Nurse with Dilated Cardiomyopathy/ICD?

[blessmyheart]

Hi everyone,

It's my dream to follow my mom's path and become an RN. Right now, I'm finishing up my pre-requisites before applying to nursing school.

Two years ago, I was admitted to the hospital with congestive heart failure brought on by dilated cardiomyopathy. My heart's ejection fraction was 10%. Through cardiac rehab and medications, I've been able to bring it up to 35%, but it's still not known if I'll need an ICD or not. I go back to my cardiologist in September, and if there's been no more improvement, I'll likely need one.

I've been looking all over the Web trying to find a nurse with DCM or an ICD, but I'm not finding much. I have several questions: Do you know of a nurse who has worked with dilated cardiomyopathy or an ICD? Who should I disclose my condition to? I've been told that floor nursing might be too strenuous, but that I could do education or home care. Psych nursing interests me the most. What do you think?

I'm just looking for some feedback and advice, and I've come to regard this place as a good source for both.

Thanks! :)

[FLmomof5]

My sister, my brother AND I have DCM and we are all nurses. My sister's EF is 40, brother's is 35 and mine is 45. My father had CHF at 54 and he is currently 76. He has only show weakness and an inability to move well for the past year. He has had an AICD since he was 54.

My sister is in IR. Brother just took a job in IR after working on a Cancer floor for years. I am in Med/Surg.

Follow what your cardiologist says.....you'll be fine!

[FLmomof5]

Oh, and I did NOT tell them about my condition initially. Later, in general chat with fellow nurses, I mentioned it in passing. I am on Toprol. I was on Lisinopril also but had to be taken off because of an adverse event (angioedema of the throat). I only mentioned this to fellow nurses because of the "hold" conditions of cardiac meds. In our family, we all have LOW BP normally. Add cardiac drugs to it and it can get very low when sleeping. My normal before meds was 90/58. When I had the angioedema, my BP in the ICU was 70/35!

My mom and dad had fits the last time my dad was admitted because they wanted to hold his cardiac drugs because of his low BP. My mom (a retired nurse) tried explaining that these were my dad's normal and he still needed his meds.

[CVmursenary]

This should not hinder your dreams unless you have a pretty severe intolerance to mild/moderate exercise.