Maybe an opinion or 2 from someone with card. myopathy & valve problems?

Basics: 3 years of Cardio Myopathy, CHF, and A-fib. On meds, but I am not improving at all. 10 minute walks, slow paced, is about my limit physically. I am 45, and otherwise healthy. Xray shows enlarged heart. Angiogram shows "normal coronaries".

Highlights of last echo, which is similiar to prior echos:
Left vent. chamber is markedly enlarged, and wall is thinned.
Left atrium is mildly enalrged. Global systolic function is moderately depressed. Right vent. is enalrged. Ejection fraction of 25-30%. Moderate aortic and pulmonary regurgitation.

I have seen 2 cardiologists. One thinks I should stay on teh meds, and eventually get on a transplant list, for "quality of life reasons". The other thinks surgery on the valves will help some, but there are always issues with "complications" to be considered. I am supposed to discuss this with my doctor on friday. When the doc mentioned transplant, my mind seemed to shut down for a bit, and couldnt think of the right questions to ask.

J-man, that means a lot, it really does. Thank you.

My friend, I know nothing of the topic, but would like to say I'll be saying a prayer for you every night, from now on.

You take care, and if you need a transplant, I'd gladly give up mine for a friend, no joke.

You didn't mention your lungs, which can be related to CHF. Are you/were you a smoker? Did you quit yet? Are there any other pulmonary problems?

You didn't mention your meds, but do they include Plavix or at least aspirin?

_IF_ it comes to this, look into allograft replacement. My own doctor had one of the first done almost 20 years ago and he has never looked back since.

25-30 ejection fraction would like the noise level in the proverbial ISO 102,400 camera. Not much "real" blood flow happening here...

I might love you like a brother (if I knew you), but I'm sorry. You can have J-MaN's heart but I'm keeping mine for a while. :-) I hope.

But seriously, it seems to me that a better mitral valve would make for a lot less effort on the part of your left side and help your cardiac muscle tone and maybe even fix your a.fib. You may be beyond treatment by medications alone.

I am not a real doctor any more than I am a real photographer, so I hope a resident cardiologist picks up on this question.

~~~~~

If you can fix this with an allograft, you will not need anti-rejection drugs for the rest of your life like you would with a heart transplant. Unless you have an identical twin who you really don't like...

hey J I had 2 vavles repaired march 9th of 2006 and i am still in a-fib so the surgery only partially helped is what they say and I like u can't walk far without getting winded and i have to take about 13 meds daily some twice a day and i tell ya the recovery man i tell ya worse thing i ever been through in my life. Listen hear Good Luck and God Bless You and He does anwer prayers

Yes, a transplant is your best option. Do some home work, see what is involved w/transplant. Check out chfpatients.com/tx/transplant.htm.