Heart failure

Can someone survive if their heart is only working at 20% capacity? He already has a pace maker.

My nana has been living at 15%, she has a pacemaker. They said if she didn't have one she would of been dead years ago.

I think its possible but it depends on the age and general health. I ended up in the ICU when DS was a week old because my heart was only working at a 15% and was engorged with fluid. But i am also only 30 years old and am generally healthy otherwise. Once they get him stabelized he will probably have to be on oxygen full time and on several different pills

My DHs great uncle is. Hes at about 10-15% and has to wear a life vest I think they call it. Its very sad  

Yes. The pacer will/ should pick up where the heart is slacking. There are also a ton of chf medications that help.

I don't know... he has already had four bypass surgeries and is on about 17 different medications. My boss said that kidneys are next to go, and his have been functioning off and on. I'm really afraid for my mother.

Quoting heather2470:" Yes. The pacer will/ should pick up where the heart is slacking. There are also a ton of chf medications that help."

He's had the pace maker for at least 5 years. AT least.

Quoting Is that still my name?:" I don't know... he has already had four bypass surgeries and is on about 17 different medications. My ... [snip!] ... My boss said that kidneys are next to go, and his have been functioning off and on. I'm really afraid for my mother. "

im sorry, whats the drs prognosis?

Quoting Is that still my name?:" I don't know... he has already had four bypass surgeries and is on about 17 different medications. My ... [snip!] ... My boss said that kidneys are next to go, and his have been functioning off and on. I'm really afraid for my mother. "

My Nana is 71. She has had a pacemaker since she was 38.
She has open heart surgery every 5 years, sometimes less, to replace the batteries in her pacemaker, every 8-10 years they replace the entire pacemaker unless they need to earlier. The problem now is that the last time she had surgery to change the pacemaker, her heart could handle even two minutes off of the pacemaker and she had two heartattacks on the table. They closed her back up and didn't tell her what happened, so it wouldn't stress her out, they just tried again the next day, successfully. Her heart was working 35% then. Now a few years later she's at 15%. And they won't give her another surgery, she would just die. Her skin is so fragile around her pacemaker, you can see the box, she is very self conscious  
And she's on more medicine then I've ever seen  

Oh, yes. I frequently care for a woman with CHF who has an ejection fraction of 20-25%. There are meds such as Digoxin that can improve the contractility of the heart, even when it isn't pumping effectively.

Quoting Squeaky McGee [12 wks]:" Oh, yes. I frequently care for a woman with CHF who has an ejection fraction of 20-25%. There are meds ... [snip!] ... 20-25%. There are meds such as Digoxin that can improve the contractility of the heart, even when it isn't pumping effectively."

im on digoxin & corag (sp)

Quoting Misty Walls:" im sorry, whats the drs prognosis?"

I read your name....and all I could think of was "are your walls REALLY misty..?" lol Some humor in the midst...or should I say in the misty.. LOL

Quoting Misty Walls:" im sorry, whats the drs prognosis?"

They're not giving one... I mean smurf... if you think he has limited time, just SAY so!

Quoting Vivian [♥]:" My Nana is 71. She has had a pacemaker since she was 38. She has open heart surgery every 5 years, sometimes ... [snip!] ... around her pacemaker, you can see the box, she is very self conscious   And she's on more medicine then I've ever seen  "

Sounds like my step-dad

Quoting Squeaky McGee [12 wks]:" Oh, yes. I frequently care for a woman with CHF who has an ejection fraction of 20-25%. There are meds ... [snip!] ... 20-25%. There are meds such as Digoxin that can improve the contractility of the heart, even when it isn't pumping effectively."

Well then maybe you know the answer to this...
they said they had to send him to ICU because that was the only place he could get the drip he needed. What does that mean?