weak heart

[mariacisneros]

My question is?  My mother was 71 years old and had a heart pace maker inplanted about 3 1/3 years and she was fine for a while.  When the devise was implanted we were told that her heart was only working 24 percent more than 1/2 of what a normal heart should be.  Thru the years my mother will get sick and her heart would get weeker and weeker, about 2 months ago my mother got sick cause she though that she had eaten something that had gotten her sick, going in an out of the hospital only made her sicker and with all the medications that were given to her made her feel worse.  My question is, could there have been anything that we could have done?  Do you think that if we would have taken her to the Hospital that emplanted that devise could have done something differently then the community hospital that we had taken her too?  Please let me know. For a while, my mother just got tired and felt sleepy with no energy to do anything.  Nothing was hurting other then her feet were getting swollen because she was retaining alot of water fluid, medication was given to her, but the swollen of her feet were not going down.  Can someone tell me something?  Thanks Maria

[Momto3]

Your post seems to suggest that your mother's recent bout with her illness resulted in her death.  If that's not right, I'm terribly sorry for the misinterpretation.  If so, I'm very sorry for your loss.  I hope the good memories will help to carry you through the difficult days.

Did your mother have an ICD implanted?  Current research is showing that the ICD can be life-altering for people with an EF less than 30%.  There are different kinds of units...Do you know if your mother's pacemaker had a third lead to help pace both sides of the heart simultaneously?  This can be helpful in improving the EF and increasing function and energy levels.  

All said and done, each case is different and her doctor's likely did their best to help your mom.  Take care.

[sweetredt]

My uncle also suffered from the same side effects, please read post cause fo death confusing.  He was dx with severe metabolic acidosis.  Regarding your question, we had him at the best hospital in the area and that is where he had his pacemaker placed.  Something about CHF makes it hard to handle because he would have great days and go down hill so rapidly.  I am sorry for your lose.  Sweetredt