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Can a person live with only ten percent of their heart working
My brother is 54 he had a major heart attach last February, they did a double bypass and put in a pig valve, his kidneys started failing and his liver, he was on dialysis for a couple weeks, he ended up with gangrene in his feet and had to have his toes amputated. He went to the dr. and they told him that only ten percent of his heart is working, and is sending him for a second opinion on getting a heart transplant. How long can a person live with only ten percent of their heart working. And would he qualify for a heart transplant after everything else that has happened and what is the chances of him surviving a heart transplant if they can do it. How quick would they have to do it. Again how long can a person live on ten percent of their heart working
Is you brother still with us? My stepdad's case sounds just like his? He is in hospice with no life saving support..
My husband was told 5 years ago that he has heart failure it will be 5 years on November 4th he has been in and out the hospital for the last 30 days for high heart rate and fluid build up the doctors have him on some very aggressive medications how long do you think he have to live I pray he be here til we old he only 46 now
As far as being eligible for a transplant, it depends on a number of things. Two of the bigger factors would be which region he is registered in and his blood and tissue type. As far as his life expectancy with only ten percent function, it is not good. Diet and medication buy a little time, but very little time. Every day, it will become harder and harder for him to catch his breath. He will even reach the point that walking from one room to another will exhaust him. When he reaches that point, he has very little time left. He can pass away at any given time. He could be driving, walking to the bathroom, or even sleeping. I'm sorry for sounding blunt and for having no optimism, but I have witnessed it first hand with a relative who just passed away. My advice would be to cherish the time you have left. Spend time with him and tell him how much you love him. Once they are gone, you never have the opportunity to go back and say and do the things you wished you had done.
My girlfriend is currently in the same position. She recently talked to a doctor about her heart and they told her only 10% is working. She passed out and fell pretty hard on the floor. We had her put on the list so she can get a transplant but we don't know how long that will take. I seen a comment where it said, "The younger ones usually go first". I hope thats the case because she's only 19 years old. She hasn't even got to live her life yet. This stuff has been stressing me out. She wanted me to leave so I wouldn't have to deal with it but i told her I'm not leaving. I told her I'm fighting this with her. I just hope we come across something soon. She means the world to me, I can't lose her. I don't know what i will do if She goes. I will lose it.
1 Comments
How is your GF doing? Did she get the heart?
heart at 10 percent is not good, especially if you are not taking care of yourself well enough. he needs to be vigorously checked, make sure he does not miss nay docs appointment, consumes foods tahts are NO sodium, not just low in sodium, diet is very improtant I cant it enough. plain walking is good. helps the heart from pumping so hard. I am speaking of experience, just lost my dad, he was 52, and his heart went from being 40 percent to 10 percent in less than 2 years, because he did not do any of the things I said above. Diet is very important. Now, I know someone who is at 10 percent, she can walk, do all daily activities, But when a person who is at 10 percent gets an heart attack, it is very critical, so the bets thing you can tell your brother to be very strict with his diet and please, if he ever feels like his heart is feeling heavy, any type pf discomfort, do NOT wait until he cannot breathe. call 911 RIGHT AWAY. God bless you and your family.
heart at 10 percent is not good, especially if you are not taking care of yourself well enough. he needs to be vigorously checked, make sure he does not miss nay docs appointment, consumes foods tahts are NO sodium, not just low in sodium, diet is very improtant I cant it enough. plain walking is good. helps the heart from pumping so hard. I am speaking of experience, just lost my dad, he was 52, and his heart went from being 40 percent to 10 percent in less than 2 years, because he did not do any of the things I said above. Diet is very important. Now, I know someone who is at 10 percent, she can walk, do all daily activities, But when a person who is at 10 percent gets an heart attack, it is very critical, so the bets thing you can tell your brother to be very strict with his diet and please, if he ever feels like his heart is feeling heavy, any type pf discomfort, do NOT wait until he cannot breathe. call 911 RIGHT AWAY. God bless you and your family.
my brother, my only brother is and he also only has ten percent working, he is in the hospital now and his legs are so swollen and his urine is so dark. they have not even tested his kidneys.. its like they are just letting him die.....
What symptoms am I looking for prior to his last breath or heart beat. he only has 10% of his heart working. and is now home on hospice. they said he only had 48 hours to live and that was 7 days ago. I need to know what symptoms I should be looking for, upon his death..
I read your comment with ef being 13 percent and now it's 59 percent. My husband had a heart attack 11/18/11. His EF was 10% when he got to the hospital. When he had a echo 02/2012 it was up to 12%. If there was things you did to strengthen the heart muscle. Please give me information on what to have my husband try. They are talking about a heart transplant. We are both scared. He is only 41. Had the heart attack at 40. They first said it was a virus to the heart. I guess more test latere ruled out for a heart attack with left EF damage.
My father in law is in his mid 70's, he has been told that he had to have a triple bypass, now a few days later they are telling him that his heart is 75 percent dead, i am not sure what that means and how long can he live like that. They say no bypass because of it, they say it cant be repaired, what does this mean for his longgevity.
The aneurysm is in the right aortic. They have transferred him, but haven't said much yet. They are running a bunch of tests. His kidneys are failing and he has a lot of fluid around his heart and in his stomach area, he gained thirty pounds in two weeks time. Thank you for your responses. The nurse said she didn't know if his kidneys would kick back in or not. They have not started diaylisis on him, but when he had the heart attack before his kidneys and liver had started failing, they were giving him dialysis everyday for a month or so. I don't know what his blood pressure is, but heard it is very low.
To give some perspective, there may be a misunderstaning regarding the statement only 10% of the heart is working! Usually what 10%, or any percent figure associated with the heart is the amount of blood pumped into circulation with each heartbeat and normal is 50 to 75% ejection fraction (EF). Sometimes the EF can be increased with therapy, but the danger of having a low ejection fraction is there is more blood going to the heart from the lungs than the heart is able to pump into circulation.
More than 5 years ago, I had an EF of 13% and currently my EF is normal at 59% How long can one survive with a very low EF (10%) depends on the underlying cause to the heart muscle dysfunction, and whether the condition can be stablized...if the EF can get up to 25% or higher, and there is a reduction of blood/oxygen demand one can manage quite well and that also depends on the general health.
Where is the aneurysm? Is it the septum (wall separating heart chambers)? The aorta? The danger of an aneurysm is the risk of rupture and that depends in part on the size, etc. There are successful treatments available.
To be a candiate for heart transplant •Their heart disease needs to be advanced enough to be truly life-threatening (most transplant candidates are considered to be at risk of dying within the next one to two years).
•Other treatment possibilities have been exhausted.
•They must be physically healthy enough (with the exception of their weak heart) to endure the operation.
•They must be psychologically strong enough to handle the stress associated with a heart transplant and the kinds of lifestyle demands that are required after heart transplantation.
Unqualified include individuals •Age older than 70
•Problems with blood circulation
•Severe kidney, lung or liver disease
•Untreatable high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary arterial hypertension)
•Cancer
•Psychological or emotional problems that would interfere with the individual adhering to the lifestyle changes required after a heart transplant, including lifelong use of medication
•Certain infections.
According to the National Institutes of Health, about 88% of heart transplant patients are still living one year after surgery, 72% are alive 5 years after surgery, about 50% are alive after 10 years and 16% are alive 20 years after a heart transplant.
More than 5 years ago, I had an EF of 13% and currently my EF is normal at 59% How long can one survive with a very low EF (10%) depends on the underlying cause to the heart muscle dysfunction, and whether the condition can be stablized...if the EF can get up to 25% or higher, and there is a reduction of blood/oxygen demand one can manage quite well and that also depends on the general health.
Where is the aneurysm? Is it the septum (wall separating heart chambers)? The aorta? The danger of an aneurysm is the risk of rupture and that depends in part on the size, etc. There are successful treatments available.
To be a candiate for heart transplant •Their heart disease needs to be advanced enough to be truly life-threatening (most transplant candidates are considered to be at risk of dying within the next one to two years).
•Other treatment possibilities have been exhausted.
•They must be physically healthy enough (with the exception of their weak heart) to endure the operation.
•They must be psychologically strong enough to handle the stress associated with a heart transplant and the kinds of lifestyle demands that are required after heart transplantation.
Unqualified include individuals •Age older than 70
•Problems with blood circulation
•Severe kidney, lung or liver disease
•Untreatable high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary arterial hypertension)
•Cancer
•Psychological or emotional problems that would interfere with the individual adhering to the lifestyle changes required after a heart transplant, including lifelong use of medication
•Certain infections.
According to the National Institutes of Health, about 88% of heart transplant patients are still living one year after surgery, 72% are alive 5 years after surgery, about 50% are alive after 10 years and 16% are alive 20 years after a heart transplant.
2 Comments
IS there anyway, I can talk to you? my email address is ***@****. My daughter has 15% EF and I'm very interested in how you got your EF back up to 59%. Please, if it is possible, can you write back? thank you from the bottom of my heart.
How did you get your EF up to 59%? My FIL was at 10 and now at 13 and reading your comment gives me hope! Please help.
I'm so sorry about your brother. Unfortunately I doubt if he would even be considered for a heart transplant due to his age and health. Hearts normally go to the younger people first, as do most organs. Ten percent isn't good, but I'm not qualified to answer this. I do hope he is in the hospital where they can watch him, and keep all the pressure off his heart.
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