dystolic dysfunction

[jeannie010]

I HAVE A PACEMAKER SINCE ABOUT JUNE OF 1998 OR 1999.  I HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS OFF AND ON OVER THE YEARS EVEN SINCE I HAD IT PUT IN WITH FATIQUE AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH.  LAST AUGUST I HAD A PACEMAKER CHECK AND MY CARDIOLOGIST HAD SOMEONE CALL AND TELL ME TO COME DOWN TO HAVE IT CHECKED AT THE OFFICE. APPARENTLY SOMETHING SHOWED IN THE PHONE CHECK THAT WAS NOT QUITE RIGHT.  I WENT AND THE TECHNICIAN FROM ST JUDE'S ADJUSTED IT.  THE CARDIOLOGIST THEN REQUESTED THAT I COME BACK FOR SOME MORE TESTS.  I WENT AND HAD 2 D & M-MODE ECHO TESTS, A DOPPLER, A DOPPLER COLOR FLO DONE.  A FEW WEEKS LATER SOMEONE FROM THE OFFICE CALLED AND SAID I HAD A "MILD DYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION" BUT THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.  FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE REALLY GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT I CAN HARDLY DO ANYTHING WITHOUT BEING TOTALLY EXHAUSTED.  I PUSH MYSELF TO GO TO WORK AND IF I LIFT ANYTHING AND TRY TO CARRY IT I GIVE OUT OF BREATH.  I WENT TO ANOTHER CARDIOLOGIST WHO RAN A STRESS TEST AND DID SOME NUCLEUR  TEST.  WHEN I AM AT REST MY HEART RATE IS OK BUT WHEN I AM ON THE TREADMILL MY HEARTRATE DROPS AND I GIVE OUT OF BREATH.  HE MENTIONED AN ABLATION AND I TOLD HIM THAT  THIS WAS WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS WRONG BACK IN THE 90'S BUT WHEN THEY GOT IN THEY SAID I NEEDED A PACEMAKER.  THE CARDIOLOGIST THAT I JUST SAW HAD ME SEE AN ASSOCIATE AND HAVE A PACEMAKER CHECK DONE THIS WEEK.  THE TECH FROM ST JUDE'S SAID I NEEDED A NEW PACEMAKER.  THE HEART SPECIALIST WANTS TO DO ANOTHER - I CAN'T THINK OF WHAT IT IS CALLED - WHERE THEY GO INTO THE ARTERY IN THE GROIN AND UP TO THE HEART  TO BE SURE THERE IS NO BLOCKAGE.  HE SAID THE NUCLEUR TEST SHOWED SOMETHING.  I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THEY TOLD ME - SORRY.  I HAVE HAD  SEVERAL EKG'S AND AS FAR AS I KNOW THEY ARE ALL OK.  I HAVE ALSO HAD THEM GO IN THE ARTERY 3 OR 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 10 YEARS AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO SIGN OF BLOCKAGE.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.  I AM TIRED OF BEING SO TIRED ALL THE TIME AND NOT FEELING LIKE DOING ANYTHING.  I AM 59 YEARS OLD AND HAVE WORKED ALL MY LIFE AND STILL DO BUT IT IS GETTING VERY HARD TO DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE MY JOB REQUIRES LIFTING PRETTY HEAVY OBJECTS AND STANDING ON MY FEET PRETTY MUCH ALL DAY.  FROM WHAT I HAVE TOLD YOU CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY ANSWERS AS TO WHAT MAY BE WRONG WITH ME?  I HATE TO GO THROUGH THE ARTERY THING AGAIN IF IT IS NOT NECESSARY.  I KNOW THIS IS LONG BUT I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY INSIGHT YOU COULD GIVE ME INTO WHAT I SHOULD DO.  THANKS

[grendslori]

Everything you are describing sounds like you have Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Diastolic Dysfunction is the form of heart failure that this disease carries, unlike Systolic Heart Failure which is connected to Congestive Heart Failure. Patients with HCM have a real problem with shortness of breath and their heart rates tend to drop on the tredmill because the left ventricle cannot pump blood out due to stiff heart walls. The angiogram will show if there is any blockages in the arteries, it will also show how well the heart walls are contracting which is why they may actually be preforming the angiogram. You should do this test. If you have HCM, and I'm not saying you do, there are drugs (calcium channel blockers) that help to relax the heart muscle so the heart can pump more efficent. Many people live years with this form of heart disease, some do not and require transplantation.

[Encephalomalcia]

With the shortness of breath you are having and the tests that you have took that show something to be not right, you should seriously consider the angiogram.  The angiogram, where they go through the groin up into the heart and shoot some dye to look for blockages, is the most accurate test.  If you have any blockages, you should know about it and try to get it fixed before it is too hard and a stent cannot be put in.  Then, it would be heart bypass time.  If you are able to walk on a treadmill, your heart must not be severely blocked.  People who have severe coronary artery disease cannot walk on a treadmill.  Females are at risk for blockage in the small vessels which is serious in that the heart muscle cannot get the blood flow needed.  Some people grow new arteries to reroute the plugged arteries.  Stem cell research and procedures that I believe are only done out of the country for now, should give hope to all people growing new arteries.  For the time being, it would be wise and put your mind at ease to have the angiogram to make sure that there are no blocked arteries causing you to be short of breath.  As far as your job, is there a way that you can get a different job where there is no lifting.  Lifting is hard for people with heart problems.  If your current employer does not have jobs that have no lifting, there are organizations that look for jobs for people 55 and older.  It may not pay what you are making now, but you may feel better health wise and be able to spend less on healthcare.  I hope you are feeling better soon.  Try to get enough rest, eat right, and take your medication as prescribed by your doctor.  Take care.