phen/fen and upcoming echocardiogram - Heart Disorders Message Board

karenortwein · 01-02-2002, 03:41 AM

Got my letter to get the echocardiogram due to using the phen/fen cocktail for 8 months. Scheduled to have it done on Jan. 17th. AHP of course is paying. Still haven't given me my refund of the meds cost yet though. I guess they are waiting to see what this test shows. I figure I don't have anything wrong, but better safe than sorry. Anyone have any opinions about this??

Aerosmith22 · 01-02-2002, 10:38 PM

G'luck, I have ac lose friend who is suffering from severe congestive heart failure due to using phen-fen...I hope it's good news...let us all know what the resutls are... >=o]

karenortwein · 01-19-2002, 06:02 PM

Well, no heart valve damage from the phen/fen, however the test showed that my heart is enlarged probably from high blood pressure that no doctor would treat for about 5 years. Bummer.All they would say was to drop a few pounds. I have looked up stuff about enlarged heart via internet and they keep calling it ventricular hypertrophy. Anyone know if that is what it is? Anyway, the cardio doc has put me on a stronger HBP set of drugs--Labetalol and Micardis HCT. He was fairly dismayed I think that the BP had done this.
One thing about it though--I am really thankful to have have the echo because I wouldn't have known about the enlarged heart and not sought out stronger meds--settling for 140/90 as "ok". Live and learn.

Aerosmith22 · 01-20-2002, 02:46 PM

not ventricular hypertrophy...

when you have high blood pressure.this puts strain on your heart muscle and increases the workload it has...

you heart is a muscle and what do muscles do whn you strain them a lot or increase their workload, they get bigger, just like your heart is.... read this...

Enlarged heart
Enlargement of the heart is a sign of serious disease of the muscle of the heart. When disease attacks the muscles of the heart, the ability of the heart to function properly as a pump is reduced. This causes the blood flow to slow and the heart to enlarge.

The heart is one of nature's most efficient and durable pumps. Throughout life, it beats an average of sixty to eighty times per minute, supplying oxygen and other essential nutrients to every cell in the body and removing waste for elimination through the lungs or kidneys. The heart is a muscular, hollow organ weighing eleven to sixteen ounces in the average adult. It's about the size of one clenched fist and is divided into four chambers, the left and right atrium and the left and right ventricle. In a normal, healthy adult, each ventricle pumps about three ounces of blood per beat, which adds up to about two thousand, one hundred gallons per day.

When the heart becomes severely damaged, abnormalities in breathing, beating of the heart, and fluid retention may occur. This process known as heart failure commonly results in patients feeling dizzy and short of breath, with irregular heart beats and swelling of the legs and feet.

...so what im trying to say, is a enlarged heart can be a precusor to things such as heart failure and you would be doing you and your famiyl a favor to get in shape, drop the pounds and eat healthy before you develop some of the complications.... your high risk for them witha enlarged heart..and I feel the doctor(s) should of spent more time teaching you how to prevent all this........and i would NOT be suprised if phen/fen caused this as well and the doctor's are not telling... phen/fen is getting ****y over allt he lawsuits these days.... pursue this and research...you may be suprised what you learn...

karenortwein · 01-20-2002, 03:10 PM

Thank you for the info. AHP has it's collective backside covered pretty good and I being (almost) poor would stand no chance challenging them--BUT, it sure would be nice, wouldn't it?? I am never surprised by the "money motive" that is always waiting behind the curtain.

Concerning me and my heart---well, are you suggesting that if I don't do all the "life/body" upkeep and repair that I could end up with a very short lifespan? I realize you are not "Karnac"!! Not even asking for a prediction (LOL)--just would like some info on how long people live with such conditions. I do not have high motivation in my life at this point.

Again, thanks for the clarification. Once the echo report is sent to AHP and they are "all relieved", then I will get a chance to talk to the cardio in more detail I suppose. I can't afford to see a new cardio since first time visits are SO EXPENSIVE and they want to run tests etc. (I have NO insurance). My cousin was one of the "renowned" cardios (pioneered the angioplasty)--but alas, he died of cancer. Bummer all the way around--he was so sweet.....

karen