Seems I have a dodgy heart
Discussion
For a few days now I've been having a crazy heart rythm (I checked, but that still doesn't look right)together with a heavy pounding, felling sick, dizzyness and being absolutely knackered all the time. Twice I have been woken up with a stabbing pain right in my heart. Of course being so manly, I leave it for a few days before finally admitting I need to see a doc. Can't get an appointment that day, so pop along to A&E (This in in Dubai so you have to pay, so it's relatively quiet)
They hook me up and it turns out that my heart is confused and the hop half is beating twice as fast as the bottom. I was of course making light of it all, thinking it was just another funny episode which Ive had for 5 minutes a time for several years. I soon lost my comedy act when the doc also told me that a value was leaking....Now I know this is a little more serious and when I suggested that that means the Rib-Crackers might have to come out, he agreed.
So, now he's gone on holiday for 2 weeks and given me a suitcase full of pills. I just have to sit here now and ponder (and go and give a few pints of blood, again)if I'll make it for the next 2 weeks. My heart hasn't stopped going mental, and quite frnakly I'm a little concerned by it all.
Has anyone else had anythingh similar?
They hook me up and it turns out that my heart is confused and the hop half is beating twice as fast as the bottom. I was of course making light of it all, thinking it was just another funny episode which Ive had for 5 minutes a time for several years. I soon lost my comedy act when the doc also told me that a value was leaking....Now I know this is a little more serious and when I suggested that that means the Rib-Crackers might have to come out, he agreed.
So, now he's gone on holiday for 2 weeks and given me a suitcase full of pills. I just have to sit here now and ponder (and go and give a few pints of blood, again)if I'll make it for the next 2 weeks. My heart hasn't stopped going mental, and quite frnakly I'm a little concerned by it all.
Has anyone else had anythingh similar?
I sort of had a similar episode a couple of months ago. Racing heart rate all over the place and passed out a few times. After pestering the Docs, they finally got me in to see a specialist. On to the jogging machine with a badly shaved chest, sticky pads and wires everywhere. I cycle to work every day, so am pretty fit. On the jogger, the speed rose then rose a bit more, faster and faster until I had to open my mouth to breath a bit heavily at the end of half an hour.
He asked me afterwards if I cycled competitively, bit of a laugh really as I smoke 20 a day and like a pie and a pint. He took me off the Beta-blockers as they lowered my blood pressure too far(hence the passing out) and suggested I go on Statins and good old Asprin. The bloods showed no valve damage but he reckoned it was inherited angina. Still hurts though.
Once I've saved up a bit of money, no NHS over here, I may go to see the Doc for a 'scrip and give them a go.
He asked me afterwards if I cycled competitively, bit of a laugh really as I smoke 20 a day and like a pie and a pint. He took me off the Beta-blockers as they lowered my blood pressure too far(hence the passing out) and suggested I go on Statins and good old Asprin. The bloods showed no valve damage but he reckoned it was inherited angina. Still hurts though.
Once I've saved up a bit of money, no NHS over here, I may go to see the Doc for a 'scrip and give them a go.
I have a mitral valve prolapse which is basically a floppy valve and it regurgitates (is that the same as leaking?) never had any symptoms apart from not being able to do as much as others
Something they'll fix down the line when it starts struggling, sounds like yours is struggling already
Have suffered with palpitations since pregnancy and seeing my cardiologist today so will know more about how my heart and pregnancy are coping together
I heard they can fix valves by keyhole, so see if that's an option? Sounds a lot less intrusive than a scar down the chest
Something they'll fix down the line when it starts struggling, sounds like yours is struggling already
Have suffered with palpitations since pregnancy and seeing my cardiologist today so will know more about how my heart and pregnancy are coping together
I heard they can fix valves by keyhole, so see if that's an option? Sounds a lot less intrusive than a scar down the chest
missdiane said:
I have a mitral valve prolapse which is basically a floppy valve and it regurgitates (is that the same as leaking?) never had any symptoms apart from not being able to do as much as others
Something they'll fix down the line when it starts struggling, sounds like yours is struggling already
Have suffered with palpitations since pregnancy and seeing my cardiologist today so will know more about how my heart and pregnancy are coping together
I heard they can fix valves by keyhole, so see if that's an option? Sounds a lot less intrusive than a scar down the chest
I dunno about the keyhole, I really hope so. A while back I had spots on my liver and was joking with the doc abount getting a new one from Ebay. Then yesterday it was all good humoured right up until he mentioned the valve...now it's not so funny!Something they'll fix down the line when it starts struggling, sounds like yours is struggling already
Have suffered with palpitations since pregnancy and seeing my cardiologist today so will know more about how my heart and pregnancy are coping together
I heard they can fix valves by keyhole, so see if that's an option? Sounds a lot less intrusive than a scar down the chest
How far gone are you? If the palpitations go after 9 ,months, then I guess that's good news!
I've had a leaky pulmonary vavle since birth, I'm 31 in a few weeks and they have decided its time to act! Heading in to see the surgeon to chat about how they are going to go about valve replacement on August 7th so I will let you know he says about rib crackers/key hole. I had open heart when I was a baby so already got the scar, no need to go for that again please!!
While the initial condition seems serious this is actually pretty common. The condition you started with is a common human defect where the artria of the heart aren't in sync with the ventricles. We rarely notice because we stand upright so the blood tends to pool and fall from the atriums into the ventricles without much of a problem - this "beat" doesn't matter so much, it's the beat of the left and right ventricles that matter - the heart doesn't so much need to "pump" blood in the direction of gravity as it were - but commonly the ventricles need to "pump" against gravity.
Easy test, can you stand on your head for a few minutes and stay conscious? Actually, don't try. Your valves are fubar, which tends to be the long-term problem of this undiagnosed problem.
Good news is, it's a relatively easy fix for a basic biological version of a double-pump.
^ Apparently!
Easy test, can you stand on your head for a few minutes and stay conscious? Actually, don't try. Your valves are fubar, which tends to be the long-term problem of this undiagnosed problem.
Good news is, it's a relatively easy fix for a basic biological version of a double-pump.
^ Apparently!
Small anecdote to try and set your mind at ease.
My mother was one of the first in the country to have a mitral valve replaced In the 70's. A big operation that took a long time to recover from.
She needed to have it replaced in the 90's, woke up from the surgery and had to be convinced that the surgery had taken place.
Things have improved a lot over time.
My mother was one of the first in the country to have a mitral valve replaced In the 70's. A big operation that took a long time to recover from.
She needed to have it replaced in the 90's, woke up from the surgery and had to be convinced that the surgery had taken place.
Things have improved a lot over time.
I was born with a hole in the heart, this was missed by the hospital.
The midwife was doing a routine home visit and had a few concerns - this started my first trip to hospital.
The 1st (childrens) hospital didn't have the skills/facilities, so a mad dash was made to a second (adult) hospital, no joy.
Then we set off for a specialist heart hospital 60 miles away. These trips happened over a week or so.
Anyway, after they had decided that 3 heart rate monitors were suffering from (the same!) faults, then getting an engineer out to test them, the specialists agreed that a resting heartbeat of ~260bpm was real and not too healthy.
I was too small to operate on, as my heart was so inefficient, all the energy that should be used for growing was being used to keep me ticking over - so a course of many things to make me grow and slow my heart was prescribed.
It was around this time they opened a new ward early for me, calling the surgeon etc in from the golf course.
I had one operation to close the hole, then went back in 24hrs later as something was still leaking.
Anyway, 25yrs on and I'm fit as a horse! Not bad to say the prognosis was to be wheelchair bound by 10 and dead by 20!
Chin-up. The bad stuff can always come good!
The midwife was doing a routine home visit and had a few concerns - this started my first trip to hospital.
The 1st (childrens) hospital didn't have the skills/facilities, so a mad dash was made to a second (adult) hospital, no joy.
Then we set off for a specialist heart hospital 60 miles away. These trips happened over a week or so.
Anyway, after they had decided that 3 heart rate monitors were suffering from (the same!) faults, then getting an engineer out to test them, the specialists agreed that a resting heartbeat of ~260bpm was real and not too healthy.
I was too small to operate on, as my heart was so inefficient, all the energy that should be used for growing was being used to keep me ticking over - so a course of many things to make me grow and slow my heart was prescribed.
It was around this time they opened a new ward early for me, calling the surgeon etc in from the golf course.
I had one operation to close the hole, then went back in 24hrs later as something was still leaking.
Anyway, 25yrs on and I'm fit as a horse! Not bad to say the prognosis was to be wheelchair bound by 10 and dead by 20!
Chin-up. The bad stuff can always come good!
My parents were told I shouldn't be able to run that well.
Doesn't stop me running and cycling - I don't notice any issues.
I had to go for a check up every year until 2 years ago - mainly as my heart beats slightly differently (apparently!) so they need to record a baseline so they know what is normal - for future comparison if I do have any normal heart issues.
But the whole hole thing is resolved and forgotten, except the 7 scars!
Doesn't stop me running and cycling - I don't notice any issues.
I had to go for a check up every year until 2 years ago - mainly as my heart beats slightly differently (apparently!) so they need to record a baseline so they know what is normal - for future comparison if I do have any normal heart issues.
But the whole hole thing is resolved and forgotten, except the 7 scars!
NightRunner said:
My parents were told I shouldn't be able to run that well.
Doesn't stop me running and cycling - I don't notice any issues.
I had to go for a check up every year until 2 years ago - mainly as my heart beats slightly differently (apparently!) so they need to record a baseline so they know what is normal - for future comparison if I do have any normal heart issues.
But the whole hole thing is resolved and forgotten, except the 7 scars!
Thats good to hear! I had a hole in my heart as well as leaky valve, got the hole sorted at GOSH when I was 2 and they had hoped the valve would sort itself out. 30 years later and apparently it needs a bit of external assistance. Never had any trouble with it, its just to stop having snags later in life I'm told.Doesn't stop me running and cycling - I don't notice any issues.
I had to go for a check up every year until 2 years ago - mainly as my heart beats slightly differently (apparently!) so they need to record a baseline so they know what is normal - for future comparison if I do have any normal heart issues.
But the whole hole thing is resolved and forgotten, except the 7 scars!
I have worked with a couple of guys who have had valve replacements, until talking to them about it I would never have known! They keep themselves fit and carry on doing physical work.
It was freaky for me but fascinating at the same time, most people would be fine with it, but I am a wuss so was quite distressed through the whole thing despite sedation, watching it on the screens was interesting though
Its the same as a stent procedure I think, worse bit was when they brought catheter out, I felt like I couldn't breathe as it went past my lungs, weird sensation, though there was no feeling at all apart from pressure where they went in through vein in groin, never felt anything in heart area
Its the same as a stent procedure I think, worse bit was when they brought catheter out, I felt like I couldn't breathe as it went past my lungs, weird sensation, though there was no feeling at all apart from pressure where they went in through vein in groin, never felt anything in heart area
Chilli have you managed to get any results back?
Been to see the surgeon today, doesn't sound wonderful! I need a pulmonary valve replacement with an artificial one. Requires a full fat open heart job which scares the crap out of me, had it once when I was 2 but didn't know a whole lot about it then. On the waiting list which is a few months long, he reckons he might be able to get me in about Christmas time... :-/
Been to see the surgeon today, doesn't sound wonderful! I need a pulmonary valve replacement with an artificial one. Requires a full fat open heart job which scares the crap out of me, had it once when I was 2 but didn't know a whole lot about it then. On the waiting list which is a few months long, he reckons he might be able to get me in about Christmas time... :-/
robmlufc said:
Chilli have you managed to get any results back?
Been to see the surgeon today, doesn't sound wonderful! I need a pulmonary valve replacement with an artificial one. Requires a full fat open heart job which scares the crap out of me, had it once when I was 2 but didn't know a whole lot about it then. On the waiting list which is a few months long, he reckons he might be able to get me in about Christmas time... :-/
Yeah, had the bolds checked and all is fine. Also been back for a scan and awaiting those results. The doc described himself as a heart plumber, and he now thinks there nothing wrong with the plumbing and that it's an electrical issue. His colleague is a heart electrician, and he has said that it will probably be resolved by burningBeen to see the surgeon today, doesn't sound wonderful! I need a pulmonary valve replacement with an artificial one. Requires a full fat open heart job which scares the crap out of me, had it once when I was 2 but didn't know a whole lot about it then. On the waiting list which is a few months long, he reckons he might be able to get me in about Christmas time... :-/
A nerve in the heart. Key-hole I think.
Damn, your news is a little scary. Whilst I'm sure it's perfectly routine for these guys, I'm a huge girls blouse when it comes to hospitals....just about got used to having a blood test.
Fingers crossed for ya. I'm sure it'll be fine and don't forget you'll have a scar....and we all know what chicks dig.
I work for the ambulance service and see a lot of heart issues. I was reading this thread and thinking "3rd degree block" when:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-degree_atrioven...
OP: how old are you? Any other medical history? What is your heart rate (resting)?
Chilli said:
The doc described himself as a heart plumber, and he now thinks there nothing wrong with the plumbing and that it's an electrical issue. His colleague is a heart electrician, and he has said that it will probably be resolved by burning a nerve in the heart. Key-hole I think
Bingo.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-degree_atrioven...
OP: how old are you? Any other medical history? What is your heart rate (resting)?
Edited by JumboBeef on Saturday 11th August 17:33
I've had this - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supraventricular_tach... for as long as I can remember. I've had Keyhole surgery on it and apparently they cured me, they didn't but it doesn't bother me and I'm off the cardiology register thing now and that is good enough for me as I'm not restricted to what I can/can't do in life.
JumboBeef said:
Bingo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-degree_atrioven...
OP: how old are you? Any other medical history? What is your heart rate (resting)?
Hello mate,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-degree_atrioven...
OP: how old are you? Any other medical history? What is your heart rate (resting)?
Edited by JumboBeef on Saturday 11th August 17:33
Blimey....it all sounds so serious when reading that!
I'm 40...well, obviously I have the body and the sexual desire of a 25 year old though...
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