Husband's Echo Results

[Guest]

My husband had his first echo done today. We were supposed to wait until next Friday to get the results from the office until the cardiac tech who did the echo called us and wanted us to call her back. We were able to talk to the on call doctor who reviewed my husband's results today (his normal doctor was not in today) after hours. He told me that my husband had a significantly abnormal echo, and that he has Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. He said that whereas a normal person's heart wall are 10 mm in thickness, my husband's is 30 mm. He said that it is important that my husband stay hydrated and avoid strenuous physical activity like going to the gym and lifting weights. He said that his regular doctor would be able to give him more information at his followup this Friday. When I asked for more information, he said that this type of thickness can cause obstructions, which can cause cardiac arrhythmias (which we don't know if my husband is having).

So, I was wondering if anyone on here can give me more information until his followup on Friday, as I am not sure what this all means. Thank you.

 

[enkaynj]

Anyone with Aortic Stenosis has some part of the heart wall thicker than normal, I believe. Could your husband's wall thickening be a result of a bad valve, I don't know. What did the doctor say the root cause was ? or is it still pending diagnosis ? If it is due to a valve issue and is corrected, I believe over time, the walls become thinner. All the best in finding and treating the root cause that is causing this.

 

[AZ Don]

I'm not knowledgeable about this condition, but you can find more info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertrophic_cardiomyopathy, and here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...cardiomyopathy/basics/definition/con-20030747

Given that your husbands twin had a similar condition, perhaps there are family members more familiar with it. It might even be useful to get copies of his brother's medical records. Given that they are twins with the same or similar conditions, it might be helpful to your husbands doctor. In glancing thru the info at the above links there are a number of different treatments available and some lifestyle advise: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...y/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20030747. I know personally how challenging and surprising it can be to be told you have a severe heart condition. As difficult as that may be it is better to know about it so that steps can be taken to treat it and mitigate the risks associated to it.

 

[Lynlw]

I'm not knowledgeable about this condition, but you can find more info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertrophic_cardiomyopathy, and here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...cardiomyopathy/basics/definition/con-20030747

Given that your husbands twin had a similar condition, perhaps there are family members more familiar with it. It might even be useful to get copies of his brother's medical records. Given that they are twins with the same or similar conditions, it might be helpful to your husbands doctor. In glancing thru the info at the above links there are a number of different treatments available and some lifestyle advise: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...y/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20030747. I know personally how challenging and surprising it can be to be told you have a severe heart condition. As difficult as that may be it is better to know about it so that steps can be taken to treat it and mitigate the risks associated to it.

I was thinking the same thing about his twin. Maybe you can make an appt w/ the twins cardiologist. I know it must be even more frightening knowing what happened to his twin. BUt I wanted to add, there are alot of congenial hearrt defects in both sides of my sons family. Some even had the same diagnosis as Justin, But Justin has done much better.

 

[Guest]

My husband's twin was homeless and a daily meth addict and lost connection with his family; as a result, he had no cardiologist. But I do have his autopsy, which I already gave to my husband's cardio. We will get the official Echo results this Friday, but am assuming that the next step as part of this condition is to determine if my husband can develop dangerous, life threatening arrythmias. So, I am guessing they will either want to do a stress echo or a Holter monitor. My husband's twin did die of a dangerous arrythmia as part of his HCM condition, but he also had Methamphetamine Toxicity at the time of death, so that probably was the catalyst to him putting lots of stress on an already compromised heart. My husband has been sober from meth for about 5 years now, but he obviously now has to worry about stressing his heart in other ways, such as with strenuous activity, etc. I am in the process of joining an HCM online forum, but am having trouble registering. The good thing is that we now have diagnosed my husband's condition (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy), and so we know where his symptoms (shortness of breath and chest pain after physical activity and meals) come from.

 

[dornole]

You probably already know this, but searching online it looks like meth use increases the risk of developing cardiomyopathy (though it looks like more dilated cardiomyopathy than hypertrophic). So your husband's medical history with meth might be important for cardiologist to know. Sources I read also said that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is sufficiently heritable that all relatives should be tested for the condition, so if there are any other sibs they might consider this. It also looks like marijuana use may raise risk for arrythmia. I hope you both get good answers for his ongoing care.

 

[Guest]

Hi dornole. From what I have researched, HCM is inherited and meth use cannot cause or create HCM, but I am sure that using meth while one has HCM puts a lot of stress on an already compromised heart. His cardio knows about his brother's meth history. Yes, my husband's siblings and nephew (the son of his twin brother) will be screened for HCM as well with EKG and Echo to determine if they have this condition as well. It will be interesting to see if the doctor suggests that my husband quit marijuana. So far, after the diagnosis, they have only advised him to not do strenuous activity and to stay hydrated, as his doctor knows of his daily marijuana use.