LOW EJECTION FRACTION WTIH UNKNOWN REASON

[lou3705]

I  had a heart cath done recently with no blockage noted.. ejection fraction was 35%...9 months ago the echo and stress test was normal...I've been on Crestor  nine months...stopped a month ago due to terrible  pains in my legs..i have intermittent chest pressure and pain between my shoulder blades throughout  every day...The cardiologist that ordered the cath hasn't told me anything except to order the cath that morning of my first office visit....due to abnormal ekg and high blood pressure and chest pain prior night...The MD that performed the cath told my children my EJ was bad  30 percent...And that was all...I had 2 large hematomas after the cath and the nurses held pressure for 1 hour with their hands....I watched the clock...I was very scared...And that was the extent of my visit...I was discharged 6 hours later with basic cath d/c orders...no work excuse...nothing and a f/u visit for 2 months....What can I expect?  What can be done?  Why is this happening?  Could it be viral?  What test can be done?  Why so long for f/u visit?  I feel so weak

[phogg]

His blood pressure was high at the urgent care and at the ER he is 40 years old and had the chest pressure the night before which we thought was due to the fact that he had partied a little to hard the night before which only occurs once in awhile not often.

[phogg]

my husband just got out of the ICU today, he went to urgent care yesterday for chest pressure they sent him to the ER where they preformed an angiogram they were very vague after, they said no blockage,no heart attack, they mentioned the word heart damage but when myself and his parents asked if there was heart damage they would not give us a yes or no, the charge nurse was hinting no but said she could not legally answer that question, today before he was discharged they said his heart was only 20% I was freaked out then the more the nurse kept talking the more I noticed the word EF after the phrase 20% the Dr had mentioned to my husband about his heart only being 20% and some vest with a defibulator in it? ( i was not at the hospital yet so I didnt get to hear the conversation myself) he is over weight, but has only had high blood pressure a couple times about 9 years ago before he lost 100 lbs from lapband, he had to have the lapband removed this April because of terrible acid reflux he has had a million tests since Oct due the upcoming surgery removal, chest ex ekg cholesterol test liver enzymes ect ect no issue, his father has had a few heart attacks but is fine, and is hard to believe they would only keep you for about 15 hours if only 20% of your heart was working

[lou3705]

I had asked the hospital to send me the results.  It is so dissappointing to see how one is treated today when going to a doctor for a  problem.....I told them when they called for the survey of my procedure...I felt and have felt for years now as I am only a procedure and a bill!  I have never been treated as if I am a human being!  I have been in the medical field for 25 years and I have never seen such cold and uncaring treatment as today and how the doctors never review the tests they order and the first thing they ask for is payment before even saying HELLO....I t makes me want to cry for I have given myself to service of those that are sick whole heartedly for many many years and I pray I never become this way......Thank you for your input and caring...And if I as a professional do not feel it would do any good to explain to them what does one with no medical knowledge feel?

[lou3705]

In the past two to three months I had terrrible sharp pain between my shoulder blades that would last for up to an hour or so...It felt just like someone had stabbed me....I would wake up during the night sometimes and rush to throw up also with the pain...and throughout that day at times...It came whether I was resting or active...and worse if doing strenous activity.....Today I received the results of the heart Cath done Monday.  It said none of the things the MD that did the cath ...(.who I saw for a moment only as they put me to sleep before the procedure) told my daughter who is also a paramedic. It said I had frequent episodes of ectopy during the LV ANGIOGRAM. The RCA, LAD AND CIRCUMFLEX all had luminal irregularities. CONT. MAXIMIZE MEDICAL THERAPY. WAS THE RECOMMENDATIONS...then appt in 2 months???????

[Iatrogenic]

I'm so sorry to hear you have been left out in the cold on this.  I know very, very little, but did a search for Crestor withdrawal, (could do a search for statin withdrawal), and  here's a lot of information http://www.drugs.com/pro/crestor.html
I don't know if that will help you.  Clearly, though, abrupt discontinuance of the medication can cause problems.

I find your treatment unacceptable, (I find my treatment unacceptable), and if I were you, I'd try to get another physician's input on all this.  On what basis, I'd ask the cardiologist, however, are you left with that ejection fraction number - and that's it?

It's two hours or so from where you are to Vanderbilt Medical Center.  If I were that close, I'd see about getting someone there to look at what's going on with you.  Is this all due to the statins?  I'd ask.  Meanwhile, your regular doctor should be answering and/or getting answers to these questions.  (I know that they often don't).  

I read The Truth About Statins recently - found at the library.  I haven't yet been put on any, and would be hard-pressed to take them before trying dietary changes, etc.

You don't mention how long you've been having the chest pressure and shoulder blade pain, but never mind that - you need a decent evaluation.  Vanderbilt?  Be well.