Heart failure -

[Christina L]

Saw the pulmonologist today -

Saw the pulmonologist today -

ya know - I am beginning to think that you have to see all these specialists and piece things together yourself. Specialists truly do not go outside of their own expertise and don't quite see how our body systems are all interrelated. I swear!! Western medicine is for the birds sometimes. It is great for surgery and that type of thing, but try to get an answer out of a specialist about how his area of expertise relates to another part of the body and the walls go up. Anybody know a good Chinese physician in Colorado?

My pulmonologist whom I saw today is a very nice man - he is better than most in knowing the interrelatedness of our body systems. He told me I have very mild sleep apnea and that "we can do nothing, get a titrated C-PAP sleep study, just keep wearing the oxygen..." I chose to have the titrated C-PAP study. He said as mild as my sleep apnea is, it should not be causing heart enlargement. Well, that is where I drew the line with him. I didn't tell him I doubt his thinking, but I do. I believe I have had sleep apnea for years and over time the lack of oxygen to my heart has caused it a lot of stress.

Anyway, that is the scoop on the doc appointment today. He told me he has an enlarged heart (I have borderline enlargement) - he is 6'5" and used to be a college basketball player - still is stick thin - he readily admitted that heart enlargement is from good or bad reasons.

Gina - hello!! - your poem will be in Emma's scrapbook. Thanks again for such a lovely sentiment. You are so talented and have such a sweet spirit.

Cort - I guess I want you to know that you can be happy being single - I am just frustrated how stupid the gals are out there to not be beating down your door!! Thanks for the suggestions on how to change my way of thinking - keeping busy is good and music. My Mom always would keep busy in times of trouble - cleaning the house and such. It truly does help. But having fun is the best way to beat worry, as you know!

Karlynn - if you think about it, we are fed so many "lies" by the mainstream media, pharmaceutical companies, etc. etc. etc. The milk industry pays researchers to tell us that milk is the best thing we could possibly drink, etc. etc. That is what has happened with soy - it has been marketed to the public as a cure-all, when in fact, it isn't. Wayne and I sure fell for it. Maybe a little soy would be okay, but we drank a lot of soy milk and I drank lots of Boost and Ensure, thinking I was doing something good for myself. There is even soy in our margarine, which is Smart Balance brand.

Jax - glad to hear that Armour Thyroid is working for you. I asked specifically to be put on it - I didn't want anything synthetic, although I truly need to see an endocrinologist as the T3 and T4 are very important to monitor when a person has heart problems. As for hypothyroidism causing PH, I am not sure about that - just that the two are related somehow - hypothyroidism causes lung problems and heart problems which can cause PH - I truly do not know medically why all of this is related, but it is. BTW, my TSH was 4.1 and my T3 or T4 was almost nonexistent - the doc telling me my body wasn't able to make it.

Jax - I believe we have to be our own best friend when it comes to medical care. So many people don't understand our fears and worries - and we need to go with our gut feeling about things. I couldn't just leave my cardio's office last November with him telling me I had "possible right heart enlargement and we need to watch this closely." I had to know if I truly do have it (still don't know that) and what could be done about it - finding the reason for it. Since then, of course, I have found I have sleep apnea and hypothyroidism.

Interestingly, we were just discussing one of our cats with the vet tonight on the phone - Sophie has hyperthyroidism (she is 16 years of age) and the vet said that hyperthyroidism can cause heart problems AND hypothyroidism causes heart problems for them also - in cats - I wanted to ask him about people, but I kept quiet. He might have told me more about hypothyroidism in humans than my people docs have told me!

Anyway, thanks all for your help and good wishes. I will slide off "stage" for a while - do not have my sleep study until July 3 and will not see the cardiologist until July 12.

There are so many on VR.com right now who need more help than I do.

This pulmonologist told me there is nothing wrong with my heart (per all letters and correspondence he has received on me) and that I need to believe that. Well, okay....for now. Truly, I am trying to "be busy" (per Cort) and enjoy my life just day-to-day. It is all I can do - worrying will get me nowhere, as God says right in the Bible. Gotta listen to the Big Guy. Off for a walk...

P.S. Praline, thanks for your prayers. Much appreciated, more than you know.

Christina L

 

[Karlynn]

Christine, when I first began having arrhythmia that was detracting from my life, my doctor at the time, sent me to an endocrinologist to check my thyroid. My thyroid has always been fine, but my cardiologist continues to monitor it. I step on the scale and I pray for hypothyroidism!!!! Oh, just kidding, but it would be kind of convenient to have that as an excuse.

 

[Christina L]

Karlynn -

Karlynn -

You do not want hyper or hypothyroidism, even for an excuse.

HOWEVER, what was your last TSH - do you know? I understand that you can't go by the TSH and most docs mistakenly go by solely the TSH when they should be checking symptoms also.

Here is a great web site for thyroid info - www.stopthethyroidmadness.com.

Christina L

 

[Guest]

Cort - I guess I want you to know that you can be happy being single - I am just frustrated how stupid the gals are out there to not be beating down your door!! Thanks for the suggestions on how to change my way of thinking - keeping busy is good and music. My Mom always would keep busy in times of trouble - cleaning the house and such. It truly does help. But having fun is the best way to beat worry, as you know!

Oooooohhhhh yes . Having FUN is the best way to beat worry ... no doubt about that! Still, having fun can be a pain in the rear when health issues get you down ... and no denying how quickly something can get you down. It's just a matter of putting things in perspective (even tho that is difficult, at times, too).

Oh....and I _am_ happy being single. It's just that ... well, this world is designed around couples, for the most part, and with 99% of my friends/family NOT single ... well, it gets a bit "old".

Perhaps I should have my buddy Ray put this on my website:
"I am just frustrated how stupid the gals are out there to not be beating down your door!! -- Christina L, ValveReplacement.com"

He he he

Finally, you are welcome for the suggestions. One that I didn't give you was driving ... but, ya'll know how much I love to drive . Point is ... just because those worked for me ... doesn't necessarily mean they will work for you. As I mentioned, you just need to find that balance that is perfect for you..... Even so, keeping busy (rather alone or socially) and listening to music _seem_ to be universal things for people.....

I may or may not check here tomorrow ... depends on when I actually leave for TN.....

 

[Dennis S]

To Cort

To Cort

I had a friend who had not married as soon as many had expected she would. It is amazing how personal peoplle can get. She was (too) often asked why she was still single. I loved her reply: I am still waiting for the man who deserves to be that happy!

 

[geebee]

Cort,
If I were 25 years younger and not involved, well, you know.
There is one lucky woman out there you have yet to meet (or have met and just don't know she is the one). Use the butterfly theory - be patient and love will eventually arrive and light on your shoulder. Can you tell I went to the butterfly show last weekend?

 

[alicia]

I havent been on the site in awhile, but I saw your ? and decided to respond. I had a mitral valve repair in 2001 and after 6 months the valve was leaking again at severly and I ended up developing congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and left branch bundle block. This was to an utter surprise to me. I had a bad cold that the cough persisted for weeks and then I started having severe trouble breathing so I knew something was wrong. I was put in the hospital for a week. The cardiac surgeon that did my first surgery wanted to immediately operate and replace the valve. My cardiologist stepped in and refused to let them opearte at that time. My EF was at 20%. He started me on meds and I did well for awhile (6 months or so) and the shortness of breath and heart failure started again so he sent me to see a coleague of his at Duke and after many tests, I was scheduled for a mitral valve replacement. I ended up in surgery for 10 hours. I had only 1 really bad day in the hospital recooperating. I had problems with arrethmyias. For several years after I was in and out of CHF and arrethmyias. Today Im on 12 different meds and my quality of life is poor. I have to watch my diet and try to get regular exercise. I have ended up loosing more than 60 pounds by diet and exercise. I dont have sleep apnea. I have a trace of pulmonary hypertension. My last EF was 35%. Thank God I have such a great cardiologist that listens to me and treats me so well. After 3 years, I have finally (knock on wood) managed my Coumadin. Life is so precious. I pray all will go well for you my friend. Sorry for the long post. Have a good weekend.

Alicia (Ali)

 

[Christina L]

Alicia -

Alicia -

So sorry to hear about your plight. I wish that things would have gone better for you, but you have learned what most of us here have learned, that life is precious and it is only good to take one day at a time, as we are not guaranteed anything more.

What is going on with me, I don't understand. As of my echo last November (two years post mitral valve repair) my valve repair is still water tight and in perfect operating condition (per the cardiologist) - there was something said about the anterior or posterior leaflet showing signs of age or something to that effect, but otherwise all my valves are fine - the aortic is okay, the tricuspid showed trace regurg - the pulmonary, however, was up from trace to mild regurg on this last echo and I am not sure what that means.

The only abnormality the echo showed was possible right heart enlargement but I had second opinions done on the echo and the radiologist in Cleveland said the overall dimensions taken together of the right ventricle show it to be normal size (in his opinion). All of my chambers I think are upper limits of normal size, but that is possibly from the years of regurgitation. My chest x-ray showed borderline cardiomegaly.

Right now I am focusing in on hypothyroidism as the culprit of my sleep apnea and heart enlargement - the thyroid hormones control most (if not all) of our body tissues, organs, etc. "Hormone central" is what the thyroid is described to be on one web site.

Per my cardiologist, my repair was "perfect." I, however, am somewhat suspicious of a too "tight" repair if that is possible. Again, my cardios tell me that there is plenty of blood flowing through the valve area. My EF last November was about 55%, which is "normal."

It was my cardiologist who brought up the test for heart failure - my pulmonologist told me that of course he has to test for that, he is a cardiologist, but my pulmonologist said I am not in heart failure. However, hypothyroidism can cause heart failure in perfectly normal hearts and worsen heart failure in persons who already have it.

It is all so confusing, but things are starting to make sense and I feel as if I am gaining some insight as to what to do about things.

I hope that you will continue to feel better, Alicia, and maybe in time be able to go off some of your meds. That is great that you have lost a lot of weight and are walking. I have about 7 more pounds to lose until I am at an ideal weight for me. I have lost about four pounds already since starting the Armour Thyroid.

Take care -

Christina L

 

[Guest]

It is amazing how personal peoplle can get.

Nnnoooo kiddin' . Heh ... sometimes, embarrasingly so.... I can't even begin to count the number of times I was asking the "why are you still single" question at this past weekend's MC Nationals.....

*shakes head*

She was (too) often asked why she was still single. I loved her reply: I am still waiting for the man who deserves to be that happy!

Hmm...I LOVE that response. I think I'll adapt it just a tad for me .

There is one lucky woman out there you have yet to meet (or have met and just don't know she is the one). Use the butterfly theory - be patient and love will eventually arrive and light on your shoulder. Can you tell I went to the butterfly show last weekend?

He he he...yes . How was that show?

 

[distances]

Endo search

Endo search

You do have a lot going on. Once you find a good endo and your thyroid is stabilized/normalized with a good meds regimen, you might feel a little less anxious. Hang in there. You have a lot to offer Emma and she you. I hope this link is helpful in your search for an endo in your area:

http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/index.htm

 

[jax3172]

hypothyroid

hypothyroid

Christina said: "...However, hypothyroidism can cause heart failure in perfectly normal hearts and worsen heart failure in persons who already have it.:

I really would like some information on that. I would appreciate it if anyone out there can direct me to an internet resource that talks about hypothyroidism and heart disease. I know hyperthyroidism can cause tachycardia but never heard any cause/effect between hypo and heart problems, but it makes sense.

 

[Christina L]

The operative word here is "can" -

The operative word here is "can" -

hypothyroidism does not cause or exacerbate heart failure in ALL persons who have it, but it CAN do that. Just put in your search engine "heart failure and hypothyroidism" - you will get a lot of sites that pop up on this subject.

There are a lot of reasons why hypothyroidism OR hyperthyroidism can cause heart failure. Hypothyroidism causes low blood pressure (with a higher diastaolic rate than normal) and very low heart rate (I have both) which make the heart work harder to pump the blood to a person's extremities causing of course cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Hypothyroidism suppresses the lung function which can lead to sleep apnea and having to work harder to breathe, which makes the heart work harder - you get the picture.

Hyperthyroidism has the opposite effect on the heart - high blood pressure and high heart rate - causing the heart to work too hard, but leading to the same thing (cardiomyopathy and maybe eventual heart failure).

Of course, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are treatable but need to be treated by someone very knowledgeable and with just the right amount of thyroid supplement, etc.

Bob here on the board is very savvy about a lot of medical issues pertaining to the heart. Hopefully he will pipe up here on this thread soon.

Also, ask your cardiologist about the subject, but the internet has a wealth of info on the subject.

Christina L

 

[Christina L]

Distances -

Distances -

thank you for the link to the web site for top thyroid docs. Dr. Rees-Jones in Denver is who I am wanting to see. I hope to call soon and get an appointment. However, I am seeing another doc who just ordered a full battery of blood work for me for thyroid and hormones. I am anxious to hear what the results show. He is suspecting I also have depleted adrenal glands. This doctor came highly recommended also, so I will see what I think of his treatment plan first, before attempting to get an appointment with Dr. Rees-Jones.

Thank you for your help. I truly appreciate it.

Christina L