diagnosis options

[scenium3]

As a child I could never run far without getting winded, but played a lot of basketball as the action was stop and go. I never realized my inability to run was abnormal until a few years ago. I am now 53, (F), have have testing from my pulmonologist and cardiologist, including various stress tests, EKG, Ultrasound. My heart will race after light activity, or after eating, and this is happening on an increasingly regular rate. The pulmonologist made a comment that I would go from aerobic to anaerobic at an early stage with exertion. My cardiologist is recommending a right cardiac cath as the next step of testing? Are there any other options?  

[scenium3]

I believe my test results from the cardiologist were normal, the only test I recall as being abnormal was the one the respirologist did where I convert to anaerobic mode with low exercise tolerance. Also, I grew up in the 60's, the 2nd of 8 children. By the time I was active in school sports, she had a slew of younger children, toddlers and babies to care for. I don't think my mother even attended any of the sports events I participated in. Also, I recall just barely being able to complete a 100 yard dash in track and field without completely running out of gas.

[grendslori]

Forget to mention something: most kids who have heart problems not only would be winded, but they would have a real problem with playing basketball, due to a lack of energy and SOB issues. Chances are this has not been a childhood issue for you, just based on that alone. Most mother's have a real good instinct about what is 'normal' and what isn't; you may want to ask your mother if she remembers any issues you had as a child that she thought were out of place.

[grendslori]

You have had all of the preliminary testing done so your cardiologist would be following the correct sequence; a cath would be your next step. Have all of your CARDIOLOGY tests come back normal or not? If they all came back perfectly normal, I would certainly be asking WHY he was doing a cath, that is something you need to ask him about.