Congestive Heart Failure

[Airpump]

45 year old male. Excellent Physical Condition prior to my cardio problem. I had a non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with Atrial Flutter about one year ago. After unsuccessful cardio conversions my doctor recomended that we perform and Electrophysiology Study with Ablation which was performed successfully. Since the EP Study and Ablation I have been feeling pretty good except for the following.
1) Exercise level has not been able to increase to where it was prior to my illness. Whenever I get on a treadmill it seems like I am out of breath or straining to maintain my breathing once I hit 1/4 of a mile. I usually focus alot on the breathing and am able to continue to about 3/4 or even 1 mile if I really try hard. Its certainly a great deal of effort. I try to exercise every day.
Even though I feel winded quickly while running, I am able to walk and then run again on the tread mill so that I get in approx 2 - 3 miles in 25 - 35 minutes. I then spend 20 minutes on a bike where I get in 6 miles. Following this I will do situps and some light lifting with 12 -20 repetitions, without really straining so that I am not damaging the heart muscle.
2) With all the exercise that I have been doing I still find it difficut to lose weight. As a matter of fact I have gained 10-15 pounds over the last six months. I will admit that I have not been as disciplined on my diet as I should be but I do not drink alcohol so food is really all thats left for satisfaction. Dieting is very hard for me. Especially at night.

3) I am taking 40mg of Coreg per day. Does anyone have any suggestions or similar stories to possibly help me out with increasing my exercise level and weight problem. My doctor is a nice guy but sometimes I find it difficult to tell him everything as he keeps saying that my heart is fine yet he keeps me on the drugs. By the way, I have always been in pretty good physical shape so the weight gain and lack of stamina when I exercise leaves me pretty down in the dumps on some days. Sometimes I find myself just taking naps alot more then I did before this ever happened.

Thanks for any and all help.

[UroDoc]

It depends on your ejection fraction, it should be between 50 and 70. If it is lower than 50 then that would explain your lack of stamina.

[FL HEART]

Hi there. I am a female who was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy 14 years ago. I had several other things going on as well (CHF and severe COPD). I was able to get into a cardio rehab program at the hospital and that helped me learn many ways to increase my stamina - or deal with the fact it wasn't going to get any better. That would be my suggestion - ask your physician to prescribe you cardio rehab.

Good luck!!!!!