Dilated Cardiomopathy Late Effect Adriamycin

[CMB51]

I have had a dilated cardiomyopathy for thirty years from chemotherapy as a teenager.  I have been on coreg and vasotec since early on and have been well controlled with my EF staying around 43-45%.  The last year I have had decreased exercise tolerance and my EF has gone down to around 40%.  I exercise regularly and am very frustrated that I can't run anymore.  My resting HR is too low to increase the coreg and my BP too low to increase vasotec.  I can't run without my HR going into the 150's.  I start to get SOB if I try to sustain a HR above 140.  Any suggestions on what I might do to be able to do more than just walking?  My muscles, mind and body want to do more but my heart won't let me.  Is it dangerous to push beyond my 85% target HR?

[AthenaSB]

I have been lucky with Coreg too, knock on wood, since it brought me out of heart failure too. I was at 27%EF and now around 48-55%

I was doing as much exercise and my RA permits and would find that I would get SOB as well and I wondered if this is just part if having DCM? Have you had that too?

I wonder if its just the way it is.  I have had SOB sometimes without exertion and even felt like I was going to faint the other day while lying down.  I told my doc that and he is going to do another heart monitor to check rhythm.

So, I am curious.

Also, did you ever have to have surgery for non heart related things after improving from DCM? I have to for my shoulder and am nervous even tho I have cardiac clearance.

Thanks

[CMB51]

I wear a continuous heart monitor and keep my heart rate below 130.  I mostly just walk now and stairmaster on a low level. My EF has been as low as 32-35% but it improved after starting the medications.

[ssophy]

I can't comment on your question but you give me hope as you have survived so long with this condition.I was diagnosed recently iwth the same condition  and my ef is much lower.how do you know how much exercise you can do?