My FIL, age 78, had a heart attack and stents 18 months ago. Since then, he’s assured us he doing well. We’ve noticed him being more tired, and having swollen legs. He said he was not told to change diet, avoid alcohol, etc. He has a few drinks every night. He also happens to have a return of prostate cancer , Gleason score 9 per his recent biopsy.
In getting a cardiac work up for the biopsy, they did a cardiac ultrasound, which showed his ejection fraction had dropped from 45-48% last December to 38% now. He had a cath yesterday. His stents are fine. One artery is 30% blocked but they aren’t worried about that.
I think they plan to give him Entresto. Anyone have experience with this? I’m also worried about his cancer. They were in the process of looking at cryotherapy. He’d already had radiation.
My Dad died at 79 from heart disease. My Mom was 78. My Dad had to retire on disability at 52. Not once did she ask me or my brothers to help her. She did it all. Even when he was on Hospice she never asked for help. My DD, an RN, did go over at night and get him ready for bed but I don't think Mom asked.
"Decreased ejection fraction doesn't have many preventable causes. However, it can be triggered by a heart attack, coronary artery disease, diabetes and/or uncontrolled high blood pressure, which can be caused or worsened by: Alcohol or drug abuse. An unhealthy diet, high in saturated fat, sugar and salt."
So FIL does need to watch his diet. My Dad had heart problems and salt was the one thing he was to cut down on. This is the reason for your FILs water retention which is what Entresto is suppose to help.
Water retention is serious. Because his heart is not able to pump efficiently fluid does not leave the body. This retention can fill the lungs and the person dies. Your FIL needs to be told how serious this is. He is too old for a heart transplant so if he wants to live longer, he needs to take care of himself.
She did not stop having a glass or two of wine with dinner often during those 10 years while on the medication, and it didn't seem to cause a problem.
She stopped the medication once she went into hospice.
Her only complaint about it was the cost - I think her co-pay was a little higher than with other medications, but it was in no way onerous. She was just used to no co-pay or extremely low co-pay with the insurance she had. And things like that just seemed to irk her, even though the money was never a concern - it was more the idea of having to pay more that annoyed her.
My understanding of the medication - which I admit is somewhat limited - is it helps increase the strength of the heart to improve the injection fraction numbers.
Good luck!