Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
URGENT: Cardiomyopathy and Heart Transplant
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests
URGENT: Cardiomyopathy and Heart Transplant
by bob, Jan 06, 2000 12:00AM
I have a dear friend who was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in November. She is 25, in excellent health otherwise, and was very active until this, running 5-10 miles every day. Her cardiologist wanted her on medications immediately but she delayed and did not begin treatment. Two weeks ago, after swimming she began to experience chest pains but did nothing about them for four days until she was in severe distress. She was taken to a cardiac care unit where they stabilized her did a cardiac catheterization. The cardiologist there told her she needed a bypass to give her enough time to obtain a transplant. He also told her that, based on her condition, she had less than a 50% chance of surviving the bypass.
She has still not decided what to do and seems most concerned about her quality of life and life expectancy after a transplant. I have read the few statistics available but need to know what the implications are for someone so young having a transplant. I am trying to show her than any chance is better than none. Any information you can provide would be greatfully appreciated.
Bob
She has still not decided what to do and seems most concerned about her quality of life and life expectancy after a transplant. I have read the few statistics available but need to know what the implications are for someone so young having a transplant. I am trying to show her than any chance is better than none. Any information you can provide would be greatfully appreciated.
Bob
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC, Jan 06, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Bob,
Your friend's medical picture is not completely clear to me from what you have told me but it sounds like she has what is called an "ischemmic cardiomyopathy". This is due to blockages in the coronary arteries and can be improved with bypass surgery. This would be rare in a young woman but is possible.
It is true that a heart transplant is replacing one 'disease' for another but I think that is probably several steps (if needed at all) down the road for your friend. I would definatly counsel your friend to keep all her options open. People who are very sick are not always in the best position to make good decisions. If however she persists in refusing care there is probably nothing that can be done. The hospital should have an ethics committee and you can ask her doctors to get an ethics consult. A psychiatric consult would probably also be helpful. If she is depressed an antidepressant will help. All the best wishes to your friend. If she would like to be evaluated here she can make an appointment in the heart failure clinic or her doctors can arrange to have her transfered to the heart failure inpatient service.
Your friend's medical picture is not completely clear to me from what you have told me but it sounds like she has what is called an "ischemmic cardiomyopathy". This is due to blockages in the coronary arteries and can be improved with bypass surgery. This would be rare in a young woman but is possible.
It is true that a heart transplant is replacing one 'disease' for another but I think that is probably several steps (if needed at all) down the road for your friend. I would definatly counsel your friend to keep all her options open. People who are very sick are not always in the best position to make good decisions. If however she persists in refusing care there is probably nothing that can be done. The hospital should have an ethics committee and you can ask her doctors to get an ethics consult. A psychiatric consult would probably also be helpful. If she is depressed an antidepressant will help. All the best wishes to your friend. If she would like to be evaluated here she can make an appointment in the heart failure clinic or her doctors can arrange to have her transfered to the heart failure inpatient service.
I have tried to post for the last three days, I keep getting a response saying that the question limit has been reached for the day. There is only one question today and none yesterday. I have a question, more as I need advice. Please answer this for me.
I am 29 years old and have a young little boy and I am worried about my diagnosis. I was diagnosed with a ASD or PFO, never was able to get an exact measurement because I resisted during the TEE. I had a Cardiac Cath, which was basically normal, but the doctor stated the ASD was very small. My question is about my echocardiogram. On that echocardiogram I had some abnormal measurements. On the interventricular septum IVSd my measurement is 1.31, and the systolic measurement is 1.66 this is slighly above the normal ranges. The listed that I had Septal Hypertrophy. From information I have found that states I have Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. I also had a slightly smaller than normal LVOT it was measured 1.77. The left Posterior wall was 1.07 is Dialostic (in normal range) and 1.60 in systolic (slightly higher than normal range).
I have a low blood pressure, normally running in the 90/70's, so high blood pressure is not the cause.
My cardiologist just basically said I shouldn't worry about this, and to be rechecked later in life. I am very scared, as I don't want to die and leave my child. My mother passed away at age 54 from a massive heart attack. (sudden death) she died instantly, no autopsy was performed, so we don't really know what caused her to die.
I really need to know for my own anxiety and stess that all this is causing worrying. Since my meausrements were all basically "upper limits of normal", and the Cardiac Cath was very good. Should I just assume that I am fine? Should I get a second opnion? Request another echo? To note I had a echo in 98 that was completely normal, showed no evidence of ASD, or the hypertrophy. I also have PVC's & PAC's.
I really appreciate any answer you may give me. I do appologize to the original poster having to post my question under their name. Best wishes to your friend.
My Dad was diagnosed with an aeortic anneuerism. He also has type two diabetes. His surgery is scheduled for the 12th and it is 5.2.
Q1 - Can this surgery be sucessful with t2 diabetes???
Q2 - If so, how long before recovery???
Q3 - Where do they get the artery to replace the anneuristic part that they will remove?
Q4 - How do I check the certification/ specialty of Dad's surgeon?
BTW, I'm sure that I spelled the above wrong...but you get the idea.
Thank You,
Terrie
Sorry to hear about your dad, just wanna pass on some information that I know about from the same situation. I dont know how old your dad is, but My Grandfather died 5 years ago from the same exact thing. We had to rush him to the hospital to find out he had an aortic anuerysm. The doctors explained to the family that the Youngest, Healthiest of a person has a very slim chance of surviving such a surgery. So basically make sure your dad is in excellent hands and all my prayers will be with him. Good luck!!!!!!
I think I'm prepared for the worst.
Terrie
Christi
The latest cause for admission to the hospital has been bloodclots, many, but unfound. They have ran several test on her for the past 2 weeks and they can not find the source or the bloodclots. Her heart is now working at 24% which is better than the 18% 5 months ago.
We are now patiently waiting for the doctors to once again go over all the results to decide on the next step and in the meantime she was described as a 'walking time bomb'.
I am wondering why she can not be put on a transplant waiting list.
If you have any suggestions I would appreciate it. I am very often not around at the time the doctors are there but I have a feeling that she is not on the list due to medical reasons that either she would not be able to withstand a transplant or there are a heart