Did I cause this?

[newheart1]

Does anyone ever wonder if they somehow caused or contributed to their illness?  I have been so sick this last year - and I can't help but wonder if I could have done something different and prevented this.  I have been told by my cardiologists that I have dilated non-ischemic cardiomyopathy - which caused my VT's.  They say we will never know what caused it, probably viral.  I only remember two incidents:  contracted a parasite in a foreign country that was in my body for 2 months (before the drs. finally figured out what it was and removed it) and a severe form of colitis that I was very very ill from.  I had complete heart studies 3 months before the parasite incident (everything was normal - just a checkup as my brother has significant heart disease).  That was 2 years ago and my heart event was March 07.  The colitis incident happened in January of this year after being put on very strong antiobiotics for cellulitis of the face.  Looking back, my immune system started shutting down in January 05 after the parasite thing, plus I had significant stress for 2 years from dealing with one of my children. (it's better now).

I know this type of thinking is not helpful to my recovery, and I am determined to beat this.  But I keep thinking about it.  Any thoughts are welcomed.

Angel

[jessegirl]

I'm no doctor either, but any of the things you mentioned may have comtributed, even the stress that went along with it.  But, just as an FYI (most people don't know this), in the stronger antibiotics there is an ingredient called Eurythromyacin (sp?) that has a side effect of irregular heartbeat.  I actually have to tell my doctors (with them knowing I have PAC's) not to prescribe this to me or my family. Duh!
I now go onto Drugs.com to check EVERY Rx I'm handed to check the side effects first.
Hope you feel better.
Kaz

[Gina8]

Heartworm in animals cause heart disease or symptoms. I hope the dr removed all the parasites. Maybe the drugs used to remove the parasite affected your heart?. Im not a dr but am interested in what causes Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Its strange that no one knows what causes it! hmmmm, I guess the body is too intelligent to understand completely but I believe it could be caused from a lack of something in the body, or a simple reason why the heart is regenerating walls as if it thinks it needs to be repaired, The only thickening ive experienced are plucked hair that grow back thicker and thicker.  

[mmc97]

I have to say I'm in bed with you. I have been sick the last couple of months. I had bronchitis in the spring which I was in the ER, it was horrible and couldn't breathe much. I have spent much of the last 2 mos on antibiotics for a serious bacterial infection and would never have known I had any heart issue if not the lovely PA who listened to my chest. BUT I do wonder if I made contributions to this spiral of events..

You know what though? Don't sweat the small stuff. Its hard to know the answers to everything, smile.