Lumped together with everyone...as the Dr.s all tell me.

[SaylorRose]

I'm 31 yrs old, was diagnosed with perinatal heart failure in feb of 09, with only 25% heart function. I was placed on Coreg 3.125mg 2x a day and 40mg Lasix a day, I stayed at these doses for 6 months and had my second echo at the 4 month mark, my heart returned to normal size, little to no weakness in the upper chamber of my heart and my function was at 50%. I then actually was able to see my cardiologist at the 6 month mark and he told me that he didn't look at the first echo and wanted me to have another so I did and it then showed 60% function and zero weakness, no hypertrophy and he told me that I no longer had heart failure but wanted to lower my lasix to 20mgs a day and up my Coreg to 80mgs a day. I didn't quite understand why they were raising my meds if I was completely better after only 6 months and the Dr. wounldn't answer me with a straight answer and told me that he lumps paitence together and does the same treatments for all of them. And so I didn't fight them, but wasn's willing to up the dose to 80 without an answer so we agreed on 20 for the time being and I actually feel worse on it than I did when I was on the 3.125. My question is 1- if my heart is completely normal after taking the lowest dosage in such a short time why are my meds being raised and 2- I have heard from many different sources that Coreg can over time make your heart lazy and actually cause a weakend heart because it does the work for the heart. I fully admit that I am not a Dr. and dont completely understand, which is why I want answers. I also want to do whatever is best for my health and I believe that I should be fully aware of my condition, so that I can work with the Dr.s and not fight them at every turn.  All of this has not sat well with me since it began...PLEASE HELP me to know whether I'm wrong and they are right or whether I have a solid foundation for a second opinion or atleast know if I should confront my current Dr.s...Thank you.

[gmachris518]

If you're not happy with the way your doctor is handling your case, you do have the right to a second opionion, and a different doctor.  

It sounds as though you have found yourself a lazy doctor and they should be replaced.  Your health is too important to rely on someone you're uncomfortable with.

Most people know their own bodies, and they know when something is wrong, and if a doctor doesn't listen, then you need to look for another doctor and keep doing so until you find someone who will listen to your concerns, and address them.

[SaylorRose]

   Thank you for answering my post. I have tried to discuss it with him and his answer was that he lumps his patients together and basically treats them all the same. I can understand that for most things but when it comes to something like this I feel that each person should infact be treated according to why they have the disease not just simply because they have it. He informed me that he did not look at my first two echos and then sent me for a third looking for what the other two confimed I didn't not have.
  I was actually sent to the cardio to be taken off them meds and then he told me he was going to raise it to 80 and will not give me a straight answer. He tells me that I can live a completely normal life and that I do not have heart failure anymore but he raises my meds. I realize that no one on here can diagnose me or fix the problem, so I'm really just wanting to know whether I'm being overly cautious and crazy about this or if I am right in questioning this. I don't want to make his job difficult if its me who is wrong but if I do have reason to think what is going on is wrong then I would like to do something about it.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Beta-blockers such as such as carvedilol ( coreg) are particularly useful for patients with heart disease. Initially,  3.125 mg may be given twice a day and can be increased to  12.5 mg twice a day. But if your doctor wants you to take 80 mg a day as your maintenance, you need to discuss his reasons for this. It is good that he has declared you well enough that you no longer have heart failure. However, if you are not comfortable with taking an increased dosage talk to him and have open communication lines. If his explanation does not satisfy you, you can always have a second opinion about this. What is important is that you have a clear understanding of your condition and your management.  Take care and do keep us posted.