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."

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TD99 01/10/2014

I Had a heart attack in mid-October. Stent permanently blocked by clot. 10-15% of heart is gone/damaged. Anyway, my EF 4 days after the heart attack was measured by Echo and was 48. Then 5 weeks later, I had a cardiac MRI and they said my EF was 46. Doctor said it was because of echo vs mri. Has your ejection fraction been different on echo vs mri? Which one is usually higher? Thanks!!

RoboPop 01/11/2014

See my response to your question under Heart Attack group

TD99 01/11/2014

Thanks RoboPop! Just wanted to make sure that a 48 echo and then 5 weeks later a 46 mri wouldn't mean the EF was decreasing.

august2012 01/13/2014

EF measurement is not an exact measurement. it is an estimation and could be interpreted just a little bit differently by different people.
how quickly a heart stabilises after a massive shock is difficult to guess with such factors of age, general health needing to be part of this equation, but I think your doctor is watching your progress closely by the sound of it.

deleted_user 01/13/2014

Recently had a MGA Scan (similar to MRI I think ---just of my heart) which my new cardiologist feels is a better evaluation of my heart to test for Ejection Fraction. In May when diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure I had an EF of about 22%. by the end of September it had improved to 32%. improved yes, but not what the doc wanted to see. I then moved from NY to OK to live with daughter and we started me on the 'Eat to Live' food plan. By mid November, after about 7 weeks on the plan I saw my new cardiologist. He concurred with NY MD that I should have the defibrillator/pacemaker if the MGA scan showed 35% or less. Well...God is Good! Prayers were answered, and the change in diet made a difference. I went from that 35% to 49%. (I, in my little faith prayed for 36 - 37) Only thing that changed was the food. Woot Woot. I see my cardiologist today for follow-up and find out what the new plan is.

TD99 01/13/2014

Thanks August...just a little worried that my EF is dropping. But hopefully the MRI reading and echo treading are basically the same.

TD99 01/13/2014

Thanks wonderful SweetMary! I've been trying my best to eat right and cardiac rehab. Hope I can bring my EF of 48 or 46 up.

august2012 01/14/2014

a good explanation on the video at
http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2013/09/ejection-fraction-and-heart-failure-video/

TD99 01/14/2014

Thanks!

Fern-RL 01/15/2014

My husband had an echo which was low enough they considered getting him a defibrillator, but since he looked great they decided to test him with an MRI "because it was more accurate." He also went back to his walking routine before that appointment, and he clearly didn't need the implant because his ef was very much improved.

deleted_user 02/25/2014

After my orignal heart episode my EF was 15 and this was years ago. all my exams have measured the same since a slow recovery. My last exams was 37 and all revealed the same.

deleted_user 02/27/2014

Thanks for the link to the video, August. It was very informative. A thumping palpitation woke me from a sound sleep about an hour ago, and even though my pulse is still erratic, it has slowed down and is not as frightening as it was. I have been doing very well since I was diagnosed in September, and this is only the second palpitation of any severity I have had in that time. It's always nice to know there's support out there, too!

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