diastolic dysfunction or failure?

[bananasoup]

Hi - I'm 33 yo F with fibromyalgia, pcos, and pvc's. Coughing for 6 months on and off about once a day or night for several hours. At night my lungs sound like rice krispies and if the cough comes on I have to get up until it subsides. 2 weeks ago I started swelling in the feet, hands and around the eyes. I'm short of breath most of the time and especially on exertion. An xray showed my heart was enlarged and an echo confirmed left ventricular hypertrophy and evidence of diastolic dysfunction. EF is normal.

I know this only from the echo report as my primary care physician told me "there's nothing worng with your heart - it's just a bit enlarged" He says he doesn't know what's causing the swelling and the cough is likely mild asthma (although I pass asthma tests when not coughing and haven't been able to get in during an episode since they usually happen outside of office hours). I feel awful most of the time and I'm frustrated. His recommendation - lose some weight. (I'm about 50lbs over) I also feel sometimes like I have another rhythm other than pvcs so he says he'll put me on a monitor "when they get one in".

Question is: Does he really believe what he's telling me? After I looked into it - isn't this diastolic heart failure? The edema being related and the cough being pulmonary edema?  I'm considering going to an emergency room during one of my nightime cough episodes - would that get me anywhere?  I just want to feel better. And I'm exhausted because I can't sleep at night with congested lungs.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

You may well have diastolic dysfunction which may be related to Left ventricular hypertrophy.  It is also possible taht you have sleep apnea which probably needs to be evaluated as well.  You should see a cardiologist and get a fresh opinion on your problems.