Heart Condition Thread -

[Totes McGoats]

So, I figured there are probably other people out there on this thread that might be going through the same or similar problems as I am having.

Long story short:

I am a 30 year old man, I am 5'11" and 220lbs, I'm a semi-fit 220, but not ripped or anything.

Throughout my 20's a drank a lot, smoked a lot, smoked a lot of weed, but mostly gave that up when I was 25.

Feb 5th this year, I went into the emergency room with an irregular heart beat. It was determined that I was in a state of Atrial Fibrillation. I was given a shock to get my heart back into Rhythm.

Months pass, tests happen, blood tests all come up clean. Good sodium levels, no cholesterol problems, slightly elevated red blood cell count but nothing bad, no diabetes or blood sugar related issues.

Blood pressure was elevated however, never been high before, but it was floating around 145 / 105.

I was placed on BP medication by my family Dr at this time and referred to a Cardiologist.

I had an Echocardiogram, and my Ejection fraction was deemed to be 37%... the average being 60-70%.... Cardiologist in Victoria (Dr. Chris Lane) indicated that I had a weakened heart muscle with this information. It was also determined that my heart rate at rest averaged 110BPM after wearing a holter monitor for a day.

I was then removed off of the standard BP meds, and placed onto a 7.5MG dose of Ramipril(ACE Inhibitor) and 7.5MG dose of Bisoprolol(Beta Blocker).

I had a MIBI / Cardiac Perfusion Scan / Nuclear scan (all the same thing just different names for it) -

It determined that I had some Ischemia (oxygen deprivation) in one part of my heart.

With the Beta Blockers and the ACE inhibitor after 3 months, my Ejection Fraction (EF) improved to 46% instead of 37% -

I have constant nagging left side chest and armpit pain that started when this all started.

In 2-3 weeks, I will be undergoing an Angiogram - with the potential for a Stent Placement/Angioplasty.

Basically, why I am making this thread, is to find out information from others with these types of conditions.

I am an avid hockey player, and It looks like potentially those days may be over... but I'd really hope that there's a chance that a Stent might improve things greatly and down the road, I will be able to return.

Anyone have any advice for me? I really didn't expect that my 30th birthday would be spent thinking about my own mortality.

thoughts and stories here! Basically starting a CDC support network.

[Offensive Threat]

Im older, 46. I was overweight and not exercising. Sedentary job at a desk.I went into the hospital late Oct couple years ago with heart failure/ high blood pressure. The ambulance staff were surprised I was able to greet them at the door when they found my blood pressure was actually maxing out their readings. Their max reading is 250. My lungs were filling with fluid as my heart pumped like mad to get oxygen from my lungs into the blood system. Direct nitroglycerin injection in the hospital to get me stable. It works but gives the most powerful headache imaginable. I was in the hospital ( Royal Columbia-awesome people there, the best) for 8 days. Over Halloween.They cleared my lungs of fluid. Ran every type of Xray.Cat scan. Sight tests. Kidney. bladder. etc. Extremely high blood pressure can damage almost any organ in the body and they checked em all. No permanent damage to any of them other than I lost some distance vision that I got back with Laser eye surgery 6 month later.

Now Im 50 pounds lighter. Take 3 daily meds for HBP. 8mg Coversyl, 10mg Amlodipine, 50mg Metoprolol. I was on the Ramipril you were taking at first but the Coversyl/Amolodipine combo was coming off trials in Britain with over the top positive results so they switched me to that immediatly when it became available. Last test my BP was 135/90. Im working towards 130/80 and with increased cardio work may get there.

I eat almost exclusively fresh fruits and vegetables, rice, potatoes and either skinless chicken or Fish for every meal. No red meat. nothing breaded or with sauces. plain unsalted nuts for snacks. Under 1500mg sodium a day. No breads/baked goods. No processed foods. Fast food is a salad at Wendys. My one weakness: Beer. Im supposed to keep alcohol consumption low and I would cut it out completely but I do love a good beer. especially in this hot weather. I Just keep it down to a few a week.

I was a healthy guy when I was in my 20s. I hiked, did the west coast trail, backpacked across Europe, actually RAN the grouse grind before it was famous. Then things got in the way. I got lazy. Packed on the pounds. But I am now proof that you can change that. Took a near death incident for me to fix myself but anyone can do it.

Advice: get religious about doing what you need to to maintain/improve your health. Listen to your doctor. Your heart specialist. Treat it like its the most important thing you will ever do.

[Mastaj]

So, I figured there are probably other people out there on this thread that might be going through the same or similar problems as I am having.

Long story short:

I am a 30 year old man, I am 5'11" and 220lbs, I'm a semi-fit 220, but not ripped or anything.

Throughout my 20's a drank a lot, smoked a lot, smoked a lot of weed, but mostly gave that up when I was 25.

Feb 5th this year, I went into the emergency room with an irregular heart beat. It was determined that I was in a state of Atrial Fibrillation. I was given a shock to get my heart back into Rhythm.

Months pass, tests happen, blood tests all come up clean. Good sodium levels, no cholesterol problems, slightly elevated red blood cell count but nothing bad, no diabetes or blood sugar related issues.

Blood pressure was elevated however, never been high before, but it was floating around 145 / 105.

I was placed on BP medication by my family Dr at this time and referred to a Cardiologist.

I had an Echocardiogram, and my Ejection fraction was deemed to be 37%... the average being 60-70%.... Cardiologist in Victoria (Dr. Chris Lane) indicated that I had a weakened heart muscle with this information. It was also determined that my heart rate at rest averaged 110BPM after wearing a holter monitor for a day.

I was then removed off of the standard BP meds, and placed onto a 7.5MG dose of Ramipril(ACE Inhibitor) and 7.5MG dose of Bisoprolol(Beta Blocker).

I had a MIBI / Cardiac Perfusion Scan / Nuclear scan (all the same thing just different names for it) -

It determined that I had some Ischemia (oxygen deprivation) in one part of my heart.

With the Beta Blockers and the ACE inhibitor after 3 months, my Ejection Fraction (EF) improved to 46% instead of 37% -

I have constant nagging left side chest and armpit pain that started when this all started.

In 2-3 weeks, I will be undergoing an Angiogram - with the potential for a Stent Placement/Angioplasty.

Basically, why I am making this thread, is to find out information from others with these types of conditions.

I am an avid hockey player, and It looks like potentially those days may be over... but I'd really hope that there's a chance that a Stent might improve things greatly and down the road, I will be able to return.

Anyone have any advice for me? I really didn't expect that my 30th birthday would be spent thinking about my own mortality.

thoughts and stories here! Basically starting a CDC support network.

[Hobbes!!!]

Don't think I can be of much help in here but a patient of mine recently had a stent put in and it stopped the chronic chest pain he was having.

Goodluck!

[KoreanHockeyFan]

Wow, good luck to all of you who are going through this. Your stories show how exercise and a good diet are truly essential in everyday lives.

[Totes McGoats]

I appreciate the replies everyone.

Exercise funny enough has never been an issue for me... I've always been fairly active. My heart condition is considered familial.

I don't eat super badly either, I've always kept my sodium levels at or around 2000mg a day tops.

I am hoping that the angioplasty that I am about to undergo resolves many of my problems. As far as anticoagulants are concerned, I'm only on a daily low dose asprin @ 81mg.... And the Afib has not come back since the beta blockers and the Ace inhibitors are working.

Currently, my resting HR is about 60BPM (on the beta blockers), and my BP is about 115/75 on the ACE inhibitor.

So, it's good to see the medication working.

As far as my Ejection fraction is concerned, Mastaj, you mentioned that the EF from an ECHO is merely a "Best guess"... what test is most accurate? I'd assume angiogram (which as I said, is coming) -

My Dr said that the MIBI is really incorrect also... so I don't know what to think. My EF is somewhere between 37% and 50% I guess based on the two test results I've gotten.

Thanks again for the support all,

[Totes McGoats]

Don't think I can be of much help in here but a patient of mine recently had a stent put in and it stopped the chronic chest pain he was having.

Goodluck!

[Mastaj]

I appreciate the replies everyone.

Exercise funny enough has never been an issue for me... I've always been fairly active. My heart condition is considered familial.

I don't eat super badly either, I've always kept my sodium levels at or around 2000mg a day tops.

I am hoping that the angioplasty that I am about to undergo resolves many of my problems. As far as anticoagulants are concerned, I'm only on a daily low dose asprin @ 81mg.... And the Afib has not come back since the beta blockers and the Ace inhibitors are working.

Currently, my resting HR is about 60BPM (on the beta blockers), and my BP is about 115/75 on the ACE inhibitor.

So, it's good to see the medication working.

As far as my Ejection fraction is concerned, Mastaj, you mentioned that the EF from an ECHO is merely a "Best guess"... what test is most accurate? I'd assume angiogram (which as I said, is coming) -

My Dr said that the MIBI is really incorrect also... so I don't know what to think. My EF is somewhere between 37% and 50% I guess based on the two test results I've gotten.

Thanks again for the support all,

[Totes McGoats]

Hi Totes,

I should have phrased that better. Using the echocardiogram is quite accurate, but often physicians will generate it using an "eyeball" method. This has been found to correlate well with more exact studies - but you shouldn't worry about a few % points here and there. Your physician will be concerned with larger changes in EF, where you may be below 30% (or above 75%).

Good to hear about your recovery, your heart rate and BP are very normal. In terms of anticoagulation, aspirin seems like the right way to go for now, as you presumably don't have the other major risk factors. If you're curious, you can calculate your own CHADS2 score here: http://www.qxmd.com/...al-fibrillation or here: http://www.afib.ca/Default. The CHADS2 is a real and validated clinical tool, but use those websites with a grain of salt, as they are undoubtedly sponsored by pharma companies.

[Mainly Mattias]

Im older, 46. I was overweight and not exercising. Sedentary job at a desk.I went into the hospital late Oct couple years ago with heart failure/ high blood pressure. The ambulance staff were surprised I was able to greet them at the door when they found my blood pressure was actually maxing out their readings. Their max reading is 250. My lungs were filling with fluid as my heart pumped like mad to get oxygen from my lungs into the blood system. Direct nitroglycerin injection in the hospital to get me stable. It works but gives the most powerful headache imaginable. I was in the hospital ( Royal Columbia-awesome people there, the best) for 8 days. Over Halloween.They cleared my lungs of fluid. Ran every type of Xray.Cat scan. Sight tests. Kidney. bladder. etc. Extremely high blood pressure can damage almost any organ in the body and they checked em all. No permanent damage to any of them other than I lost some distance vision that I got back with Laser eye surgery 6 month later.

Now Im 50 pounds lighter. Take 3 daily meds for HBP. 8mg Coversyl, 10mg Amlodipine, 50mg Metoprolol. I was on the Ramipril you were taking at first but the Coversyl/Amolodipine combo was coming off trials in Britain with over the top positive results so they switched me to that immediatly when it became available. Last test my BP was 135/90. Im working towards 130/80 and with increased cardio work may get there.

I eat almost exclusively fresh fruits and vegetables, rice, potatoes and either skinless chicken or Fish for every meal. No red meat. nothing breaded or with sauces. plain unsalted nuts for snacks. Under 1500mg sodium a day. No breads/baked goods. No processed foods. Fast food is a salad at Wendys. My one weakness: Beer. Im supposed to keep alcohol consumption low and I would cut it out completely but I do love a good beer. especially in this hot weather. I Just keep it down to a few a week.

I was a healthy guy when I was in my 20s. I hiked, did the west coast trail, backpacked across Europe, actually RAN the grouse grind before it was famous. Then things got in the way. I got lazy. Packed on the pounds. But I am now proof that you can change that. Took a near death incident for me to fix myself but anyone can do it.

Advice: get religious about doing what you need to to maintain/improve your health. Listen to your doctor. Your heart specialist. Treat it like its the most important thing you will ever do.