New dx'd Atrial Fib and Cardiomyopathy

• By maureengraz
• Posted August 15, 2009 at 7:51 am
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My husband is 41 years old and sufferred sudden cardiac arrest in February 2009, and as a result his EF is about 10-15%. He is currently following a 2 gm sodium diet.
My recommendations are to read any and all food labels...you'd be surprised how many foods have hidden sodium in them. We've also stopped buying any prepackaged foods and go more for fresh foods.

There are a few good websites with low sodium recipes such as the mayo clinic and lowsodiumcooking.com and lowsodiumliving.com.

Also, I've learned to adapt many favorite recipes by omitting the salt and they still taste just as good.

It takes some getting used to but once you are in the habit of reading labels and omitting the salt, it becomes second nature.

As a result, the whole family is becoming more aware and eating healthier...

Hope this helps!

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• By tadziowv
• Posted August 15, 2009 at 12:06 pm
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Thanks so much for you reply.

This past week has went very well with the low sodium. But you are correct. Sodium does lurk in some surprising areas.

I have found some cereals that I can eat. The Shredded Wheat cereals all seem ok with 4mg or so.

http://www.nutritiondata.com/ ---

The site above is very nice. Found it yesterday. You can put in a search for high or low values. It then gives you a nice listing.

R

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• By CristiNChris
• Posted October 19, 2009 at 10:34 am
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Randy,

My fiance was diagnosed with CM on Thursday and also has a 10% Ejection Fraction at best (7-10%). He is 35 and we have a 5 year old son. We are in shock and trying to take it all in. Please, please, please keep posting as this is all new to us and I think it helps to know that we are not alone. The low sodium diet is a challenge but we were not even given the guidelines you mentioned - just told "low sodium." We have a follow up with cardiac this week and am hoping to learn much, much more. If anyone knows of a support group for young men (35) with heart failure - PLEASE SHARE. One for family members would be nice too. This is all just so new and unexpected. He was fine 5 months ago and after pneumonia...here we are.

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• By CristiNChris
• Posted October 19, 2009 at 10:51 am
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Randy,

My fiance was diagnosed with CM on Thursday and also has a 10% Ejection Fraction at best (7-10%). He is 35 and we have a 5 year old son. We are in shock and trying to take it all in. Please, please, please keep posting as this is all new to us and I think it helps to know that we are not alone. The low sodium diet is a challenge but we were not even given the guidelines you mentioned - just told "low sodium." We have a follow up with cardiac this week and am hoping to learn much, much more. If anyone knows of a support group for young men (35) with heart failure - PLEASE SHARE. One for family members would be nice too. This is all just so new and unexpected. He was fine 5 months ago and after pneumonia...here we are.

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• By Winglover
• Posted October 20, 2009 at 9:25 am
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Hang in there! You will find this site very helpful to you and your husband. My son was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy 17 months ago and he is only 17. I found this site searching for a support system for him and have never left. Even though I don't have heart disease myself the women here have provided me an outlet to vent my feelings and have given me a wealth of info and insight to share with my son. He has read over my shoulder many times and laughed with these ladies. Give him time to adjust to the meds.....it is still new for you right now. We will say a pray for you.

Lisa

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