Cardiomyopathy - Heart Disorders Message Board

Ladybug12473 · 10-03-2003, 05:39 AM

Does anyone else have this? I want to know if I have to stay on meds for the rest of my life with this condition. I am only 29.

parkermom · 10-05-2003, 07:25 AM

what kind of cardiomyopathy do you have? There is hypertrophic, dilated, etc. I have hypertrophic . I've know since I was in my late 20's. I am 49. I have taken beta blockers (atenolol) since I was in my early 30's...they eliminate the palpitations, extra beats. What they basically do (and by the way, 99% of HCMers do take these on a regular basis), slow down the heart contractions ...you want to keep the heart rate low as in this condition, the heart is plump ). People with high blood pressure take beta blockers. I have never had any side effects other than tired. There is a wonderful website: 4HCM.org...please go there. They are professionals and consult with doctors who are specialists in cardiomyopathy...

Ladybug12473 · 10-05-2003, 12:57 PM

Hi ParkerMom...
How do you know what kind of cariomyopathy you have? Did you get a biopsy done? My doctors don't know which kind I have or how I got it. They say it is either idiopathic or nonishemic whatever that means. They would like me to stay on meds pretty much for the rest of my life. I was very lucky the medication brought my ejection fraction from 45% to 63% in only 4 months. I thank God for that. The only thing is I am young and someday soon I would like to have a baby. I just wanna live a normal life if that is possible.
The doctors put me on coreg and altace by the way. I am also very tried like you plus I am having a very hard time losing weight.
Thank you so much for replying to my post

I hope to hear from you again.

parkermom · 10-11-2003, 07:57 PM

hi, sorry not to reply to you sooner...

They should be able to tell which cardiomyopathy you have by an Echocardiogram. An MRI will give them a very clear picture of the heart and its physical state. Do you know your family history? This is genetic (a defective gene in the heart muscle). My father had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and so do I. I think my grandfather had it also. It is important to get as much family history as possible. If your doctor cannot determine which one you have, go see another cardiologist! keep in touch...I'll check in from time to time to answer any questions you might have. take care

parkermom · 10-11-2003, 08:00 PM

P.S. I noticed that you live in N.Y. There are excellent specialists located in Boston at Tufts New England Medical Center