Post ablation improvement for cardiomyopathy patients with bigeminy

Question

I am a 38 year old female, non drinker, non smoker, and have been a fitness instructor for 16 years. However, I now have DCM, or perhaps have had it for years and now it has just reached a point of being a big problem! I am unable to exercise due to chest pain, tightness and SOB with even mild exertion, and hence, my career has been prematurely halted, and all of my social activities have been affected too (was learning to race motorbikes, and am otherwise very active). I was diagnosed 8 months ago. Currently I take Toprol (50mg) and Coversil and have a small success with them (now I can go to the bathroom or get a drink from the fridge without having to sit the dizziness out every time!) My doc is considering a left ventricular ablation to try and minimize the ectopics and therefore hopefully also the worst symptoms.

I am keen to talk to others who have had similar experiences, and also others who are perhaps experiencing the great frustrations associated with heart disease in the prime of your life! I am a mother of two young children as well, and feel very alone at the moment; most of my friends have been in the fitness industry, and my incapacitation has frightened them away, and I am housebound more often than not and so my social time with the kids has also been greatly restricted. Most 'kid' friends stay away because they think having extra kids around would be more stressful (which it is). What do others do to help minimize their feelings of hopelessness, frustration, and isolation?

This discussion is related to Ectopic beats presenting as bradycardia?.

3dragons · Answer

Connie, thanks for posting above. I have been very isolated over here in Perth (Western Australia), and it is comforting to read of others who have suffered and survived! This forum has proven to be an immensely rewarding, mood lifting find for me :) I confess, my problems seem more simple than a lot of what I have been reading, but it is so interesting to read what real people experience, and what amazing things the doctors are able to do!

Momto3 · Answer

Hello.

In 2002, (age 45) I was diagnosed with DCM.  I have a leaky mitral valve so at first the doctors thought the new onset of DCM was because the leak was worsening.  Turned out not to be the case.  At the same time, I was having tens of thousands of PVCs daily.  I had had them for many, many years so I didn't really give it a second thought.  The doctors were aware and them and despite over 20,000/day, they were still considered benign.  

Anyway, long story short -- I had two cardiac ablations in 2003, and my ejection fraction gradualized normalized over the next 6-12 months.  It has been 5 years and my DCM remains completely resolved.  PVC-induced cardiomyopathy is very rare, but it can, and does, happen.  Your doctor may be onto to something.  Hope you have the same success I have enjoyed.  Connie