MUGA with exercise

Posted By Patricia on April 01, 1999 at 17:07:10:







Thank you so much for supporting this forum, it is extremely helpful.
I am 62, and was diagnosed with dilated congestive cardiomyopathy
during the fall of 1998, and I also have an LBBB.  
(My condition is complicated by a lung ailment known as bronchiectasis
which I've had for about 10 years.  Last year when I started having chest
pain and shortness of breath I assumed it was due to the lung condition,
but the physician said no.)
I have been on the following medications:
Lanoxin, 0.25mg Lasix, 40mg Coreg, 6.25mg (twice/day)
Micro-K, 10meq Spironolactone, 25mg
My cardiologist had me on 12.5mg Captopril but dropped that and started
the Coreg.
I had a cardiac catherterization that showed clear arteries.
Chest xrays in January and in March, 1999, showed that my heart size had
shrunk back to normal and that there was no fluid in my lungs.  
I no longer have chest pain, shortness of breath, or ankle-swelling,
but I still feel very tired with very low energy, and even normal
household tasks seem to exhaust me.
In February, 1999 I had a MUGA with exercise test that showed the following results:
Rest, EF 55%, heart rate 74
25 watt stage, EF 47%, heart rate 74
50 watt stage, EF 33%, heart rate 104
75 watt stage, EF 15%, heart rate 135
Recovery I, EF 36%, heart rate 167
Recovery II, EF 45%, heart rate 109
The cardiologist monitoring the study commented that "this is a markedly
abnormal study."
Basically my question is does the MUGA show that I'm in the 30%
that's not going to get better, in spite of the positive xrays?
Thank you for any help you can give me.
Patricia