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Viral Cardiomyopathy
Spouse had shortness of breathe and some discomfort leaning forward for few weeks. Went to Drs and was sent to the ER. Efraction rate of 15% on Echo. No other issues, BP 107/74, no cholestorol, no diabetes, great weight, non smoker. They think it was a viral infection that weakened his heart. Described to me as very weak and large. Seems to be responding well to meds from what we can see. Any thoughts? We are scared to death. He is only 42. They called in a infectious disease specialist who is interested in the fact that my kids had strep about 6 weeks ago. One cardio told us no reason it can't be reversed because he is in such good health otherwise, they tellme they are shocked how stable and how great he looks. Please any info much appreciated.
QUOTE: "One cardio told us no reason it can't be reversed because he is in such good health otherwise, they tellme they are shocked how stable and how great he looks. Please any info much appreciated".
I can't believe the transplant doc treated you guys that way. I am worried we will have a bad experience too...basically I am worried about everything I guess!
My husband went to the hospital because he had been feeling short of breath and was vomiting and extremely bloated for about a week and a half. He saw his family doctor twice, who was working him up for GERD or H. Pylori (which he did end up having), but it kept getting worse so he finally went to the ER. Took them about 36 hours to figure out he was in severe heart failure! He had no lower limb swelling at all, but had pleural effusions, pulmonary edema, and a dilated kidney and liver (that would explain the bloating and the problem with keeping food down). The cannot figure out what virus it was that infected his heart - he had no significant illnesses at all in the last 6 months.
He is on: Coreg 6.25 mg twice a day, lisinopril (can't remember the dosage) once a day, zocor 40 mg once a day and Lasix 80 mg once a day. He is responding very well to the meds also, but we are wondering what the long term plan is.
My husband is an automotive engineer, and his job is stressful, so I know he doesn't want to go back. He is on short term disability right now. I can't believe one doc told you to apply for long term disability and two told him to go back to work?!? Everything I've read says to do as much activity and resume as much of your normal life as possible. Who knows.
Take care, and let's keep in touch!
Erin
My husband went to the hospital because he had been feeling short of breath and was vomiting and extremely bloated for about a week and a half. He saw his family doctor twice, who was working him up for GERD or H. Pylori (which he did end up having), but it kept getting worse so he finally went to the ER. Took them about 36 hours to figure out he was in severe heart failure! He had no lower limb swelling at all, but had pleural effusions, pulmonary edema, and a dilated kidney and liver (that would explain the bloating and the problem with keeping food down). The cannot figure out what virus it was that infected his heart - he had no significant illnesses at all in the last 6 months.
He is on: Coreg 6.25 mg twice a day, lisinopril (can't remember the dosage) once a day, zocor 40 mg once a day and Lasix 80 mg once a day. He is responding very well to the meds also, but we are wondering what the long term plan is.
My husband is an automotive engineer, and his job is stressful, so I know he doesn't want to go back. He is on short term disability right now. I can't believe one doc told you to apply for long term disability and two told him to go back to work?!? Everything I've read says to do as much activity and resume as much of your normal life as possible. Who knows.
Take care, and let's keep in touch!
Erin
Wow!! This is so crazy!! We are still in a state of shock and I 'm sure you are experiencing the same emotions. We have two children 8 & 11 and we are trying to keep things as normal as possible at this stage. My husband is scheduled for a cardioversion on 5/20 to try to get him in a normal rhythm. He seems very tired today and is currently napping. My husband is on COREG 12.5 MG twice a day, Digoxin .25 MG once a day, Zestril 5 MG once a day, Spironolactone 25MG once a day, Coumadin 5MG once a day.
Did you husband have similiar symptoms. We met with a heart transplant dr on Friday and this guy had no bedside manner. I was disgusted at the way he spoke to us. He told us to apply for permanent disability. Asked all kinds of questions on education, job, family and told us how that all affects if you are worthy of a heart transplant. Meanwhile two other drs in the same practice told us to resume work on light duty. (My husband is a mechanic) Please keep me in the loop on your ventures. Hopefully we can support each other thru this! Best wishes to your husband for a speedy recovery!
Jennifer
Did you husband have similiar symptoms. We met with a heart transplant dr on Friday and this guy had no bedside manner. I was disgusted at the way he spoke to us. He told us to apply for permanent disability. Asked all kinds of questions on education, job, family and told us how that all affects if you are worthy of a heart transplant. Meanwhile two other drs in the same practice told us to resume work on light duty. (My husband is a mechanic) Please keep me in the loop on your ventures. Hopefully we can support each other thru this! Best wishes to your husband for a speedy recovery!
Jennifer
I could have written your post too, except my husband is only 37!! Same situation, only in the hospital they said his EF was on 10%!! We are terrified. We have heard so many mixed messages from so many different doctors. He has an appointment with the HF and Transplant team on Monday (the 17th) - we are excited and terrified at the same time.
When they released him, they told him to resume all normal activities (what?!? talk of transplant and then go back to your normal life??). Anyway, I am HOPING that they tell us that this is at least somewhat reversable. He is home now, walking a couple miles a day (and even doing some running), climbing lots of stairs, carrying our 5yo son around, etc etc. We just don't know what to think.
So I sympathize!!
When they released him, they told him to resume all normal activities (what?!? talk of transplant and then go back to your normal life??). Anyway, I am HOPING that they tell us that this is at least somewhat reversable. He is home now, walking a couple miles a day (and even doing some running), climbing lots of stairs, carrying our 5yo son around, etc etc. We just don't know what to think.
So I sympathize!!
I could have written your post about myself, except I'm 56. The difference being that my doctors wouldn't believe me when I told them about a virus I had for about 7 months...they kept insisting that it was poor BP management. I never had BP issues until after the virus.
I was born with kidney issues, but I was holding my own until the virus took hold of me. Now I'm stage 5 renal failure. My heart was fine before the virus, also.
Pre-virus, I spent 16-17 hour days, several days a week, hiking and cleaning up the great out of doors.....cleaning up after John Q Public. Now, it's a grunt to get from my chair to the bathroom, most days.
My heart is enlarged and weak, and my kidneys are failing. I take 7 pills a day to control my BP, along with several other meds, prescribed to keep me going.
I don't have a Defib implant, yet, but there is talk about giving me one. I'll be starting dialysis in July, when my dialysis fistula is fully healed....but they still tell me the best scenario is 10 years, with or without, a transplant.
There are people who are living with a 5% EF, and have been for quite some time, so don't give up hope.
I was born with kidney issues, but I was holding my own until the virus took hold of me. Now I'm stage 5 renal failure. My heart was fine before the virus, also.
Pre-virus, I spent 16-17 hour days, several days a week, hiking and cleaning up the great out of doors.....cleaning up after John Q Public. Now, it's a grunt to get from my chair to the bathroom, most days.
My heart is enlarged and weak, and my kidneys are failing. I take 7 pills a day to control my BP, along with several other meds, prescribed to keep me going.
I don't have a Defib implant, yet, but there is talk about giving me one. I'll be starting dialysis in July, when my dialysis fistula is fully healed....but they still tell me the best scenario is 10 years, with or without, a transplant.
There are people who are living with a 5% EF, and have been for quite some time, so don't give up hope.
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