as much as 10%. That number can be different just based on who reads the data. It's important to understand these numbers are merely a guide and not necessarily indicative. Many world class athletes for example have a EF at rest as low as 25% but when they start activity it jumps up.
My EF is 22% and while I will never win a marathon, I get along just fine thank you. What really is important is how you feel, are you symptomatic.
Symptoms:
fatigue
shortness of breath
swelling in the feet (Edema)
So in answer to #1, Yes, your number can fall outside the averages and you still feel and function normally.
#2 The best person to answer this question is the doctor who prescribed the meds. I can tell you Beta Blockers are used to reduce the workload on the heart muscle and allow it time to recover/heal on it's own. My guess is the doctor is being proactive.
#3 Heart failure isn't a percentage it's a lot of factors rolled together that define heart failure. The internet is rife with outdated information on heart failure that'll scare the beejesus out of you, stop allowing that to happen, and stressing over a diagnosis that you made. Most of the information is outdated and has not kept up on recent developments in heart disease treatment.
I have a whole string of heart issues including end stage heart failure. If the information on the internet were accurate, I'd have been dead 7 years ago. I'm not, I'm still here annoying people, especially doctors.
My suggestion to you is to stop diagnosing yourself and take anything you read with a grain of salt. Use the information to help you understand and ask questions to your doctor but stop panicking, you'll live a whole lot longer.
However, if you are set on a doom and gloom prognosis, let's us swap conditions. I'd do it in a heart beat...
I would add though a BMI over 30 creates health risks........
After reading your post I have a couple comments:
Take a moment a breathe....slowly....and calm down. The stress you are putting yourself through is not good for your health, heart or otherwise.
Based on the experience of my husband, 48% EF is a good thing. My husband was living life with an EF of 15% and didn't know it until he was hospitalized from a fall. It was then we found out he had experienced a heart attack months before and didn't know it. He was living on borrowed time. With the drugs provided by his physicians, and ICD implant and lifestyle change he is now at a 38% EF and hoping for improvement.
You are doing the best thing you can by getting your weight under control. You are still very young and have plenty of time to change your life for the better. We both have lost 40 pounds a piece and are continuing to modify our diets to be healthier. How I wish we had started at your age so we wouldn't be in this situation now.
Keep the faith and keep working at it. I am sure you will see improvement soon. I wish you success in your journey.
However to be rude because you didn't like the answers after he took the time to explain everything in detail is well.....strange.
The end part of his post is just his way of telling you not to create a problem that may not be there. We are here to help and support each other with what info we have and by our own personal experiences.
It's up to you in how or if you choose to use this help, but please don't disrespect someone for answering questions that YOU asked.
Good day.
I honestly believe that RoboPop was being very informative; having seven years recovery time!