Should my dad have surgery

My dad is in denial about his heart condition.  The doctors are telling him to take lasik and digoxin.  He has been having low blood pressure, swelling in legs and feet and has had 2 TIAs a year ago.  I have copys of his ECHO and Cartdoid Doppler. Please interpret for me.  I think he needs a heart cath done to see what's really going on, but I am no doctor. He has also lost 50 lbs in 2 months from not being able to eat.

[vienna13]

No he doesn’t need a surgery. Did he have blood clots? Blocked arteries? His Heart isn’t normal, reading that report but not very bad. His EF is 30-35%. Now that can and might go up . But many people live normal life with that around 35 numbers. He should watch his sodium intake 1600-2000 mg per day. Then he needs less water pill.
You said he lost lots of weight, but you don’t say how much he was before. It might be good for his heart he lost weight. We all wish to do that with heart condition.
Had the doctor suggested Cath? If not, why would he have one?
I understand you are protective, but after all it is his life, his heart, his health! He has to WANTING TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF, or not. Pushing, controlling is not always helping.
My Best.

[ed34]

I would keep on top of your Cardiologist, keeping the pressure on. The left ventricle is enlarging and so is the left atrium, but the mitral/aortic valves seem to be functioning quite well. They need to establish the cause of the dilation, such as a viral infection or maybe even a thyroid disease. Has your Father had chemotherapy at all? Has he been exposed to certain toxic metals such as lead or mercury? been an excessive alcohol drinker?
It could even be due to excess iron in the body, again due to a particular medical disorder. There is a lot of work for the Cardiologist and they will hopefully find the cause and give the best options. You do mention an angiogram, and dilation can be caused by the results of a previous heart attack and/or existing coronary artery disease. So, if your Father is strong enough, perhaps an angiogram would be a wise decision. There is a less invasive CT scan which can be done to evaluate the blood vessels though. Obviously you care about your Father and want his heart condition to be stabilised at least, so if I was in  your shoes I would be asking the cardiologist lots of questions.

[vkeen]

I understand what you are saying about being protective.  It is hard for me to watch him fade, but he comes to me when he wants to talk about how he is feeling. Other family members just have turned cold to him and say  you won't go so, I don't want to hear it anymore. I try to listen, but the more I hear, the more concerned I get. Thanks for your comment. I suggested the cath because his son ( my husband ) went through the same things, and he has had 4 stents and bypass done and currently has congestive heart failure at age 37. He has had 5 heart attacks. So, I know a bit of what I am seeing because I saw it with my husband.