Confused

[Mom 2 3]

My question starts with my father who was diagnosed with
cardiomyopathy when he was 34 years old he was a alcholic and had intense stress in his life. He is now 58 years old and although he is debilitated by his condition he is still pretty active.  On to me I was assured all of my life that his condtion
is not herditary and I never worried a whole lot. I know there are differnent types of cardiomyopathy. I am a nursing student and under alot of stress and have 3 children.  In 2002 I was having palpitations .  He suggested a echo and holtor monitor.The holtor monitor came back ok with only 9 Pvc in a 24 hr period. But the echo came back with a mrginal right ventricular enlargement with the wall motion was ok.That is another thing I do not have the numbers exactly as far as the echos.   The doctor went on to perform a TEE I felt like relieve my worry. This procedure showed that my heart functioned fine and the doctor that performed it seemed very non-chalant about it.  I felt much better and didnt worry.
I had another echo not tee in October of 2003 and the doctor wants me to have them every year.  The most recent showed +1 regurgitation in my tricuspid and mitral valves and bi-lateral marginal enlargement.  By the way the first echo showed +2 tricuspid valve regrugitation but no mitral valve. Again he acts to be not worried.  My question should I be worried and seek a second opinion and I am on toprol 25 mg for the pvc and borderline hp, and how reliable are echos they seem so different each time. I am overweight could that effect the accuracy of the echo. Thanks.

[Paulpaulsen]

Headandheartsick:

Get a grip. It sounds to me like you have major head problems and you just need to mellow out. Take a xanax and go to bed. It's not that bad!

[heartandheadsicl]

hello sorry for the subject change but I am in dir need of help I have heart palps acc by strong face and arm heat also prickly skin on arms and heat at the tips of my right fingers severe headaches and a lightheadeness that does not go away I have had these systems for 4 months and told my pcp so he has been ajustin my bp meds atenelol 50 mg dyazide 37,5/25 also xanax as needed for panic hydrocodone for back pain and fioracet and depakote for migraines I am not a doctoer but I do not think these headaches and heat and tightness (pressure in my head front of temples)is coused by migrians could it be from chronic long term apap acetomenaphen use associated with the narcotics for back pain couse tolerance is an issue and have taken more toof narc to compensate for back pain and headaches I am affraid to quite cold turkey for withdrawl systems being even on normal dose of narcotic been on vicodin 5/500 for far to long 5 months strong any help need badly I have a mri tentetavly schedule just waiting for call but heat in face and headaches light head and pressure gettin close to unbarable please help please please please heart and head sick thank you

[Cleveland Clinic]

confused,

One of the most frustrating things about echos are the variability in the person reading and performing them. The changes you mention are probably not out of the realm of the reader variabilty, no matter how much the terminolgy might worry you.

You are right on with your care thus far. Continue your echos, make sure you rigidly control your blood pressure and cholesterol, and keep an active lifestyle.

If you are overweigh, it can sometimes effect the quality of the images obtained. Usually there is a note on the echo interpretation that the images were technically difficult. If you are overweight, i suggest you talk to your physician about lifestyle modification to decrease your weight ASAP.

good luck