DCM treatment... but my doc hasnt tested my cholesterol...

[AthenaSB]

I thought it was strange that my Cardiologist has never asked to test my cholesterol.  Even after diagnosing me with severe class 2 DCM... he still hasnt asked for it.  I also read that they can test for certain enzymes related to DCM too... is that the case?

I had my Chol. tested by my Rheumatologist like 2 years ago. It was good, but my trig. were high, which is usually related to RA and they dont know why.  My diet has always been very good. Anyway, arent these number important for DCM treatment... or not?

I go for my 2 mo. check up tomorrow.  4 mos. till we see if my meds have been working.  I am hoping so! I am taking my husband with me this time too... since my doc is waaay too fast and I have to ask him questions as we are waking out of the office.  It drives me crazy.  My gut feeling is that he is a good doc... and I have seen a few other Cardio docs.  They do all seem to have kinda crappy bedside mannor... kinda like surgeons.  Anyway, just wondering...

[AthenaSB]

hi there,
I dont have any coronary blockages... they are clear, so maybe that is why he isnt worrying about it right now.

I too had seen more than one cardiologist who didnt speak very clear English... and that is why I am with the current one.  He is American.. and that doesnt mean I have anything against the ones with accents... of course I do not.  

He is actually very good at explaining things and does answer my questions.  He is not one of those docs that doesnt like patients asking them... he welcomes it.  He is just so fast... and he is on time always, so I know he is having to be as short as possible since docs have to do volume in order for their group to make any money, thanks to BS insurance companies.  

That said, I do wish I could get more time from him... but I have that issue with all my specialists.  I took my hubby there last visit to get his gut feeling on the guy... and he was all thumbs up.  My gut has said to stay with him, so that was good.  I have put 15+ years into seeing docs and learning along the way... due to all these diseases... so I trust the gut.

I am getting a heart monitor for a week now.  He is concerned I might need a defib ealier than later depending on how that turns out.  I had described some symptoms from exercise that concerned him about going into defib.  Anyway, that is a pain, but I am glad he is on top of things.

Thanks for your input.  I do think he will get to the cholesterol when we get past this major issue of the DCM... and it was from something like infection, RA or other, not from aterial probs... so I am guessing that is ok to be on the back burner.  I will remind him of my high Trig. again tho... but my cholesterol has always been good.  I am pretty much a vegetarian.  Anyway... they do think the high trig. is associated with RA, but nobody knows why that is.  

Take care!

[kenkeith]

My first cardiologist good barely speak English, and what he did say when I could understand was not very comforting.  He was around the ER when I was admitted for congested heart failure.  He was not a doctor of choice, and after he did a stent implant during the initial visit to ER, I changed to another doctor and same doc for the past 6 years.  He is more talkative and explains, etc. So, it may be you have doctor that is not very helpful, and for that reason I would select a more interested doctor.

If HCM is due to coronary artery blockage (CAD), then lipid management would be appropriate, but HCM can other causes that are not related to CAD. That may be the answer, if you have CAD there should be medication that helps control CAD.

[eperdu]

I'm a newbie to all of this, but it does seem strange to me.  When my husband was diagnosed with DCM 6 weeks ago they found he had high cholesterol and immediately put him on a statin in addition to his other HF meds (beta blocker, ACE inhibitor, diuretic).  I'm not sure how significant the tie is between high cholesterol and DCM, but it seems they would be looking at all of it.