Low ejection fraction

[sceater]

My husband has an ejection fraction  of 20 down from 40 3 yrs ago and we haven't heard from the dr. Yet on treatment options.
He also has severe copd and thought sob was fro copd can this get better, he is 75

[sceater]

Thanks so much for your reply
My husband has also had two cardiac ablations that didn't work the last one in 2011 and His surgeon has never said anything about this ejection fraction.
20 yrs ago had quadruple bypass and on meds for cholesterol  daily aspirin and plavix and lasix every other day.
I talked to nurse yesterday and she says he's on the right meds for this and if that's true why did his ef drop so low and it doesn't seem like to concerned.
he is also on oxygen 24/7
Is it safe for him to travel and to drive
Thanks
Sceater

[TaraLynn77]

I agree with Ed34. When an individual has a low EF, close monitoring is very important. Daily weights, medications, blood pressure,  to name a few, is what a doctor will want to monitor. New symptoms, such as increasing shortness of breath need to be addressed by his cardiologist. Unfortunately, answers to health questions like this will need to come from your doctor. Until you see them, try to take a daily weight each morning at the same time and logb it to show your physician.  Dobthe same with blood pressure if possible.  The more data (such as is it difficult to breathe while lying flat) will help with understanding what is happening with your husband.

[ed34]

Was this determined from an Echo scan? I think you will need to wait for the appointment because there are far too many details missing to comment. The heart could be weak due to different things, and it depends on the cause as to the options which will be decided. If he was known to be 40% EF and is now 20% then I would be questioning the professionalism of the heart management team he is under. Why was he not checked sooner? with an EF of 40 % he should have been monitored.