Pulmonary Artery Pressure

[strawberry]

Happy Holidays!

I came across some threads of Pulmonary Hypertension, and some of the symptoms jumped out at me, especially swollen ankles which some of you may remember I have but don't know why (I've lost 10 pounds on diuretics and they're a lot better but only on the diuretic). Anyhow, my lips turn blue at the slightest chill, I get lightheaded when I stand (I do have low blood pressure though), I feel short of breath when I go up stairs, and fatigue. I just wonder about PH. I looked at my echo report that I got a copy from from my GP and it doesn't have pulmonary artery pressure at all. Does that mean they didn't measure it or could it be on a fuller report? I have mild AI, myxomatous degenertative mitral valve, and mild tricuspid regurg which I read is also a hallmark of PH. Would this be something they would have looked at? Am I just paranoid?

 

[Nancy]

Here is a link to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association website. They have good message boards and you could also post there. You'll get lots of feedback. At present, their message board server is experiencing problems, but keep trying. The main site is available and has lots of information.

http://www.phassociation.org/

My husband has PH. Echocardiograms are just a minor estimation tool for PH. The gold standard is a right heart cath. Usually if PH is present though, it will be mentioned in the echo report, but for more definitive info., the PH specialists use the right heart cath.

For my husband, the symptoms he had were fainting, a bluish color to his skin, dyspnea with minor exertion, and then dyspnea with no exertion, trouble breathing at night and fluid retention. His PH was severe. He's on Tracleer.

However, these symptoms can also be attributed to congestive heart failure, and he does indeed have that as well, as do many other PH patients.

PH is a rare disease, however, a few people with heart valve problems seem to have PH as well.

Joe has to be on Lasix and a VERY low sodium diet. He also has to monitor his fluid retention very, very carefully, and his labs are checked out frequently.

You should call your cardiologist and specifically ask about pulmonary hypertension. If it is present in the echo and shows elevated pressures, then the next step is to contact a PH specialist. You can find a list of them on that website. Most people will have to travel to meet with one. You will also be sending them all of your medical information prior to the appointment, and they will review it and discuss whether you need to make an appointment, or do not.

The symptoms are subtle and mimic other heart and pulmonary problems. Sleep apnea is also associated with PH.

It can also be caused by having taken diet drugs (Phen-fen and the like) in the past. Some people have also mentioned ephedra as well.

 

[Yaps]

many with a bad mitral

many with a bad mitral

will have high pulminary pressures, I sure did.. valve caused it, after replacement pressures went down, I hope this helps you. Love Yaps

 

[Harrybaby666]

Hi Strawberry....

Hi Strawberry....

Just wanted you to know that I also have Pulmonary Hypertension, and it seems like more and more when I stand up, I get light headed and dizzy and short of breath after exherting myself. Mine is tied in with Sleep Apnea, but I too, have a regurgitating Mitral Valve (And Pulmonary, And Aortic, And Tricuspid...LOL) I also have noticed my skin turning a bluish color. I just wanted you to know that if you find that you have it...if there is anything I can help you with, please, by all means, private message me...Take Care, Harrybaby666

 

[strawberry]

Thanks guys..you're all so sweet. I really do wonder about my unexplained fluid retention with no chf...and I if I stand up too fast sometimes everything goes completely black and I get very short of breath. One time I know I was close to fainting cause sounds got very far away as well. Along with the valve issues and I had a PDA til I was 2 1/2, I think I'm going to see if I can get a more detailed copy of the echo readings. There has to be one with all the numbers on there, don't you think? Like regurg height and artery pressures and stuff?

Thanks again guys! Oh, and I have a really annoying persistent cough. That was the other symptom I read about.

 

[Harpoon]

At some point all of those symptoms become interrelated and the question becomes more of what part of the heart is causing most of the trouble, how or why, and what can be done to correct it. It may take some fairly thorough diagnostics to pinpoint your particular problem(s) and treat everything.

When I was first refered to Cleveland Clinic I was set up for a battery of tests and procedures including a few echos, stress test, lung tests, exploratory cath, x-rays, MRI, checks on the condition of my major blood vessels and all kinds of bloodwork as well as a complete medical history. It was a two day experience that resulted in a nearly complete picture of what exactly was happening to my body. From that point, a team of doctors including the surgeon that eventually replaced my tricuspid valve sorted out what they were looking at and what the best course of action was going to be to keep me alive. The evaluation I was given was developed for heart transplant candidates which was one possiblity for me, though they prefer to keep that as an option of last resort.

 

[Nancy]

Harpoon is right-

When there are very complicated issues involving many aspects of the heart and lung systems, the only way to sort things out is to submit yourself to the whole gammut of tests available.

Joe also had the transplant workup and was indeed incarcerated in the transplant unit for quite a while. He wasn't a candidate for a transplant, but the workup was the same. And it was the ONLY way for his doctors to know what was really going on with his heart. By the end of the testing, they knew every issue and non-issue with his heart and lungs.

And not only did he have cardiologists looking at the results, he also had gastro guys, hematologists and kidney specialists. Many of his body systems were messed up. Eventually it all got sorted out.