First Cardio Visit

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Hi again kids!

Well, we went to Cancun and everything went well. Didn't drink too much, didn't run around like a mad woman on the beach, just relaxed and had the occasional night out. I had one episode but I didn't pass out. Just returned to the room and had a siesta.

I saw the Cardiologist today. She had sent me a questionaire a few days before the visit which was nice because it helped me to gather my thoughts and questions that I wanted to ask her.

Now for the other shoe. She said that BAV is the most common congenital heart defect and about 1 in 20 have it, that most never know. She said MVP occurs in about 1 in 10 people. Basically, she said I wasn't special. She said that BAV is only a concern when there's stenosis, and I had none of that evident on my echo.

Then she addressed some of my answers on the questionaire, like my hair loss and touched on what is going on when I get dizzy, lightheaded, wake up with a pounding chest or pass out. She said she could hear a murmur and my blood pressure was 130ish over 80 in both arms.

She gave me a "King of Hearts" monitor and wants me to wear it for a month. She said she'd rather have me over use it rather than under use it to record activity. She said that unless I had "significant" activity, she wouldn't need to see me for 6-8 weeks, but that if the monitor reported activity that concerns her, she would call me sooner than that to come in. I've had it on for about 8 hours now and it's gone off once on it's own and I prompted it to record awhile later. I have a follow up appointment scheduled for March 9th.

Does this sound like a normal course of action? It was a pretty brief visit and she didn't do much more than listen to me sitting, standing and laying down. This is all so new and a bit scary so I was just wondering if her course sounds typical.

Thanks again for all your support & Hugs!

Shelia

 

[Abbanabba]

Hi Sheila, I'd imagine if the monitor shows up anything for concern, further tests will be done. If you're having problems with symptoms while exercising and the monitior reflects this, your cardio will probably have you do an exercise stress test. This is where they hook you up to monitors (heart and oxygen levels) while you go through increasingly difficult stages on a treadmill (..you start out at a very slow walk on a flat surface, then every 3 minutes they increase the speed and incline..).

In regard to your hair loss, I would assume they've checked out your thyroid function (..although I did have a friend who was a bridesmaid for the bride-from-hell and her hair started falling out!..).

I hope the monitor helps clarify the situation - one way or another.

Best wishes and let us know how you go.

Anna : )

 

[ericaj]

Sheila,

Your Cardiologists approach seems reasonable to me, it is good to get a basic overview of a new pt. and to work up from there as needed. With my EP the first visit was strictly an exam and talk and he ordered a Event recorder too.

With my ACHD Cardio when I switched to him, he did a Echo the same day and an EKG as well as office visit and consult. He examined me, ordered the Echo and then we sat down and talked and worked from there. His requests where a f/u in4 weeks and also a Exercise Breathing Stress Test at the next visit. Due to some "weird" things I have going on with several organs and nerves/joints I f/u with him every 2-3 months and with my other Specialists in between there.

It all depends on the Dr. and the findings I think. It does seem like your Cardio
is interested though in getting answers for you and isnt discounting your symptoms - that is always a good sign when they listen and try to help!!

Best of Luck to you!!

Erica

 

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Just an update...

Just an update...

It's time to bug you all again...

I've had the monitor on for 2 and a half days. The cardiologist gave me the ok to work out again so after having a relatively symptom free day, I decided to go to the Y for a short work out and visit with all my treadmill buddies. I started out slow and was surprised that after about 5 mins the monitor started beeping constantly. I thought I must have unplugged it or something but realized it was reading "full". I stopped my machine and went to the phone to upload it and told them I thought it might be a mistake and asked if the machines could interfere with it (my cardio had told me to wear it during exercise)... They said no and had me upload. As soon as I was finished the nurse came on and asked how I was feeling.. I said oh, the usual for a work out and mentioned the usual (pounding head, very light dizziness and shortness of breath).. she told me she wanted me to take another reading and send it to her. I had been off the machine for about 5 mins at this time. She took the reading, told me to take it very easy and that my doctor would follow up with me. I went back to the machine... the monitor filled up again so I decided to call it a day. I got home, uploaded again and again was asked to do another recording.

My cardiologist's nurse called this afternoon (around 4pm) and told me the Dr. had asked that I not work out and that she was going to call in a prescription for me. Verapamil SR 240mg. She told me that after a few days on it, that I may be allowed to resume light exercise. The nurse really wouldn't tell me what was found or what to expect. I asked to speak to the cardiologist and she told me that she was in surgery. Well... bugger that! I asked her if it was expected that the monitor would auto record during work out and she said it's designed to auto record under 3 conditions or exceptionally high heart rate. I said, well, I was working out?! She said the dr would call me on Monday.

So, should I be worried or just assume my dr. is being cautious. I know from the patient information that Verapamil is used to treat high blood pressure so I assume my heart rate is the triggering factor here. I know I had complained that even when I do a mild, barely working up a sweat workout that my pulse on the machine is always in the 150's and when I push the work out I'm in the 180's. I just don't get it.. I've been working out consistently for 7 months...shouldn't I have built up some stamina?

I know I must sound stupid and I certainly feel that way. It's just getting to me. I keep thinking "I'm fine... there's nothing really wrong with me..." and then I find myself on the phone with a new surprise from my dr/nurse, etc.

Thanks for your ideas and more importantly, thank you again, from the bottom of my heart.. for providing this place to share my experience. I have a completely new appreciation for the guy at work that had by-pass surgery and was off for many, many weeks. You are a truly brave and inspiring group.

Shelia

 

[ladyofthelake]

Verapamil

Verapamil

Shelia,

On your question about worry. - I think that if you do worry alot about this, anxiety may serve to worsen any potential heart rhythm problems you are having. So for your own sake I hope you will try to stay calm and know that the Verapamil will help to calm your heart rhythm issues at least until you can get an appt. with a cardioogist that will help to find out what is causing your symptoms.

The medications that are typically used for a blood pressure are in the class of beta blockers. Verapamil is not a beta blocker it is a Calcium Channel Blocker. The Verapamil may have some light beta blocker properties in it but it is in the catagory of anti arrhythmic drugs that are used for heart rhythm problems. Your 130 over 80 blood pressure reading is not a high bp reading. The med should help to slow your heart rate some. I have never heard of a doctor casually just calling in a perscription for a Calcium Channel Blocker without seeing the patient first but maybe your doc felt that as she was in a bind with being in surgery as your monitor is showing difficulty she needed a temporary solution until she could see you soon. It sounds like your heart rate is reaching a tachycardia (heart rate too high) reading while exercising. I am not sure from your post if it is also doing that at rest too but I think you need to get many questions answered soon and your cardiologist is not of the same thinking! (good thing I am not a cardiologist! lol) I am glad to hear you read your med info insert because Verapamil can interact with many other meds. Hope you will take it easy on the weekend and try to get in to see your doctor on Monday to find out what is going on. Best Wishes for you to be feeling better,

Lisa

 

[bvdr]

Hi Sheila, I'm glad you enjoyed your trip to Cancun. You are absolutely right to question the rational behind medical orders. I'm glad you are speaking to your cardiologist on Monday. Remember you NEED to keep a personal file with copies of all medical test results. By law you are entitled to these and the file will help you out in many ways throughout the coming years.

You already know your symptoms are not ones to be taken lightly. It seems to me that ordering the monitor was a very prudent thing to do and she is obviously addressing whatever showed up on the recorder by prescribing Verapamil.

I do hope, by her making you think that you weren't "special", that it won't bully you to downplay or not report your symptoms. Sure BAV and MVP are quite commonly found in people without any symptoms but the same conditions are also quite commonly found here on this board in people who have had to have valves replaced because of them. Since you are new at this it may be hard to stand up for yourself and let a doctor be patronizing and dismissive of your complaints. Believe it or not, you can be firm and still be very nice.

Stay in touch. So many of us have been there, done that, and have the scars to prove it.