Potential Heart Problems

I am a 26 year old male that has experienced symptoms that may be related to cardiomyopathy.  I have experienced chest pain in the center of my chest since May 2007.  This pain is constant throughout each day.  I also have some sort of pain in my abdomen region (on both sides).  This abdominal pain comes and goes.  I am always tired and sleep more than I used to sleep before the symptoms started.  I used to run about 40 miles per week (5-7 miles per day) but now can not run for more than 5-10 minutes at one time.  My ejection fraction of my left ventricle was measured at 45% (on two different echocardiograms) with left ventricle enlargement.  The doctor put me on Coreg Tabs (3.125 mg) twice a day.  I have been on this medicine since November the 19th but have not noticed improvement.  The doctor believes I may have had some sort of viral infection that damaged my heart and the beta blocker may help increase the EF and decrease the size of the left ventricle.  Analysis of my blood has determined that I do not have any current virus.  I first noticed the symptoms around the time I had a terrible fever.  The fever only lasted for a few days, but the doctor thinks the fever resulted from a viral infection that attacked my heart.  I am very frustrated because I was once very healthy but can now do very little exercise.  I have experienced weight gain because of the limitation of exercise in my life.  I also have nausea on and off throughout each day.  I am curious what your opinion is on my issues.  Do you believe I have cardiomyopathy or that my symptoms result from a viral infection?  Do you have any recommendations on how I can get back to my ‘good’ quality of life?

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

You could have a cardiomyopathy due to a viral infection and it may take several months for the heart to recover.  The dose of the Coreg frequently has to be increased up to 25 mg twice a day.