Aa
Echocardiogram not exactly helpful
After last week's sudden return of what feels like major cardiac arrhythmia, my doc's partner ordered an ultrasound, which I had last Thursday, to see what kind of shape the heart's in.
Nice page-and-a-quarter report faxed to me today speaks in some detail about the structure and geometric capacities of my heart and its' parts.
Ejection fraction is smack dab in the middle of the normal range. Doesn't mention a thing about the rhythm, even though there was audible irregularity in it while the tech was recording during the test.
Did note "mild" mitral valve regurgitation; not sure what effect that could be having, if any. Previous carotid artery studies showed good blood flow to the brain.
The old maxim tells us that no news is good news. Not so sure I concur. I still want answers. Might have to reread that health page I just posted for steph74.
Peace.
Nice page-and-a-quarter report faxed to me today speaks in some detail about the structure and geometric capacities of my heart and its' parts.
Ejection fraction is smack dab in the middle of the normal range. Doesn't mention a thing about the rhythm, even though there was audible irregularity in it while the tech was recording during the test.
Did note "mild" mitral valve regurgitation; not sure what effect that could be having, if any. Previous carotid artery studies showed good blood flow to the brain.
The old maxim tells us that no news is good news. Not so sure I concur. I still want answers. Might have to reread that health page I just posted for steph74.
Peace.
Stress test commandant concluded that the treadmill wasn't the best choice for me on Friday, so they gave me the chemical exercise. Whatever the IV drug was (it had a long generic name, 4 or more syllables, I think), it was supposed to simulate the effect of exercise on the heart. Well, it simulated the effect of sprinting up the steps in the Washington Monument with a big sack of rocks under each arm. It felt like I was having a heart attack and a stroke at the same time. Absolutely horrible feelings of pressure from the midsection climbing all the way up through the chest (felt like an elephant sitting on top of me) into the sinuses, temples, and eyeballs. Fortunately, this was for a four-minute test; then they gave me the antidote. Whew!
Doc watching the whole process (another partner of my PCP, this one with cardiology credentials) said there's no indication of any blockages so far, (pictures yet to be analyzed; this assessment is strictly from his reading of the EKG signals during the test) but it looks as though there is an electrical problem of some sort. More to follow.
Doc watching the whole process (another partner of my PCP, this one with cardiology credentials) said there's no indication of any blockages so far, (pictures yet to be analyzed; this assessment is strictly from his reading of the EKG signals during the test) but it looks as though there is an electrical problem of some sort. More to follow.
This is truly God working in my life, its amazing....I have not been on here lately due to working a lot in my house, but I came on just now and the first thing that popped up was this post..I thought it not on my MS Community but maybe the cardiac comm. instead.. never see heart stuff on here and i woud not have even posted anything..
..so after all of that, I had my 6 mo. check-up with my cardiologist and he scheduled a echo for me, its been a few years since I had one, so I had it last week and just TODAY they called to schedule an appt to test the metro valve. My heart DR has seen me for a long time, in fact he is the first Dr to recognize my MS from my brain scan.
I have had anxiety, heart palpitations, and the chest pans once in awhile, shortness of breath, coughing and of course the fatigue and dizziness 24/7 but have written them off as MS, which I am sure some or most of them are but not all.
It just confuses me all the more but at the same tme I find it interesting.
So we shall see...I would like to hear about what others find out also..
hugs, meg
I had a call from my heart Dr. this morning
..so after all of that, I had my 6 mo. check-up with my cardiologist and he scheduled a echo for me, its been a few years since I had one, so I had it last week and just TODAY they called to schedule an appt to test the metro valve. My heart DR has seen me for a long time, in fact he is the first Dr to recognize my MS from my brain scan.
I have had anxiety, heart palpitations, and the chest pans once in awhile, shortness of breath, coughing and of course the fatigue and dizziness 24/7 but have written them off as MS, which I am sure some or most of them are but not all.
It just confuses me all the more but at the same tme I find it interesting.
So we shall see...I would like to hear about what others find out also..
hugs, meg
I had a call from my heart Dr. this morning
Appt. w/PCP rescheduled for next Wednesday due to messed up morning, schedule-wise, my fault. Must leave off all food @ midnight, no caffeine today or tomorrow, and no pills in the AM until after the stress test. Then I am going out for something tasty!
This way, PCP will have stress test results when I see him, at least.
Thanks again, all.
This way, PCP will have stress test results when I see him, at least.
Thanks again, all.
I too could not take the Beta-blockers because of my already low b/p. It would really drop it.
So, I am now on Digoxin which does NOT have an effect on your b/p but can help with
the arrythmia's. Once starting..they (whoever they is) say it cn take up to a couple weeks to have full benefit of med.
Hope that helps. Hope you get more answers and keep up on this.
Feel better,
~Tonya
So, I am now on Digoxin which does NOT have an effect on your b/p but can help with
the arrythmia's. Once starting..they (whoever they is) say it cn take up to a couple weeks to have full benefit of med.
Hope that helps. Hope you get more answers and keep up on this.
Feel better,
~Tonya
Many, many thanks for your concern and suggestions. I am to see my regular PCP Thursday AM, and (I forgot to mention; I hope I remember to go!) I now have a cardiac stress test scheduled for Friday morning (stressfully early!).
Ren, a previous doc tried a couple different beta-blockers when I had similar (though milder) symptoms a dozen or more years ago, and I didn't tolerate them well at all. I recall, while on an absolutely tiny dose, that I literally slid out of my office chair onto the floor. My BP dropped to 70/50 and my pulse to 40. Evidently, my system is hyperreactive to them.
I do think another Holter is a good idea, and I might even suggest doing the 48 hour version instead of 24. We'll see what Doctor Dave thinks, & let him know our thoughts in return.
See yas.
Ren, a previous doc tried a couple different beta-blockers when I had similar (though milder) symptoms a dozen or more years ago, and I didn't tolerate them well at all. I recall, while on an absolutely tiny dose, that I literally slid out of my office chair onto the floor. My BP dropped to 70/50 and my pulse to 40. Evidently, my system is hyperreactive to them.
I do think another Holter is a good idea, and I might even suggest doing the 48 hour version instead of 24. We'll see what Doctor Dave thinks, & let him know our thoughts in return.
See yas.
Are you taking a beta blocker as one of your BP meds? A beta-blocker should help with the offending PACs. If things are deteriorating , I would certainly seek a second opinion or ask your cardiologist about doing anther Holter to capture the offending rhythms.
Hope you get some answers to help figure out the entire situation. At least structurally you appear fine. Perhaps your symptoms are to due to electrophysiology disorders. Follow up until you are satisfied.
You remain in my thoughts,
Ren
Hope you get some answers to help figure out the entire situation. At least structurally you appear fine. Perhaps your symptoms are to due to electrophysiology disorders. Follow up until you are satisfied.
You remain in my thoughts,
Ren
PD,
What you are describing does sound a lot more serious than what I experience and I would take Lulu's advice to get it checked out more thoughly.
In my case it feels like an extra beat in my pulse and when I have checked my BP during these episodes it has always been high ( 192/94 ) and the rate fast ( 96 ). I will then take an extra dose of one of my BP meds ( I take 3 different ones) and once my BP comes down things go back to my normal ( 124/78 & 62) and I no longer feel the extra beat sensation. My BP monitor doesn't have the "arrhythmia" check so I don't know if it would show up on one or not for me. This happens probably no more than once every 3 - 4 months and I have never been able to figure out what causes it.
I also have periods that are just the opposite where my BP and pulse drop real low ( 90/66 & 45) every once in a while. During these I have really bad dizziness and balance problems, Again unable to figure out what cause this either but this also is a fairly rare occurrance.
Take care and please have this checked out.
Dennis
What you are describing does sound a lot more serious than what I experience and I would take Lulu's advice to get it checked out more thoughly.
In my case it feels like an extra beat in my pulse and when I have checked my BP during these episodes it has always been high ( 192/94 ) and the rate fast ( 96 ). I will then take an extra dose of one of my BP meds ( I take 3 different ones) and once my BP comes down things go back to my normal ( 124/78 & 62) and I no longer feel the extra beat sensation. My BP monitor doesn't have the "arrhythmia" check so I don't know if it would show up on one or not for me. This happens probably no more than once every 3 - 4 months and I have never been able to figure out what causes it.
I also have periods that are just the opposite where my BP and pulse drop real low ( 90/66 & 45) every once in a while. During these I have really bad dizziness and balance problems, Again unable to figure out what cause this either but this also is a fairly rare occurrance.
Take care and please have this checked out.
Dennis
PD,
If this continues without answers, you know you can't ignore it. You know your body best. You could take a drive north - I know we're not necessarily impressed with their MS clinic care, but I truly believe that Cleveland Clinic is the place to go around here for heart problems.
You may need that ticker's electrical rhythm reset - arrhythmias can often be controlled and fixed that way. The extreme case would be the use of an ICD - implantable cardiac defibrillator.
The mitral valve regurgitation can contribute to the dizziness and balance issues. And exhaustion is a common byproduct of cardio-malfunctions.
If your EF is in the normal range, that is excellent news. The heart muscle is working at a good strength - a low EF would indicate some form of congestive heart failure.
I believe you probably already know all this from your research - so please consider CC as an option to getting answers.
be well,
Lulu
If this continues without answers, you know you can't ignore it. You know your body best. You could take a drive north - I know we're not necessarily impressed with their MS clinic care, but I truly believe that Cleveland Clinic is the place to go around here for heart problems.
You may need that ticker's electrical rhythm reset - arrhythmias can often be controlled and fixed that way. The extreme case would be the use of an ICD - implantable cardiac defibrillator.
The mitral valve regurgitation can contribute to the dizziness and balance issues. And exhaustion is a common byproduct of cardio-malfunctions.
If your EF is in the normal range, that is excellent news. The heart muscle is working at a good strength - a low EF would indicate some form of congestive heart failure.
I believe you probably already know all this from your research - so please consider CC as an option to getting answers.
be well,
Lulu
I think that depends on the synchronization, Dennis. I'd expect regurgitation, if it creates sound or sensation, to be coincident with the contraction of the left ventricle, so I'm not sure I'd be able to discern any difference. Plus, I'd expect it to occur with each beat, so it really shouldn't impact measured rhythm or rate (I could be wrong on this point, though; I often am!).
What I am feeling can be felt in my pulse, and my home blood pressure monitor is sensing it, too, as it's giving me the arrhythmia symbol each time I check my BP. The heart seems to be actually skipping beats.
This doc heard it through her stethescope, as my regular PCP has in the past. In-office snapshot electrocardiograms usually show very little, but my last Holter monitor, just about a year ago, showed hundreds of premature atrial contractions (PACs). However, at that time it showed only a very few instances of multiple such aberrations in a row (I think there were about 4 or 5 doubles and one triple).
Whatever this is, though, is substantially more pronounced than anything I felt then, and much more persistent than anything I've ever experienced, heart-wise. It's nearly all day and night, every day and every night, at least a dozen flutters per minute. I've had a few periods of an hour or two, maybe near a half day once, in the past week, during which it wasn't making me quite aware of my pulse and its irregularity. There's been some mild pain from time to time, but nothing to write home about. The thing concerning me most, I think, is how weak I've been feeling. Don't know if it's related, but my balance has worsened again, too.
Well, I know I need more sleep, so you guys have a blessed evening whilst I work on that. Thanks for your input! God bless!
What I am feeling can be felt in my pulse, and my home blood pressure monitor is sensing it, too, as it's giving me the arrhythmia symbol each time I check my BP. The heart seems to be actually skipping beats.
This doc heard it through her stethescope, as my regular PCP has in the past. In-office snapshot electrocardiograms usually show very little, but my last Holter monitor, just about a year ago, showed hundreds of premature atrial contractions (PACs). However, at that time it showed only a very few instances of multiple such aberrations in a row (I think there were about 4 or 5 doubles and one triple).
Whatever this is, though, is substantially more pronounced than anything I felt then, and much more persistent than anything I've ever experienced, heart-wise. It's nearly all day and night, every day and every night, at least a dozen flutters per minute. I've had a few periods of an hour or two, maybe near a half day once, in the past week, during which it wasn't making me quite aware of my pulse and its irregularity. There's been some mild pain from time to time, but nothing to write home about. The thing concerning me most, I think, is how weak I've been feeling. Don't know if it's related, but my balance has worsened again, too.
Well, I know I need more sleep, so you guys have a blessed evening whilst I work on that. Thanks for your input! God bless!
My last echo also showed ""mild" mitral valve regurgitation". and my cardio said it was no big deal. At times I feel like I am having "arrhythmia", usually at night when in bed, and I think it is that regurgitation I am feeling. Hopefully that is also what you are feeling.
Dennis
Dennis
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