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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
SO CONFUSED. . .please help !!
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests
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SO CONFUSED. . .please help !!
by mickeysgirl61, Oct 12, 2006 12:00AM
Thank you for taking time for my question. (While in Texas) Background: 44 yo female, total hyst., diabetic in control (Hba1c never over 6, never smoked or used alcohol. In 2004 I had thought someone stabbed me in the back while I was climbing stairs to our apartment. The pain got worse so I took my blood pressure (160/100. . never has been that high) so I went and chewed 5 baby aspirin and immediately headed to the hospital (we lived across the street from it so this all happened within 5 minutes) When I got there and told them I was having a heart attack they ignored me and told me it was gallbladder problems. I kept insisting loudly and they finally gave in (and hour later). Hooked me up to an EKG and within seconds I was in the trauma room talking with a cardiologist. Immediately they took me to the cath lab-once in a CCU room the doctor came in and said that he was baffeled. No blockages, clear arteries, my cholestrol was 110, LDL 63, Tri. 53 and HDL 35 (the blood work was all done 2 weeks before this event by my regular doctor). He said that I did have an ST elevation MI. I was in CCU for 4 days and step down for 1. Sent home on Coreg-this medicine caused fainting for the first 9 months I was on it, but the doctor didn't believe me and told me to find another doctor. He wanted me to drink 4-5 oz. of wine a night and I have never drank before. . because I wouldn't he got upset. Went to the other doctor and he said I didn't have a heart attack and put me on Norvasc with Coreg. Did a stress test and it stated negative. Have had holter monitors (30 day) and this is what it said on one of the strips:
Sinus rhythm, changes in QRS Morphology noted, SV ectopy noted, pairs, Rare PVC
When I asked the doctor what this meant, he said it was normal. Normal ?? Doesn't sound like it to me. He wanted to run another 30 day and do another stress test and echo. The insurance wouldn't pay for it so I couldn't have them done. . .he too told me if I didn't do the tests and pay for them myself, to go find another doctor.
I am SO confused as to all of this. How, with the low cholestrol could this happen. I have done everything right as far as I know. . .I am 25 lbs. overweight but working on it. No history of heart disease in the family (just most of us are diabetic. . had 2 sons close to 11 lbs) Was a vegetarian but not now because of the diabetes.
(1) Could you explain what the 30 monitor said "Sinus rhythm, changes in QRS Norphology noted, SV ectopy noted, pairs, Rare PVC"
(2) What can I do to get my HDL up or is it so low because the total cholestrol is low?
(3) I am having some burning chest pain after walking 2-3 minutes. Could this be a blockage?
(4) Can a cardiac cath be wrong ? Could there be blockages that the doctor didn't see?
(5) I have had to travel from Florida (where we live) to Denver to settle my father's estate. . .while there my blood pressure ran 149/94, Pulse 98, sugars around 200. Normal here is 110/65, Pulse 74, and sugars in the 80-110 range. What causes the rise and is it dangerous for me to be up there ?
(6) Does Coreg cause the feeling of not being able to keep up with exercise? Like something is working against me, pulling back. . can't reach the heart max.?
I have been told that there was "minimal to no" damage but why do I seem to have problems with skipping, fatigue, burning chest pain. I will be seeing a new doctor here in Florida in November-we just moved here and are waiting for insurance to kick in. Thank you again for your input as I am totally confused !! Yes I did, no I didn't, take this one, no take this one. . .you all get the idea !!!
Looking forward to hearing from you and others that may have had this kind of heart attack.
Sinus rhythm, changes in QRS Morphology noted, SV ectopy noted, pairs, Rare PVC
When I asked the doctor what this meant, he said it was normal. Normal ?? Doesn't sound like it to me. He wanted to run another 30 day and do another stress test and echo. The insurance wouldn't pay for it so I couldn't have them done. . .he too told me if I didn't do the tests and pay for them myself, to go find another doctor.
I am SO confused as to all of this. How, with the low cholestrol could this happen. I have done everything right as far as I know. . .I am 25 lbs. overweight but working on it. No history of heart disease in the family (just most of us are diabetic. . had 2 sons close to 11 lbs) Was a vegetarian but not now because of the diabetes.
(1) Could you explain what the 30 monitor said "Sinus rhythm, changes in QRS Norphology noted, SV ectopy noted, pairs, Rare PVC"
(2) What can I do to get my HDL up or is it so low because the total cholestrol is low?
(3) I am having some burning chest pain after walking 2-3 minutes. Could this be a blockage?
(4) Can a cardiac cath be wrong ? Could there be blockages that the doctor didn't see?
(5) I have had to travel from Florida (where we live) to Denver to settle my father's estate. . .while there my blood pressure ran 149/94, Pulse 98, sugars around 200. Normal here is 110/65, Pulse 74, and sugars in the 80-110 range. What causes the rise and is it dangerous for me to be up there ?
(6) Does Coreg cause the feeling of not being able to keep up with exercise? Like something is working against me, pulling back. . can't reach the heart max.?
I have been told that there was "minimal to no" damage but why do I seem to have problems with skipping, fatigue, burning chest pain. I will be seeing a new doctor here in Florida in November-we just moved here and are waiting for insurance to kick in. Thank you again for your input as I am totally confused !! Yes I did, no I didn't, take this one, no take this one. . .you all get the idea !!!
Looking forward to hearing from you and others that may have had this kind of heart attack.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-MJM, Oct 13, 2006 12:00AM
Hello,
I am sorry to hear about your confusing recent history.
(1) Could you explain what the 30 monitor said "Sinus rhythm, changes in QRS Norphology noted, SV ectopy noted, pairs, Rare PVC"
I would need to see the study, but the results sound pretty normal. Just about anyone that has a 30 day monitor will have pvcs, pacs. I would not worry about these test results.
(2) What can I do to get my HDL up or is it so low because the total cholestrol is low?
Things that raise HDL include exercise, alcohol, low fat diet, statin medications, fenofibrate medications, medical formulations of niacin. I would probably try the diet, exercise, and one drink per night route.
(3) I am having some burning chest pain after walking 2-3 minutes. Could this be a blockage?
If you had clean coronary arteries on your cath, it is not do to a blockage.
(4) Can a cardiac cath be wrong ? Could there be blockages that the doctor didn't see?
Can be, but this is very unlikely. It is possible that the cells that line your coronary arteries are not regulating the dilation of your coronaries as well as they should -- endothelial dysfunction. This can cause chest pains or arterial spasms in the setting of normal appearing arteries on cath. Elevated blood sugars and hypertension go along with a diagnosis of endohelial dysfunction.
(5) I have had to travel from Florida (where we live) to Denver to settle my father's estate. . .while there my blood pressure ran 149/94, Pulse 98, sugars around 200. Normal here is 110/65, Pulse 74, and sugars in the 80-110 range. What causes the rise and is it dangerous for me to be up there ?
It is possible. this should be followed over time and if it doesn't improve soon, medical therapy to control your blood pressure and blood sugar is indicated.
(6) Does Coreg cause the feeling of not being able to keep up with exercise? Like something is working against me, pulling back. . can't reach the heart max.?
It can make people feel tired or sluggish.
I hope this answers your questions. Good luck and thanks for posting.
I am sorry to hear about your confusing recent history.
(1) Could you explain what the 30 monitor said "Sinus rhythm, changes in QRS Norphology noted, SV ectopy noted, pairs, Rare PVC"
I would need to see the study, but the results sound pretty normal. Just about anyone that has a 30 day monitor will have pvcs, pacs. I would not worry about these test results.
(2) What can I do to get my HDL up or is it so low because the total cholestrol is low?
Things that raise HDL include exercise, alcohol, low fat diet, statin medications, fenofibrate medications, medical formulations of niacin. I would probably try the diet, exercise, and one drink per night route.
(3) I am having some burning chest pain after walking 2-3 minutes. Could this be a blockage?
If you had clean coronary arteries on your cath, it is not do to a blockage.
(4) Can a cardiac cath be wrong ? Could there be blockages that the doctor didn't see?
Can be, but this is very unlikely. It is possible that the cells that line your coronary arteries are not regulating the dilation of your coronaries as well as they should -- endothelial dysfunction. This can cause chest pains or arterial spasms in the setting of normal appearing arteries on cath. Elevated blood sugars and hypertension go along with a diagnosis of endohelial dysfunction.
(5) I have had to travel from Florida (where we live) to Denver to settle my father's estate. . .while there my blood pressure ran 149/94, Pulse 98, sugars around 200. Normal here is 110/65, Pulse 74, and sugars in the 80-110 range. What causes the rise and is it dangerous for me to be up there ?
It is possible. this should be followed over time and if it doesn't improve soon, medical therapy to control your blood pressure and blood sugar is indicated.
(6) Does Coreg cause the feeling of not being able to keep up with exercise? Like something is working against me, pulling back. . can't reach the heart max.?
It can make people feel tired or sluggish.
I hope this answers your questions. Good luck and thanks for posting.
This happened to me and I have a terrible family history. My doctor shrugged it off, aside from asking what I was doing when it happened, but I didn't like it. I figure something of clinical significance would have happened during the workout I was doing (attempting to induce PSVT, and failing) but that all looked perfect.
Reading this sort of wigged me out a little!