Re: diagnosing Cardiomyopathy

Posted By Rex Boyer on April 18, 1999 at 20:03:25
Husband, age 53, diagnosed with cardiomypathy six months ago.  We were not told of this condition until last week.  Learned that he has only 25% of heart usage remaining.  Question:  if we were told of his condition at that time (six months ago) would his heart  of gotten so bad to date?  In other words, would the medication he is taking now been given to him six months ago have saved his heart to some degree.
Please, please answer.  Obviously we are frightened to learn that he has lost 75% of his heart usage .  What can we expect from medications? Strengthen? God, We Hope!.
Thank you.

[Bil-Raridan]

Posted By Bill Raridan on April 19, 1999 at 17:14:39
Hi
Nobody can tell for sure. However, it is possible that earlier agressive medication may have prevented his present low output. Is the condition 25% of function, or 25% Ejection Fraction ? Not the Same thing !!  I understand that 20 yr old males maybe have 70% EF. So 25% EF is really more like 33% of maximum heart function. SInce patient is 53, it is unreasonable to expect 70% EF anyway.
I have been told the Medications are very effective, COREG and Lysinopril in my experience. I increased my EF from 35% to 50% in about 4 months, about a 50% improvement........feel great. But...
You can't smoke, ever more
You must exercise, under Doc supervision, and raise a sweat...VERY CAREFULLY at first
You can't eat a bunch of greasy ****, I'm not saying you have to eat nothing but grass and twigs, but get real about the deep fried stuff.
You gotta relax, dump the stressful work/lifestyle.
Easy to say, hard to do. Its tough, but the alternative is much more undesirable. I believe this is survivable, if you want it bad enough.










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