Aa
ICD
I have a question and in need of a quick respose...PLEASE. I will soon undergo surgery for a ICD, however I'm NOT sure if I'm making the right choice. 5 years ago I had 3 stents implanted and at the same time my was diagnosed withCardiomyopathy. My EF at the time was 18%. 3 months latter went back to the hospital for Breaky Therapy and another stent. I now have 4 stents in my heart.
NOW.....Oct 2007 I want to have some elective surgery and went to my Cardiologist to get clearence. He wanted me to have a Stress test to see how I'm doing. WELL......2 of the stents have scared over causing blockages and my EF is down to 28%. Nothning was done at the time of the angogram. My Cardiologist recomends that I have a ICD vbecause my EF is below 35%. MY question is HELP!!!!!! Google is a wounderful thing however, I have done extensve reading regarding ICD's and not sure if this is what I want . Will the leads malfunctions? Will they scare over with scare tissues? What will happen if these leads needs to be replaced? I feel as tho this might kill me not save my life. All the side affects of maintaing this. My body has shown that it will scare over the stents so why not the Leads? Can I make my heart stronger and get out of the danger zone with medications? Help me please. I am schedule to have this done the 26th of October, and I'm not sure.
NOW.....Oct 2007 I want to have some elective surgery and went to my Cardiologist to get clearence. He wanted me to have a Stress test to see how I'm doing. WELL......2 of the stents have scared over causing blockages and my EF is down to 28%. Nothning was done at the time of the angogram. My Cardiologist recomends that I have a ICD vbecause my EF is below 35%. MY question is HELP!!!!!! Google is a wounderful thing however, I have done extensve reading regarding ICD's and not sure if this is what I want . Will the leads malfunctions? Will they scare over with scare tissues? What will happen if these leads needs to be replaced? I feel as tho this might kill me not save my life. All the side affects of maintaing this. My body has shown that it will scare over the stents so why not the Leads? Can I make my heart stronger and get out of the danger zone with medications? Help me please. I am schedule to have this done the 26th of October, and I'm not sure.
Hi there, sweetie! I didn't mean to upset you but it just is not a FACT that his EF will improve with the proper meds and going to the gym. It might be more likely, but not guaranteed! Just what if he died while waiting? Of course you are entitled to your opinion, ;-), however wrong you are! LOL Love ya anyway!
Diva: of course it IS all about Joe........it's HIS question!
Joe: just because someone has a 32% and you have a 28% EF does not place them at a significantly lower risk of sudden death. EF is not a constant number. Your EF might have been 28% an hour ago and now be 34%. Just as your heart rate and blood pressure changes, your EF can change a little. I think the doctors say +/- 5 % is the rule. So really, 28 or 32, pretty much the same. My doctor says I probably vary between 35 and 45 right now.
Diva: of course it IS all about Joe........it's HIS question!
Joe: just because someone has a 32% and you have a 28% EF does not place them at a significantly lower risk of sudden death. EF is not a constant number. Your EF might have been 28% an hour ago and now be 34%. Just as your heart rate and blood pressure changes, your EF can change a little. I think the doctors say +/- 5 % is the rule. So really, 28 or 32, pretty much the same. My doctor says I probably vary between 35 and 45 right now.
Thank You all! I can't tell you how I look forward to reading what you say on line here. Please keep reading and posting for me. Help me see this to the end......what ever that may be, an ICD or getting my heart stronger with meds. I'm having my Muga test on the 8th of Nov and seeing the Dr. on the 12th. I'll keep you all posted as to what the findings are. Best to you all for now....Joe
One more thing. When I went through the 6 month drug and test schedule the doctor stated that there were drugs and doses that could raise my EF. That was really a secondary reason to taking all the drugs at higher and higher doses. I wanted to tell you that while these drugs CAN raise your EF it might work out that they don't so don't be too alarmed if your EF doesn't go up. And please don't think that drugs alone will change your life or how you feel. You MUST still eat right and exercise regularly
My taking all the drugs didn't raise my EF and I wasn't too happy about that but I can honestly say that I FEEL better. I still eat right and I still walk on a tread mill everyday and I think doing this along with the drugs is what is doing it for me. That and feeling good mentally.
If a person has heart problems or heart disease they really need to be or become an optomist. Positive mental attitude (PMA) is a powerful tool.
My taking all the drugs didn't raise my EF and I wasn't too happy about that but I can honestly say that I FEEL better. I still eat right and I still walk on a tread mill everyday and I think doing this along with the drugs is what is doing it for me. That and feeling good mentally.
If a person has heart problems or heart disease they really need to be or become an optomist. Positive mental attitude (PMA) is a powerful tool.
You must feel alot better mentally since you seem to have a doctor that you can trust. That's a great feeling.
I haven't had a MUGA procedure done. I hope it comes back with good news for you. The safety net issue that you and your doctor talked about is a pretty big deal. All of us that have or need an ICD have been faced with the same issues you are. For the most part, my having an ICD has been a FEELING of safety and only a couple of times has it BEEN a safety net. It is those couple of times that I am truly thankful for.
I have been on the 6 month every 2 week trip and it wasn't too bad. Lots of drugs and tests trying to get me stable again. My doctor told me that there is lots of proof that maximizing doses of certain classes of drugs prolongs life. I believe him, although I felt a little like a lab rat for awhile, but now I am glad I did because I feel pretty darn good. Getting the combination and dosage level correct takes some time and you won't always feel the greatest. I was so tired and dizzy sometimes until they got the dosage levels worked out.
It may work out that having an ICD implanted is still the best thing to do and I hope you can make that decision if and when the time comes. IF it does come, trust your doctor to help you make it the right decision.
For me, having a low EF scared the heck out of me for a while. But now I don't worry about it so much anymore as I feel good, can do pretty much whatever I want and don't feel like I am gonna die all the time. Granted, I don't want to do certain things anymore and have learned to set my goals more in line with what I can and think I can achieve. Rather than think I want to run a marathon, I lean more towards walking 2 miles.
However it all works out for you, I applaud your determination to getting it right for you. Good Luck.
Pusher
I haven't had a MUGA procedure done. I hope it comes back with good news for you. The safety net issue that you and your doctor talked about is a pretty big deal. All of us that have or need an ICD have been faced with the same issues you are. For the most part, my having an ICD has been a FEELING of safety and only a couple of times has it BEEN a safety net. It is those couple of times that I am truly thankful for.
I have been on the 6 month every 2 week trip and it wasn't too bad. Lots of drugs and tests trying to get me stable again. My doctor told me that there is lots of proof that maximizing doses of certain classes of drugs prolongs life. I believe him, although I felt a little like a lab rat for awhile, but now I am glad I did because I feel pretty darn good. Getting the combination and dosage level correct takes some time and you won't always feel the greatest. I was so tired and dizzy sometimes until they got the dosage levels worked out.
It may work out that having an ICD implanted is still the best thing to do and I hope you can make that decision if and when the time comes. IF it does come, trust your doctor to help you make it the right decision.
For me, having a low EF scared the heck out of me for a while. But now I don't worry about it so much anymore as I feel good, can do pretty much whatever I want and don't feel like I am gonna die all the time. Granted, I don't want to do certain things anymore and have learned to set my goals more in line with what I can and think I can achieve. Rather than think I want to run a marathon, I lean more towards walking 2 miles.
However it all works out for you, I applaud your determination to getting it right for you. Good Luck.
Pusher
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