viral cardiomyopathy, low ef

[deaconjohn1]

After a recent heart cath. (my age is 44) I was told that although the arteries, valves, heart itself is "normal" with no damage,  the heart muscle is weak, with an EF of 30, also a LBBB has been shown on EKG's.  [The Dr.'s are leaning toward a viral cause]I am on coreg 12.5 twice a day, and .50mg of vasotec twice per day; following a low sodium diet, and walking.  I have returned to work fulltime as a maintenance man and seem to "run out of gas" around 3pm each day.  My question is/are: over time will my EF increase and in addition to walking and following the above (diet/exercise) what else can I do to help situation? Thank you in advance

[deaconjohn1]

Thanks again.  As my body tries to adjust to everything e.g. diet, meds...my mind hasn't.  Slowly I'm listening to my body when it says, "rest".  It's difficult at times.  My wife of 23 years has been a blessing, but I do have difficulty trying to explain to our 9 year old daughter, that "Daddy is just out of gas!"...She is on her schools swim team, and at the last swim meet I helped out near the pool...keeping time, and helping the kids out of the water....it was 90 degrees in the building with at least that much humidity...after bending over to assist the kids...I got very lightheaded...my wife said I looked like a glass of milk with legs!...after I got some fresh air I was ok, but apparently I have to watch heat and positional changes.  Again my body understands this but my mind isn't to that point yet.  The lightheadedness seems worse within a couple hours of taking the coreg/vasotec.  Is that a common situation?  Are high temps a problem?  My Dr. didn't seem too worried, he had me come in for blood pressure checks (sitting, standing...) and said it wasn't too bad...(delay) just had a call from my Dr.  they want to increase the Vasotec from 5mg 2x per day to 7.5 mg 2x per day...then do a BNP in a couple days...
Thanks to everyone, have a blessed Christmas, Kwanzaa and also Hanukkah (Dec. 5th)..you all will be in my prayers.
-deacon John

[often]

John,  I was started at 3.12 x 2 and it took me a year to get to target (25mg x 2).  Had to back off a couple of times due to fatigue...I would sleep 20 - 22 hours on the weekends to catch up after working all week...also found that it was easier by staggering when we titrated up...I would up my evening dose and a couple of weeks later up the am dose.  Fatigue was my major side effect, and yes, I did deal with the waking up ...  that, also gets better over time...or at least it did for me.  I have a history of insomnia anyway.  Strange how on the one hand you want to sleep all the time and on the other you can't, huh?  I do not have apnea..I am sure it is the med.  

One thing you will have to do is realize that you are going to tire way more easily and give in more.  Naps are a wonderful thing...and though we can't nap on the job, we can on our days off.  Don't push yourself.

Another note...since my ef went back to normal, we cut my Coreg back to 12.5....a big bonus for me.

Glad to know we are helping.

[deaconjohn1]

My doses had to be lowered due to side effects, from 12.5 per day, but in 6 weeks I'm back to 12.5 twice per day.  

The symptoms are getting better, but the first hour or so is rough on the coreg.  I've switched the order taking the vasotec first followed by the coreg an hour or so later, but I feel it's the coreg alone which I'm so sensitive to...getting better.  

Did you notice an inability to sleep well?  I seem to wake up more often...Cardio is doing a sleep study on me in January.

I'm glad I located this site...great information and comfort knowing others understand the situation.

Peace and prayers
John  

[often]

Hi...timing of meds can make a difference so perhaps switching the order will help.  Or some time between the two.  did your doc start you off on 12.5 on the Coreg are are you in the process of titrating up?

There is a very good chance you will see your ef improve and also the condition of your heart.  Keep up on the exercise and don't slack off on the low sodium...that in particular can make a world of difference.

FYI   I was diagnosed with an ef of 10-13% and within 2.5 years I was back to normal function, normal size on my heart.  

[FLBrat]

Hi deacon.  I dont know about your work schedule, but is it possible that you could find a place to take a quick nap at lunchtime?  I know that when I returned to work I would have never made it through the day the first few weeks without that "power nap".  I put a folding cot in the telephone console room which was pretty quiet and dark.  Nice napping every day.  Now I walk on sunshiney days.

[deaconjohn1]

Thank you.  Never been a smoker nor a drinker.  Interesting, you try to do everything "right" (diet, exercise...) and yet there are many "unknowns" that we know very little about.  I'm thankful for my faith, which enables me to keep things in perspective.  Have you ever heard of "switching" the order of the meds?  Someone suggested taking the Vasotec prior to the Coreg, which is opposite of how I've been taking them the past month...Didn't think it made a difference, but hey I'm new to all this.

Also my Cardio. Dr. wants me back on Lipitor instead of Zetia, he said the statins have things in them beneficial to the heart which zetia doesn't have...any thoughts?  

[anacyde]

Hi there.  It sounds like you're on the right track.  Any additional things to consider would be eating healthy, avoiding cigarettes and alcohol and trying to keep stress low.  Fatigue is really common with a low EF, as well as with the medications used to treat it.  In time, with the medication you are on, you may see improvement.  Exercise, as recommended by your doctor, is a way to stay in shape and keep the energy you do have.  

I hope you get some energy back and see some improvement in your EF.  Best wishes.