19% Ejection fraction at 67 year old after Quad Bypass

My husband had a massive heart attack few years ago, quadruple bypass saved his life but his EF is 19% and I'm worried about him. He takes Coreg, Lisinopryl, etc. and going for an cathetrization to look for blockages. The doctor told him he might need a pacemaker. Why would that be?

How many years does he have to live? It sounds pretty bad....he looks like he's waisting away.

Thanks!

[blueyankee441]

Forgive me,as I had a quad bypass in 1997,and now I am 67 years old.I have had no real
problems from the heart since 2008 when I just had my Aorta Valve replaced with a Pigs
Valve.The length of time for living depends on your husbands own attitude and persiveren
ce.Remaining strong in mind and body is essential.I have been again overweight now for
three years,except I walk very much and often.You have to walk and keep a good diet.
    I have survived as in my character I have determined I am very strong in some sense.
A positive attitude is very important.I cant say that all doctors are all bad,but in my case
I had a great surgeon from Portland Oregon do my surgery quad by-pass.My Aorta Valve
was by pure luck,and being in the right place at the right time,for my operation.
   This is not a brag,or very great medicine,except I do not believe in bad doctors and
cardilogist.I will drop them as quickly as they may try to give me less care.Which is rea
lly what happened.The doctors were prescribing medicines and test which were not reall
y needed,as every month to have expensive testing and never better,just to decide if I'
needed a By-Pass,or a Aorta Valve. How long can I live after heart and valve surgery??!!
   I feel I can live a longer time,mainly by avoiding all the bad doctors,and ill prescribed
medicines.My life is a lot better and I am living longer without the interference of too man
y medicines and bad advice. I have not one doctor and I am living as normal a life as pos
sible with a bad back,and bad legs,but I am still walking,and still hurting though I also
had a three back operations in one month and had to tell the surgeon how to heal my
back and what medicine to use as where he cut to do the surgery.I have psoriasis and
no-one would believe me at first,then they bought the cream and my my wound began
to heal and became better.He was a good surgeon but didnt know how to heal the siezur
e cut,as he never had it happen before.    
   So how long do I live after  a quad by-pass? By walking every day which is what your
husband should do.and never stop.  I am on no medicines prescribed by anyone.
I feel great !!! Hope to live for a long time.

[Flycaster305]

Has your husband's EF dropped recently, or has it been low since the bypass surgery?  
The heart cath is going to give you a lot more information.
In my case, my left ventricle enlarged after the heart attack, plus I have other issues that resulted in a pacemaker implant.  My EF rose from the high 20's to the mid 40's, where it is now.  The Pacer can ease the load on the heart, and I help my pacer by eating healthy, exercising, taking the good drugs.  I feared getting a pacemaker, but it completely changed my life in a positive way.
Those with us with heart trouble are lucky compared to those people with poor function of kidneys, lungs, etc.  Hearts can be repaired.  I'd recommend keeping an upbeat and positive attitude, get lots of information, and follow through with heart healthy activities.  Do keep us informed.  

[sukumar794]

Old AWMI(october2007). EF 32% BP and diabetes under control. Experiencing occasional spells of irregular heart rhythm. Regular walking for 45 minutes in the morning. On a vegetarian diet..low fat. Cholesterol ..well under limits. Aged 61 years. Surviving on cardiac and diabetic supportive medications. Anxiety felt at times. Can I hope to live for a further period extending to several years without much difficulty?

[kenkeith]

I will add to what Flycaster has correctively stated.  If the EF is low there may be significant damage to the heart muscle. The damaged heart can/will have scar tissue and that area can interrupt electrical impulses, blood flow, etc. and also a left ventricle can enlarge from low EF and interrupt electrical pathways and disrrupt impulse conduction  and cause dysfunction for the heart's ability to effectively contract and pump a sufficient supply of blood into circulation. Putting the heart under the control of a pacer  will insure proper compliance for an effective heartbeat and sufficient blood supply to the body system.

Thanks for your question, and if you have any follow-up questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  Take care and I wish you well going forward.




  

[blueyankee441]

Forgive me,as I had a quad bypass in 1997,and now I am 67 years old.I have had no real
problems from the heart since 2008 when I just had my Aorta Valve replaced with a Pigs
Valve.The length of time for living depends on your husbands own attitude and persiveren
ce.Remaining strong in mind and body is essential.I have been again overweight now for
three years,except I walk very much and often.You have to walk and keep a good diet.
    I have survived as in my character I have determined I am very strong in some sense.
A positive attitude is very important.I cant say that all doctors are all bad,but in my case
I had a great surgeon from Portland Oregon do my surgery quad by-pass.My Aorta Valve
was by pure luck,and being in the right place at the right time,for my operation.
   This is not a brag,or very great medicine,except I do not believe in bad doctors and
cardilogist.I will drop them as quickly as they may try to give me less care.Which is rea
lly what happened.The doctors were prescribing medicines and test which were not reall
y needed,as every month to have expensive testing and never better,just to decide if I'
needed a By-Pass,or a Aorta Valve. How long can I live after heart and valve surgery??!!
   I feel I can live a longer time,mainly by avoiding all the bad doctors,and ill prescribed
medicines.My life is a lot better and I am living longer without the interference of too man
y medicines and bad advice. I have not one doctor and I am living as normal a life as pos
sible with a bad back,and bad legs,but I am still walking,and still hurting though I also
had a three back operations in one month and had to tell the surgeon how to heal my
back and what medicine to use as where he cut to do the surgery.I have psoriasis and
no-one would believe me at first,then they bought the cream and my my wound began
to heal and became better.He was a good surgeon but didnt know how to heal the siezur
e cut,as he never had it happen before.    
   So how long do I live after  a quad by-pass? By walking every day which is what your
husband should do.and never stop.  I am on no medicines prescribed by anyone.
I feel great !!! Hope to live for a long time.