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diastolic dysfunction effects and treatmetn

Posted by ohallk @ohallk, Jun 27 3:29pm

I sometimes feel like I can hardly move after a 45 minute walk, even though I've been a runner/walker all my life. Also - many mornings, it is so much work to expand my diaphragm just to get a good breath. This lasts for 1 - 3 hours. Sometimes I will use an Albuterol inhaler though I blow my usual normal 325-350 on my peak flow meter (occasional, mild asthma). I am being treated w/Jardiance (10 mg) for heart and also do a Repatha injection once every 14 days. Mu sister, former dialysis nurse, says it's my heart that is causing the exhaustion after exercise - that I'm simply not getting enough blood flowing and that's causing the exhaustion. The exhaustion is not sleepiness - it's an "I can't move exhaustion."
Is my sister's dx spot on? Is the left ventricle simply not sending enough blood over to the right chamber and thus to all my muscles? Same w/ many mornings? I'm quite certain it's not asthma. Looking for info from others. Do you experience this? Is using an inhaler bad when it's not asthma? (I know - I should ask my doc about this - and I will when I see her in a couple weeks but wanted to know what others experience 1st. -

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Profile picture for ohallk
ohallk | @ohallk | 3 days ago
In reply to @karukgirl "@ohallk, I love your attitude!! I am frustrated with me too! Why can't I be like..." + (show)
Profile picture for Debra, Volunteer Mentor @karukgirl

@ohallk, I love your attitude!!
I am frustrated with me too!
Why can't I be like I was when I was 30? Or 40. Or even my 50's?
In my head I can still do cartwheels! But reality?...if I tried, somebody would end up calling 9-11! So even if I think I still can...I'm learning I can...but slower and not as much. Or maybe let's try something less teenager and more senior citizen. Not easy to accept. Except the cartwheels. That's a no go.
PS: 78 is young in my opinion!

Your wonderful feedback is part of the reason Mayo Clinic Connect works so well.
We can share with one another our stories and learn from each other.
We can share our frustrations with each other and sympathize with each other.
We were all there once, and could do this, or could do that...and yet not anymore and we are not what we used to be!
Sigh...
So, though we are are not giving medical advice, no, we can't do that, but we can still shed light on places others may not know about. That furthers learning about what we may or may not have, and may or may not know. You never know what you share here on Connect may impact someone in a huge way.

Don't give up! You can persist and keep searching for more information from your doctor. And if you don't feel it connects with you, you can seek a second, third or how ever many opinions you need to come to the place you are certain you know.
My heart was failing, but it was due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I was able to turn that around after open heart surgery. It's not the same. But I think I can understand what it feels like on some level.
When do you see your cardiologist again? Are you on Jardiance? Or thinking of it?

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@karukgirl
I a on Jardiance. I don't see my cardiologist until Feb but, of course, I can contact her if I find that I am struggling beyond what makes sense. I also think some of it may be a reaction to repatha injection - tho it's nothing compared to the "lead legs" i dealt with when on oral statins, so willing to put up with more minor side effects.
you're right about accepting limitations. i just want to be sure I'm only accepting ones that I must accept

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hopefulme3 | @hopefulme3 | 3 days ago

I developed left ventricle dysfunction following Covid last summer, which is not uncommon I was told. I can get totally out of breath if I rush too much though so far I haven’t experienced as much fatigue. Mine is level 1 & can be reversed supposedly with built up exercise. One dr said it’s like pre-diabetes, ie, reversal. How did you find yours-thru a cardiologist ?

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2 replies
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hopefulme3 | @hopefulme3 | 3 days ago

Oh you asked about asthma. I have that, on Breo Ellipta everyday. I use levabuterol inhaler with a spacer if needed. Do you have a cardiologist?The Breo and if needed, inhaler helps chest tightness.

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hopefulme3 | @hopefulme3 | 3 days ago
In reply to @karukgirl "Hi @asolidrock Yes, Jardiance has been shown to help patients with heart failure. Here is what..." + (show)
Profile picture for Debra, Volunteer Mentor @karukgirl

Hi @asolidrock
Yes, Jardiance has been shown to help patients with heart failure.
Here is what I found online that you may find interesting:
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor FDA-approved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults, regardless of diabetes status or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). It is the first therapy to demonstrate significant benefit for both heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), addressing a previously significant unmet medical need.

The medication works by promoting the excretion of excess sodium and glucose through urine, which reduces fluid retention and lowers the workload on the heart. Clinical trials (EMPEROR-Reduced and EMPEROR-Preserved) showed that Jardiance significantly decreases the combined risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization, with benefits observed in patients with or without type 2 diabetes.

Common side effects include increased urination, genital yeast infections, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Jardiance is typically taken as a 10 mg tablet once daily and may cause modest weight loss or lower blood pressure. Serious but rare risks include ketoacidosis (even in non-diabetics) and dehydration, particularly if used with other diuretics.

This is the beauty of Mayo Clinic Connect...we can learn so much from each other!
Have you thought to ask your cardiologist if this would be something that may help you?

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@karukgirl Thanks. I have grade 1 left ventricular dysfunction. Hadn’t heard of this treatment. In fact I’m not being treated at all for it. Came from having Covid a year ago, which supposedly is not uncommon.

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altilla | @altilla | 2 days ago
In reply to @ohallk "@karukgirl I a on Jardiance. I don't see my cardiologist until Feb but, of course, I..." + (show)
Profile picture for ohallk @ohallk

@karukgirl
I a on Jardiance. I don't see my cardiologist until Feb but, of course, I can contact her if I find that I am struggling beyond what makes sense. I also think some of it may be a reaction to repatha injection - tho it's nothing compared to the "lead legs" i dealt with when on oral statins, so willing to put up with more minor side effects.
you're right about accepting limitations. i just want to be sure I'm only accepting ones that I must accept

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@ohallk Agreed. Accept what you must but not necessarily what others think you must accept.

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Profile picture for altilla
altilla | @altilla | 2 days ago
In reply to @hopefulme3 "I developed left ventricle dysfunction following Covid last summer, which is not uncommon I was told...." + (show)
Profile picture for hopefulme3 @hopefulme3

I developed left ventricle dysfunction following Covid last summer, which is not uncommon I was told. I can get totally out of breath if I rush too much though so far I haven’t experienced as much fatigue. Mine is level 1 & can be reversed supposedly with built up exercise. One dr said it’s like pre-diabetes, ie, reversal. How did you find yours-thru a cardiologist ?

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@hopefulme3 Mine was diagnosed through right heart catheterization while exercising. Pedaling a bike while laying on an OR table.

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Profile picture for ohallk
ohallk | @ohallk | 2 days ago
In reply to @hopefulme3 "I developed left ventricle dysfunction following Covid last summer, which is not uncommon I was told...." + (show)
Profile picture for hopefulme3 @hopefulme3

I developed left ventricle dysfunction following Covid last summer, which is not uncommon I was told. I can get totally out of breath if I rush too much though so far I haven’t experienced as much fatigue. Mine is level 1 & can be reversed supposedly with built up exercise. One dr said it’s like pre-diabetes, ie, reversal. How did you find yours-thru a cardiologist ?

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@hopefulme3
I rec'd my dx through a cardiologist. I don't know what level so that's something I'll ask at my next appt. Thanks.

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bch72 | @bch72 | 2 hours ago
In reply to @asolidrock "I've never heard of Jardiance for dystolic dysfunction. I have grade 2 dystolic dysfunction" + (show)
Profile picture for asolidrock @asolidrock

I've never heard of Jardiance for dystolic dysfunction. I have grade 2 dystolic dysfunction

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@asolidrock
I have grade 2 diastolic dysfunction which caused HFpEF and pulmonary hypertension. I was prescribed Jardience but it has only been about 10 days so too soon to expect change. The DD causes cardiac remodeling of the ventricle ( can be left or right) which means the ventricle becomes thicker and stiff making it hard for the ventricle to fill with blood and pump to the rest of the body. This can cause shortness of breath and fatigue and the feeling like your muscles aren't getting enough blood or oxygen.

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bch72 | @bch72 | 2 hours ago
In reply to @altilla "@ohallk When I was put on Jardiance for HFpEF/diastolic dysfunction it helped a lot for a..." + (show)
Profile picture for altilla @altilla

@ohallk When I was put on Jardiance for HFpEF/diastolic dysfunction it helped a lot for a couple months. Then not so much. Fingers crossed for you and that find definitive answers.

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@altilla

I'm curious about your comment regarding Jardience helping for a few months then not so much. Can you elaborate? I'v just been prescribed Jardience for the same reasons as you.

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