Thickened heart walls

[ViolaElizabeth]

I started having upper chest congestion last September.  I went to my doctor 4 or 5 times over the winter because the congestion continued.  Gradually it went down to my lower chest.  Finally, I saw several specialists over the winter including a rheumatologist.  She wanted me to see a cardiologist.  I had a stress test, chemical, an angiogram, ultrasound and x-rays of my chest but didn't get a diagnosis.  By early spring, I was getting short of breath.  The rheumatologist ordered an echocardiogram.  The first one wasn't done correctly and there weren't adequate results for her to read.  In fact, several categories had no written results.  So I went back to the cardiologist for another echocardigram.  He told me that I had thickened heart walls.  The number is 19, apparently quite serious.  I'm very overweight, having gained 70 pounds in the last year.  I'm probably about 100 pounds overweight overall.  The cardiologist told me that I'm already on all the medicines available; lisinopril, amlopidine and lipitor.  I developed somewhat high blood pressure last year, though my doctor says it isn't terribly high.  

My questions are:  How long do I have to live and is there anything I can do besides lose weight to ease the condition?  I'm having a very hard time losing weight.  The cardiologist wanted me to go on his office diet, Medifast, but it costs $400.00 per month and we can't afford this.  We live on a fixed income.  I'm 70 years old and have chronic pain from 3 failed back surgeries and it hurts to even stand up let alone walk or exercise.  I just finished 2 months of physical therapy but it didn't do any good.  Can you help me?


This discussion is related to Thick Heart Walls.

[kenkeith]

You are probably referring to the septum wall.  That is the wall that separates the left and right lower heart chambers, and the thickness has an estimated range of 6 to 11 mm.  

Thickened heart walls reduces the filling capacity, and usually the rigidity impairs to some degree the ability to pump as well.  If this condition is serious, it can cause shortness of breath, etc. but an overweight and poor physical condition can also cause the problem, and the back problems may be preventing a good exercise routine.  If you have access to swimming, that would help you get into a better physical condition.

You can live out a normal life span with good care, medication that reduces the heart's workload, proper diet, exercise, etc.  .