to a cardologist please respond

My ep doc. said it is no diagnosed for brugada they don't know if I have this.  It's a unclear case. I'm so worried about this without knowing it. I have no symptons. I read and said with Brugada no symptons you can get sudden cardiac arrest it's life threating this is why Im scared. I have alot of anger and depress cause It's scary they don't know. Alot of people get diagnosed with this. I have a st. segment in V1 and V2 what signs on a ekg show Brugada?

[yellowrose]

wish i could help you , ive never heard of that. i know your scared and i will pray for you to have confort in this. you need try relex its going drive you crazy and than that wont help at all. does your cardio see any danger for you , mine tells me when things are not right or are so seems like he could resure you on this and you might not even have it ,if they cant tell you for sure you do than you might be driving yourself crazy for nothing. go to other drs surely someone can tell you . does it run in family , sorry iam new to that one ,so iam picking at straws. hope you have a btter day toda and thinking about it all day only makes you feel worse . barbara

[Barbarella]

I see you posted a headline on this board "to the cardiologist", didn't a cardiologist already answer you twice on the other board where cardiologists answer questions?

When is your appointment with a cardiologist? Or when was your last appointment with a cardiologist? Your high anxiety concerns me. Can you see a Therapist or can your doctor prescribe you something to calm you down until you see the cardiologist?

Let the cardiologist, not a regular doctor, and not an EP, but a CARDIOLOGIST explain to you in DETAILS what he/she thinks you have.

Not even the cardiologists on this site can give you a definate answer because they cannot examine you, they can only read what you say, but they cannot give you a 100% answer. Even if you post EKG's, they can change from abnormal to normal or vise versa in a short time. I know, trust me, it happened to me.

You said in previous posts that two doctors said you do not have burguda, but one of them said you do. Was the one who said it a Specialist in that field???

This is what I would do if I were going through your anxiety: I would see another cardiologist and I would tell him/her exactly how I worry, how the "what if" is ruining my life, and that I need answers, and that I cannot leave the office until I know for sure exactly what I have or not have or what my chances are.

Whatever the cardiologist tells you, final diagnosis, and you cannot live with the diagnosis and still go through this terrible anxiety then you need help as in a Therapist or help yourself if that is possible and say "I will live one day at a time". Because if you keep on with this high anxiety you can eventually get sick, and I am not talking about burguda.  High anxiety mental stress will take a toll on you.  Please get help!  Believe me I do understand your anxiety about this, but you cannot go on living like that.  You need professional help!



    

[bip]

I did see a cardologist I seen a EP all they are saying they don't know it's unclear case.

[bip]

Maybe it is a good sign they don't know. I just overwhelm myself so much. I read about brugada and it's scary so I shouldn't do that to myself cause I worry more. Your right I shouldn't worry about things it's not good for ourselves. june 8th Im getting a test done they will give me a pill and I will be on a ekg for 4 hours the doctor said this pill reacts to brugada but he said they will still not know if I have this. Do you know what the name of the test Im talking about? Thank you for your help

[Barbarella]

IS YOUR NAME RACHEL??  DIDN'T YOU ALREADY ASK THE EXPERT DR. PAUL MICHAEL ABOUT THIS CONDITION??  DID YOU FOLLOW HIS ADVISE? I.E. DID YOU HAVE THE GENETIC TESTING DONE??

Expert: DR PAUL MICHAEL REA MBChB, MSc, DipFMS, FHEA
Date: 4/18/2007
Subject: HELP

Question
QUESTION: what is brugada syndrom (syndrome)? I can go in cardiac arrest
ANSWER: Dear Rachael,

Brugada syndrome is a genetic condition resulting in abnormal heart tracings (or electrocardiograms)and as you say there is a high risk of cardiac arrest or worst scenario death.

The heart can go into ventricular fibrillation ie. irregular heart beats but it can be treated by having an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.  This is done as a surgical procedure and monitors the heart rate and defibrillates the period of fibrillation.  In other words when the heart rate becomes irregular, it kicks in and returns the heart beat to normal.

This website will give you more information:

http://www.brugada.org/

I hope this helps.

Kind regards

Paul

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I seen 2 spealist 1 said I didn't have brugada another said I did!
ANSWER: Dear Rachael,

The easiest way to test for this is quite simple - it can be done by genetic testing (taking a blood sample to start with) looking for the SCN5A which is located on the short arm of the third chromosome (3p21)and examine if any mutations are present.  This part of our genetic makeup is responsible for heart sodium channels reuqired for controlling our heart contractions and electrical activity.

This might seem very scientific but is very easily tested for - it may be wise to raise this with your general medical practitioner and arrange genetic councelling and testing.

Kind regards

Paul

[Barbarella]

No I do not know what the name of that test is.  You need to ASK and NOT leave the office BEFORE ALL your questions are answered.  If a scheduled test you ask "what exactly is this test for"?, if you get any kind of meds you ask "exactly what are the meds for and what are the side effects".

Remember they are getting paid which INCLUDES answering ALL your questions and concerns.  

[bip]

The ep doc said It's a low risk of doing this test they will give me a pill I have to be on the ekg  for 4 hours and this pill react to brugada but they cant say Ill have it or not.

[stevie_wonder]

Hi bip,
You sound very frustrated with this. I can relate to you. You need to do some research on Brugada Syndrome and the doctors (EP) in the US that can diagnose and treat this syndrome. Our family has Long QT Syndrome, a similar syndrome in the fact that it has no symptoms other than potential cardiac arrest. I had to research myselft and go to many different cardiologists before I finally found an EP that was capable of diagnosing our family. It is very scary to think you have something like this. Brugada is a newly diagnosed syndrome that very few doctors and even cardiologists can properly diagnose. You need to see an experienced EP, please just google Brugada Syndrome and you will come up with many articles and on them you should find an email of one of these doctors that you could contact. I found with Long QT Syndrome that many of the world's best EPs from many different countries were willing to help us find a doctor in our area to help diagnose and treat. These research doctors are very compassionate people that go out of their way to help. I believe that Dr. Brugada, the doctor who discovered this syndrome, has read peoples ECGs over emails. Good luck in your research. Don't give up until you are 100% certain that you don't have this. It is treatable.

[bip]

Hi, Dr. brugada said it was a technical error on the ekg that interfere with the diagnosed so he said It's a unclear case of brugada? What does he mean?

[bip]

I did  I send all  my  Ekg to dr. brugada he said  the first ekg I send him he said In one part of the st.segment elevation in V! wasn't dignosed brugada and another part of V1 and it was a technical error that interfere on the ekg so it's a unclear case of Brugada, Do you have Long T syndrome? Not  that I know of I don't think it runs in my family. Can you please help me with this. Do you know anyone good.

[KLB32]

The test you are scheduled to have will show whether or not you have Brugada. I have read about it before.  It supposedly brings out "silent" Brugada.  I do not understand why you are being told they won't know whether or not you have it even after they do the test.  That is unacceptable.

If I were in your shoes, I would contact the SADS organization and ask for a referral to a Dr. who has alot of experience in dealing with Brugada.  It is a rare disorder and chances are the doctors you have already seen don't have enough experience dealing with this disorder (even an EP).  You need someone who can give you a definitive answer.

Unless you have a family history of fainting or sudden death, I would not worry too much about it.  You are going to make yourself sick between now and June when you have the test.  I am willing to bet you are not sleeping well because you're worrying about dying in your sleep.  If you aren't sleeping, it's just going to fuel your anxiety.  If this is the case, ask your Dr. for something to help your nerves until you have the test done.  A small dose of Xanax can work wonders.  Lunesta works really well for insomnia (or at least it does for me).

Chronic anxiety can wreck your health.  Just a few days ago when I had a stress test done, I got myself so worked up, my BP rose to 140/110!  It is normally around 105/70ish.  Stress in itself can create heart problems so please do what you can to protect your heart!

[bip]

Thank you for being concern  I know what you are saying Im glad you understand where Im coming from these doctors no Im so stress from this they don't care this is my life everyone said don't worry I am worried Do you know what this test is called I take a pill and Ill be on a EKG for 4 hours? this test should ease me hopefully. Nobody is giving me a straight answer all I want to know I have it or not. I have 2 boyz I need to take care of. Can you help me with this so I can move on with my life. I need to rule this out.

[KLB32]

I read an article that said Brugada is 8 to 10 times more likely in males than in females.  Perhaps that will make you feel a little better.

Do a search on Brugada testing and you will find alot of info about the test you are going to have done.  

I do recommend that you contact the SADS organization.  They have experience in dealing with all types of arrythmias that can cause sudden death and will be a good resource for you.

http://www.sads.org

[bip]

I read that to just want to know the test Im taking Ill take a pill and be on a ekg for 4 hours If I do have this it will show?

[stevie_wonder]

Hi, sorry I do remember reading now that you had sent your ECG to Dr. Brugada. One ECG cannot diagnose or rule out anything. I would suggest you do as the previous poster said and contact SADS. They are a valuable resource when it comes to things like this. They will be able to help you contact the proper doctor in your part of the country. Yes, our family has Long QT Syndrome. We got diagnosed with the help of SADS. My oldest son had a cardiac arrest and survived and we could still not get any help from regular cardiologists. They told me that he must be on drugs!!! But I kept persevering until we found the right doctor. It took several though. Please contact SADS, stress is not good for anyone.

[bip]

I did send 4 ekg to dr.brugada he said they no changes in my ekg he said he seen a st.elevation its not diagnosed brugada in the other part its a elevation v1 its a technical problem interfernce with the diagnosed. Doe that sound like a good sign?

[stevie_wonder]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. My sister had a similar thing on her ECG and it turned out to nothing. If Dr. Brugada read 4 of your ECGs and you are scheduled for more tests, I would just sit back and wait it out. It is not as easy to do but I had to do with our family while we were being tested for Long QT Syndrome. So far, my one son, is the only one to have had any symptoms,he had a cardiac arrest and survived,  so you see, even though people have these syndromes, the chance of dying from it is not that great. Just relax and wait until you are done being tested.

[bip]

what abnormalties   on  your sisters EKG?