Re: Echocardiogram Results..question

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/28/2004 5:22:05 PM Eastern Standard Time,

LILQT4U1984@... writes:

My cardiologist office just called (yes on Sun) and said that my EF was 40%

and that my cardiologist wanted a repeat echo within 3-6 months. I've never

had anything show up on my echo's before. I've not been able to find

anything

about what this means online.

Hi ,

Others may be able to fill you in in more detail about this b/c it's been

awhile since I learned about this in nursing school, but I believe that EF

(short for ejection fraction) is an indicator of how well your heart is

pumping.

I think normal should be around 50-70%. People with congestive heart failure

can drop their EF to as low as 5%.

I doubt you are in CHF b/c you would have a lot more symptoms of that and

your EF would probably be even lower, but when you go to CCF, it might be worth

getting a cardio who knows about mito. Since the heart is a muscle, it can

be affected by the mito too and this may be one way of showing that your heart

muscle is having a little bit of trouble.

Here is a website that describes what ejection fraction means and what it

should be.

_http://www.heart1.com/news/mainstory.cfm/16/1_

(http://www.heart1.com/news/mainstory.cfm/16/1)

I wish I could give you a better idea of what this means for you with the

mito disease. I can imagine it wasn't easy for you to hear from the nurse on a

Sunday when you can't ask the doctor questions about what this means and

whether it could be serious or not!

I'm praying for you......

Hugs, Malisa

[Guest guest]

,

I think EF stands for EJECTION FUNCTION. I did a search on EF and

cardiology. My echo had always been normal and then about a year ago it

showed left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. When I had a stress test

this year there were no sign of it nor any explanation as to why it

would come and go. They only thing I had done between the two tests was

up my Q-Gel dose. I have no idea if that is what accounted for the

change or if it was just because they were done by different techs.

Please try not to worry too much until you have more information. I'll

be thinking of you.

Hugs,

LILQT4U1984@... wrote:

>My cardiologist office just called (yes on Sun) and said that my EF was 40%

>and that my cardiologist wanted a repeat echo within 3-6 months. I've never

>had anything show up on my echo's before. I've not been able to find anything

>about what this means online. The nurse also asked me if I was feeling ok. I

>thought that was sorta odd too. She is suppose to check tom. for the reports

>from CCF's Syncope clinic about the POTS and low blood volume and autonomic

>testing I had done there and get back with me. Any ideas would be most

helpful.

>

>Thanks again!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

40% is kind of low, what were your previous numbers? Did you have

other tests? I just had a stress test, an echo, and a 30-day event

monitor, and the first two were fine (well, except for some pulmonic

valve insufficiency in the echo, " normal " ). The 30-day event monitor

found what I've known all along - I have episodes of heart rate under

50 bpm, and also arrhythmia varying from 50 to 100 bpm. But she says

no pacemaker yet, let her know if symptoms get worse.

I guess it was nice to get affirmation of my symptoms from a medical

test, sometimes it's frustrating to have symptoms and all tests

are " fine " .

Take care,

RH

> My cardiologist office just called (yes on Sun) and said that my EF

was 40%

> and that my cardiologist wanted a repeat echo within 3-6 months.

I've never

> had anything show up on my echo's before. I've not been able to

find anything

> about what this means online. The nurse also asked me if I was

feeling ok. I

> thought that was sorta odd too. She is suppose to check tom. for

the reports

> from CCF's Syncope clinic about the POTS and low blood volume and

autonomic

> testing I had done there and get back with me. Any ideas would be

most helpful.

>

> Thanks again!

>

>

>

>

>