Low Ejection Fraction

[Pellum]

I have been diagnosed with an ejection fraction of 20%.  I am just wondering if there are others out there that have lived with that kind of EF and for how long with proper diet and exercise.

[ed34]

You're welcome, and let's hope in six months your EF is either the same or improved. I hope you report your results back to us. Take care and don't forget to take your medication :)

[Pellum]

I cannot begin to tell you how nice it is to know someone who knows someone who is living with a low EF.  It gives me hope.  

I was just advised today by Cedars Sinai that I am not a candidate for a heart transplant for the same reasons as Utah gave me.  The calcification is too bad on the aorta vessel itself.  

What the CHC told me is that because my initial care after the surgery in December 2010 was so poor, that basically my heart suffered from it and that I am in right and left heart failure.  I think the right side may be getting stronger but because the aorta valve area was also calcified, there is still a leak from the valve.

They say there is no reason to do an echocardiogram again for at least six months.  Perhaps I will get lucky and my EF will be better.  I have to try and stay positive.

Again, I truly appreciate you chatting with me.  It doesn't seem like others respond and I have been so reaching out to find someone who is going through the same thing I am.

[ed34]

Oh I forgot this. A close friend of mine has had an EF of 20% for 6 years now. When first diagnosed, he was told he wouldn't see another year of life. Medication these days is wonderful. He is still going strong and really enjoying every day. I have CAD and I'm not as healthy as him.

[ed34]

Thank you for your extra information. I think you need a greater explanation from either your Doctor or Cardiologist. You need to know why your EF has dropped. Is it your Valves? is it due to heart muscle and why? Press for an explanation. When surgery is performed on the heart, you do expect a slight drop in EF because it becomes stiffer, but not to the extent you describe. That is unless he did a very poor job. So my suggestion would be to ask the Doctors for an explanation.

[Pellum]

Actually my medical history is long.  My aorta valve was replaced with a tissue valve in 2007. It was then replaced in December 2013 with a mechanical valve.  At that time, it was discovered that my aorta vessel was severely calcified and replacing the valve itself was intense.  Unfortunately during the surgery the surgeon accidentally put a hole in my heart and tried to patch it.  The patch did not hold and I went downhill with improper medical care until June of 2015 when we found a surgeon who was able to sew the hole that was in 3 chambers of my heart.  He also had to replace the tricuspid at that time.  During 2014 I had four parathentisis (?) where they drained 7 liters each time.  The fluid was in my abdominal area versus lungs.  I am seeing a doctor at the CHF clinic and we have finally found a balance of medications wherein I am stable.  No fluid retention etc.  I also was told in October of 2014 that I needed a heart transplant but on January 5 of 2015, I was advised that the answer was no due to how calcified my aorta vessel is.  They are afraid it will shatter and there will be nothing to sew a new heart to.  In the meantime I was told that my EF had went from 45% in July to 18-21% in November.  I cannot help but be freaked out by the low EF number.  I have just been searching for others with low EF that have lived more than a year or two.  At this point I am able to drive, cook and I try to do 15 mins on the treadmill and recumbent bike three times a week as well as a few weight machines.  So, that is most of my background information.

[ed34]

Do you know the cause of your low EF? Was it a heart attack? or disease?
If a heart attack, then your heart may change its shape over the years to come, causing some serious issues. Surgery can correct this in many cases but is very risky.