Hi there. I am not a doctor but can offer general advice. Firstly your results are great! All valves are normal. Both ventricles are normal. Your EF is slightly reduced, but 45% - 50% is only slightly reduced, given that the normal approximate range is 55% - 65%. You seem really scared. That's understandable given that you just had a baby last year. I think you may have a little anxiety and this has caused a bit of paranoia to creep in too! If the doc had any further concern he would have suggested an Angiogram test or even a stress test. I presume your BP is normal?? If it was raised during your pregnancy, it could be a reason for the slightly reduced EF. It does sometimes improve, but it happens over time. I had a Hypertensive crisis 2 years ago. My Systolic at ER was over 250 mmhg! and echo showed EF less than 20%. It has come back to 45% now, having got the BP under control. You should write down your concerns and go back to the doc. I think he will be able to re assure you regarding your heart. Hope this is of some help to you. PS Hope the baby is not keeping you awake too much at night!!
Thank you so much for your response! I am so happy to hear that you got your EF up from 20%! How were you able to increase your ef?? I've never had high blood pressure, not even during pregnancy. I'm really not sure what would be causing my ef to be low :( that is why I am so scared. I'm not sure if I should be doing something right now to prevent it from dropping lower. I'm scared of what I should or should not be eating or doing activity wise. Thank you so much for your kindness to take the time to write a response. My little one is amazing! He is such a good baby!! Your words have helped me so thank you again!
Thank you so much for your response! I am so happy to hear that you got your EF up from 20%! How were you able to increase your ef?? I've never had high blood pressure, not even during pregnancy. I'm really not sure what would be causing my ef to be low :( that is why I am so scared. I'm not sure if I should be doing something right now to prevent it from dropping lower. Why are the numbers in range? Wouldn't it just be one or the other? I'm scared of what I should or should not be eating or doing activity wise. Thank you so much for your kindness to take the time to write a response. My little one is amazing! He is such a good baby!! Your words have helped me so thank you again!
I remember being a young mom to a baby just about the age of yours (and congratulations on having an amazing baby!), but I also remember an overwheming fear that I had never experienced before: I suddenly realized that I was responsible for the entire well-being of this little human--and what if I should fall ill or die???
This was a big deal, a really big deal, and it did cause me some health anxieties for a while. In the years since then, I have read that this is not exactly unusual in new mothers.
Since your radiologist's report is essentially normal--and it really is--I think it would be a good idea to talk with your doctor about the possibility that anxiety attacks may be partly responsible for many of your symptoms. Personal experience has taught me this is truly possible.
Yes, your ejection fraction appears to be just a teeny bit low--just a wee bit--but hemodynamics (heart action, chamber size, blood volume, etc) are known to be unstable in new mothers. And yes, you have a very small septal defect, so insignificant that it was discovered by accident. It is good to know about these things, primarily so you can just keep an eye on them, but these little abnormalities do not explain your symptoms of distress.
Please do consider the possibility of huge, semi-normal though unexpected worry about not being "there" for your lovely baby.
You will be there for him.
You have no idea how much your words have comforted me. You and tacolino have really helped to make this a little easier on me. It is very scary, I do feel like I am having major health anxiety. Having such a precious little baby has made me feel so much happiness that I almost feel like it's too good to be true. I even ask myself if I deserve to be this happy, maybe that has been fueling some anxiety. I really do appreciate your words of comfort. I wish my doctor would have some openings in his schedule sooner in order to help me better understand. Thank you. You really have been very kind.
Glad you are getting some comfort in the general advice we can offer you. I think you also have a little bit of guilt that things are going so well for you since you had your baby!!!. But look, life is great for you, new baby, great results with your heart tests. Hope you can move forward positively. Kind regards, try keeping your mind off your health anxiety and on the positives