cardiomyopathy ? - Heart Disorders Message Board

jakerleen · 05-20-2005, 03:35 PM

Hi i went back to see the doc after the angiogram today, was told that my arteries were clear but they want me to have an echo because the doc is 99% sure with my symptoms and what's gone on with me I have cardiomyopathy. She sort of brushed over it when i asked what it was and if it was serious, so can someone please enlighten me. If it is a serious condition I'd rather know guys so please don't worry about upsetting me.

she gave me some calcium channel blockers today if that's any help, also i have an underactive thyroid if that tells anyone anything.

thanks for any info

Jackie x

cookingmom · 05-20-2005, 04:25 PM

This means that the heart muscle is inflamed. It is nothing to full around with. When is your echo? This is something that needs to be addressed and not left alone. If your echo is not within the next couple of days, I would call your dr. back and tell him/her that you want more information and testing. Good luck to you and let us know how you are. Bern

jakerleen · 05-21-2005, 01:05 AM

Thanks for that Schaff, she did say to ring the hospital to get the appointment sorted out, and i said "ok", but she seemed insistant. She was v. careful no to tell me too much, but I guessed it was serious by her 'not telling' me if you know what I mean.

Will phone hospital Monday and let you know what they say afterwards.

thanks for the help

Jackie xxx

Lenin · 05-21-2005, 05:44 AM

Actually myopathy is beyond the inflammation state (myositis) and already in the muscle weakening stage. It is EXTREMELY serious. Since there are about 4 different types, each with its own prognosis and treatment, it's important to get a workup by a GOOD cardiologist.
An important number is called the "ejection fraction" which is the percentage of blood you are expelling with each beat compared to the averages. As the heart weakens, it is able to pump less and less efficiently and that causes most of the problems.

Unfortunately Jackie,
Cardiomyopathy is synonymous with heart failure (which is a term doctors don't like to use around patients for obvious reasons.)

Perhaps however, your doctor is barking up the tree...it happens a lot. The TESTS will tell.

born2bwild · 05-21-2005, 08:31 AM

Hi Jackie, I have been in a state of heart failure for some time now, it goes between mild to moderate and is very dependent on my level of activity. I am a 41 year old female and waiting for heart surgery to repair a hole in my heart and then following that i will have a valve replacement. Until then they give you meds and expect you do deal with the rest. You need to find out what the underlying cause of your heart enlargement is? Even after they knew that my heart was enlarged (by chest xray) then by an echo, i waited 2 months to see a cardiologist who then booked me for a TEE another month away. Anyways what i do understand is that you can live this way and they really don't seem to care. I am not sure what your symptoms are but a few you may experience if it gets worse is swelling in legs, hands, face, abdomen. Eventually your liver becomes enlarged you will have pain under your right rib area and kidney area. I take 120mg of diuretics daily. At first you will have shortness of breath with activities but eventually this will happen at rest and become worse when you lie down so most of the time you sleep with pillows or sitting up. You may be lightheaded or have the feeling your on a ship. You may passout without a moments notice. Chronic cough due to the congestion in lungs. Extremly tired all the time. Eventually you may experience arrythmia's. It is very seroius and you will need to find out what is causing your cardiomyopathy. I don't like that they are taking so long to fix my problem as my heart has had to work extra for many years and they tell me even after surgery i may still have problems. This is a defect i was born with and i started having symptoms 10 years ago. Good luck and i would be interested in knowing what they find. Sue