Recent Diagnosis

[Mel214]

I'm 57, thought I was healthy and was just told that I have an EF of 15%.  I guess I was surprised to find this out because I have been working 1 and a half jobs and work out 3 days a week.  I watch my diet and would like to be 20 pounds lighter but who wouldn't?  I will say the nites I don't work and/or work out, I am a couch potato.  Is EF related to fluid on or around the heart?  I had a pericardial (??) window put in back in 2011 because I had fluid around the heart and had trouble breathing.  They also found stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma at that time which is now in remission.  Wouldn't the window keep fluid from building up and causing heart problems again??
They weren't sure what caused it to begin with since I never had heart issues before, but I was getting remicaid infusions at the time for rheumatoid.  Have you heard of all those related things together before?  Besides going to see the heart doctor, is there anything else I can do?

[STAYING_ALIVE_1968]

my heart stopped for 16 seconds in my sleep ,in the hospital the last time it happened, 5 x at home. i am 44 now had a heart attack three yrs ago that was the beginning of all this new heart stuff now, i had never had any health probs b4 in my life

[jrbon]

Have you received any chemotherapy? Some might harm the heart.

Jesus

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
A gradually developing pericardial effusion is less likely to effect the EF. However a sudden developed pericardial effusion which is causing cardiac tamponade can effect the EF and lower it. You need to get a re evaluation from your cardiologist regarding the reduced EF and get investigated for any pericardial fluid.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.