Cardiologist or those with previous experience advice please

[Zen.]

If only a quater of the heart is working after a heart attack, what are the realistic chances of a full recovery?

[Swilly]

I am a Civil Engineer and id say you have no chance......

[Zen.]

Swilly said:

I am a Civil Engineer and id say you have no chance......

You at least have made me smile for the first time in 6 days.

[Dift]

Define full recovery?

You certainly wouldn't be doing anything strenous like marathons.

Is the person were talking having bypass grafts/PTCA or other operation?

Edited by Dift on Monday 1st September 20:13

[Zen.]

Very fit and well before, had a stent, now on full life support.

Full recovery for me would mean, independant living.

[marc.l]

Almost year ago I had a heart attack, full arrest and died twice. I have a very large infarction and down to about 65% of my heart still working. My heart is too badly scared to have surgery and it didnt look good for me. I spent 6 days on life support and around a week hard wired to a fibulator.

I still have bad days but my health aint too bad and do most of the things i used to be able to do, cant run a marathon but live a fairly normal life. long term for me a transplant is the only way forward, but if things get no beter life is still good and there is no reason why i should not live to a right old age. I was a very fit 42 year old with no history of illness of any kind.

[dillenger]

quater is for girls real men have less. down to between 15-20% here drink like a bunny and hump like a fish not stopped me from doing anything.your heart is a muscle and works at about 60% so down to 25 aint so bad.it is a bit of a head fec when you are first told the news though.

[maddog993]

To be blunt - it sounds obvious but the greater the degree of myocardial necrosis - the poorer the prognosis, as a general rule it also depends on the age of the patient and the specific areas of the myocardium affected. (This is all assuming things have gone beyond any reperfusion therapies)

[Zen.]

maddog993 said:

To be blunt - it sounds obvious but the greater the degree of myocardial necrosis - the poorer the prognosis, as a general rule it also depends on the age of the patient and the specific areas of the myocardium affected. (This is all assuming things have gone beyond any reperfusion therapies)

I think I need that in English Please

Patient is late 80's. Left ventical is damaged causing a pulmonary edema. Only 25% of the heart wall is undamaged, but I don't know which 25%. Hospital keep extending the time frame for 'wait and see'

Once part of the heart has died (I'm assuming this is what has happened?) does it ever recover?

[dillenger]

i dont think it recovers but one of the options i have for the future is a new type of pacemaker it takes a bit of strain of the heart but until i start showing any syptoms of slowing down they will not fit it,it also has a built in de-frib blaster type thing which would be nice if mine stops.

[GreenV8S]

marc.l said:

Almost year ago I had a heart attack ... I was a very fit 42 year old with no history of illness of any kind.

[Chilli]

GreenV8S said:

marc.l said:

Almost year ago I had a heart attack ... I was a very fit 42 year old with no history of illness of any kind.

Christ. Would it be rude to asked what caused it?

[maddog993]

Zen. said:

maddog993 said:

To be blunt - it sounds obvious but the greater the degree of myocardial necrosis - the poorer the prognosis, as a general rule it also depends on the age of the patient and the specific areas of the myocardium affected. (This is all assuming things have gone beyond any reperfusion therapies)

I think I need that in English Please

Patient is late 80's. Left ventical is damaged causing a pulmonary edema. Only 25% of the heart wall is undamaged, but I don't know which 25%. Hospital keep extending the time frame for 'wait and see'

Once part of the heart has died (I'm assuming this is what has happened?) does it ever recover?

the gist is once the tissue of the heart is dead, it is dead and- assuming 3/4 of the heart tissue is dead - in this case the prognosis, on the face of it, is not great. The degree of left ventricular function unfortunately is a very significant factor and the greater the damage here, again the poorer the prognosis (this as you say is likely to be the main cause of the pulmonary oedema - the fluid in the lungs) Just to seemingly rub salt into your wounds the fact the patient is in their eighties is against them also as increasing age carries a poorer prognosis in myocardial infarction.
The reperfusion therapies (attempting to restore blood supply to the heart tissue) would have been explored soon after the infarction itself as they are only effective while heart tissue is ischaemic (potentially still viable) as opposed to necrosed (dead).
Hope this is of some help (although I haven't sounded very positive I'm afraid)

[thehawk]

Zen. said:

maddog993 said:

To be blunt - it sounds obvious but the greater the degree of myocardial necrosis - the poorer the prognosis, as a general rule it also depends on the age of the patient and the specific areas of the myocardium affected. (This is all assuming things have gone beyond any reperfusion therapies)

I think I need that in English Please

Patient is late 80's. Left ventical is damaged causing a pulmonary edema. Only 25% of the heart wall is undamaged, but I don't know which 25%. Hospital keep extending the time frame for 'wait and see'

Once part of the heart has died (I'm assuming this is what has happened?) does it ever recover?

No, I don't believe it ever recovers although I think stem cells may offer some hope.

In any case my Grandfather survived for many years with supposedly only 20% of his heart functioning and in the end succumbed to pneumonia.

[marc.l]

Chilli said:

GreenV8S said:

marc.l said:

Almost year ago I had a heart attack ... I was a very fit 42 year old with no history of illness of any kind.

Christ. Would it be rude to asked what caused it?

I or no body else has a clue, I had a full branch node blockage that caused valve fibulation followed by full cardiac failure. My hobbies included walking, climbing and cycling and was only 10 stone . My wife is a fantastic cook and we never eat junk food, I didnt drink but was a light smoker.
I still suffer from nightmares and strange as it may sound and am now frightend of the dark.. strange world...

Edited by marc.l on Monday 1st September 21:35

[nlldavies]

Zen. said:

Very fit and well before, had a stent, now on full life support.

Full recovery for me would mean, independant living.

Same with my Dad, quite healthy before seeing doctor. Was told he had a small blockage and was advised to have a stent. Life went downhill straight away, can no longer get involved in any activity and tires with the slightest walk.

Guy in work had the same. Working one day, went in for a "routine" stent, didn't survive the op, hard to believe he appeared to be fit and healthy one day and dead the next.

The more I hear about stents the more I would never have one done!!!!

[Morningside]

nlldavies said:

Zen. said:

Very fit and well before, had a stent, now on full life support.

Full recovery for me would mean, independant living.

Same with my Dad, quite healthy before seeing doctor. Was told he had a small blockage and was advised to have a stent. Life went downhill straight away, can no longer get involved in any activity and tires with the slightest walk.

Guy in work had the same. Working one day, went in for a "routine" stent, didn't survive the op, hard to believe he appeared to be fit and healthy one day and dead the next.

The more I hear about stents the more I would never have one done!!!!

Wife has had two and the improvement is amazing...She only went for a health checkout to see about a new knee.

[Zen.]

maddog993 said:

Hope this is of some help (although I haven't sounded very positive I'm afraid)

Thank you, that is indeed most helpful

[Chilli]

marc.l said:

Chilli said:

GreenV8S said:

marc.l said:

Almost year ago I had a heart attack ... I was a very fit 42 year old with no history of illness of any kind.

Christ. Would it be rude to asked what caused it?

I or no body else has a clue, I had a full branch node blockage that caused valve fibulation followed by full cardiac failure. My hobbies included walking, climbing and cycling and was only 10 stone . My wife is a fantastic cook and we never eat junk food, I didnt drink but was a light smoker.
I still suffer from nightmares and strange as it may sound and am now frightend of the dark.. strange world...

Edited by marc.l on Monday 1st September 21:35

Doesn't make sense eh? Has it greatly changed your outlook in life. You know, life life for today, stuff the career type thinking?

[King Herald]

marc.l said:

Chilli said:

GreenV8S said:

marc.l said:

Almost year ago I had a heart attack ... I was a very fit 42 year old with no history of illness of any kind.

Christ. Would it be rude to asked what caused it?

I or no body else has a clue, I had a full branch node blockage that caused valve fibulation followed by full cardiac failure. My hobbies included walking, climbing and cycling and was only 10 stone . My wife is a fantastic cook and we never eat junk food, I didnt drink but was a light smoker.
I still suffer from nightmares and strange as it may sound and am now frightend of the dark.. strange world...

Would I be a tad too insensitive if I post this right now: