Is ideopathic cardiomyopathy controlable and with what prognosis or medications?
350010
They tested you for mechanical and electrical issues.  I bet they did not test you for biochemical imbalances.  If they did, they will be able to answer a few simple questions, such as:\n\n1) What is your RBC Magnesium level?\n2) What is your Coenzyme -Q level?\n3) What are your various fatty acid levels?\n4) What are your heavy metal levels (lead, mercury, cadmium, etc.)\n5) What is your taurine level (an amino acid critical to heart health)?\n\nThere are plenty of other 'questions' they should be able to answer for you.  If they cannot, they have not done a 'thorough' work-up.\n\nThere is an excellent new book available by Sherry Rogers, M.D. called: "The High Blood Pressure Hoax" that explains in detail the many, many biochemical causes of cardiovascular problems (including cardiomyopathy).  Much of the medical research discussed in the book is not studied by medical doctors, which is why they don't test you for these common causes.\n\nThe last time I checked, the book was not yet available from Amazon.com, but you can order it from the publisher at 1-800-846-6687 ($25).  I highly recommend this book if you have the intelligence and motivation to explore the underlying causes of your condition.  (note: the term 'idiopathic' means 'the doctor doesn't know the cause'.)\n\nBest wishes and good luck.
503184
What kind of syndrome... I found this Velocardiofacial (Spritzen) syndrome, but I don't know if that's right.\n\nI know I am not helping much but all I can find is "SPRITZEN syndrome" but I haven't found an answer to your question
801783
As someone who, like your friend, developed heart failure in middle age (I was 49 at the time), I can tell you that his life expectancy is directly related to how well he takes care of himself.  And that, of course, is bad news for your friend.\n\nAs you realize, he is doing everything wrong.  The shortness of breath would be relieved if he lost weight, gave up the cigarettes and dropped the sodium.  I don't know what medications he was prescribed, but probably at least one of them would help him shed the fluid that may be getting into his lungs and making it harder for him to breathe.  \n\nIt's no wonder he is always fatigued.  How would anyone feel if they have reduced heart function and reduced lung capacity?\n\nAs to his other meds, there are wonderful drugs now that can lighten the load on his heart and make it easier for the heart--the part that's still funtioning--to do its job.  If he doesn't take them, he is overstressing the working portion of his heart as it tries to do the job of the entire organ.  It can't, at least not without help.\n\nThe nausea is a very worrisome symptom.  That one suggests angina, which sometimes comes out that way.  His poor heart, overworked as it is, may be sending out distress signals which are perceived as nausea.  \n\nDepending on how much alcohol his is consuming, daily drinking may or may not be a problem.  One or two drinks a day (NO MORE, and NO doubles) actually seems to benefit the heart.  But some people think that if one is okay, four must be great.  It's not.  The beneficial aspects of alcohol completely reverse if you have more than about 2 drinks (just one for a woman).\n\nOverall, this man needs to go back to his doctor and lay all his cards on the table.  Could he be depressed and "giving up"?  That is very common with heart patients.  He needs to tell his doctor *everything* he is doing and not doing, and why.\n\nI believe that patients have rights, and so does your friend.  But he also has children, which means he has a responsibility to be around for them until they are well established on their own.  If he lets himself die while they are still young, they will never fully forgive him.  What's worse, he will have missed out on seeing them grow up, which one of the best parts of life.\n\nGood luck!!
342485
If I understand you correctly, you're saying that your 17 year old friend has left ventricular hypertrophy and was advised to undergo surgery to correct this condition. The assumption, therefore, is that your friend has HOCM (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy). HOCM surgery probably involves open heart surgery, so it is relatively major surgery, unless your friend is able to undergo the non-surgical option where a small amount of alcohol is injected through a tube passed from the groin to reduce the bulk of the muscle that is blocking the flow of blood in the heart. Good luck.
149463
I have taken numerous cardiac classes and would like to help you, but I need more information. What do you mean "working off 60% of its power"? Did your specialist measure your MABP? If you'd like to give me more info so I can help you out you can e-mail me @ mary.edwards4543@my.sinclair.edu
390068
Yes, dysthymia is alifelong disorder.  I have it.  It sucks.  No, it can't be cured, but it can be managed in a number of ways.  Dysthymia is a long-term, low-level, cyclic depression with cycles that can last for up to a year, or for up to two years in children (been there).  My dysthymia began in early childhood, although I was not diagnosed until my mid-20's.  The greatest symptom is mostly discribed as an overally "inability to get happy".  Aside from the occasional weekend-long crying jags and the occasional panic- and anxiety-attacks, dystymia isn't that bad, depression-wise.  Most of my fellow goth friends have either been dysthymics or dystymic wannabes.   \n\nAs far as treatment goes, I would recommend regular therapy.  Some people do well with antidepresants, combined with therapy, but I don't react well to antidepresants so I refuse to take them.  The thing is, you have to stay with whatever your treatment is.  Like any other type of depression, dysthymia is cyclic.  Just because you are feeling better doesn't mean that you can stop going to your shrink or stop taking your meds.  When you swing back down again you will crash harder.\n\nTo answer your other question, Dysthymia and Bipolar Disorder are totally different disorders.  With disthymia, you are kinda down all the time and then you are farther down.  Dystymics almost tend to be a bit "too" sane (think Wednesday Addams).  With bipolar disorder, you are way up and really nuts, and then you are way, way down and really nuts.  Bipolar disorder can sometimes go hand in hand with paranoid schitzophrenia. \n\nNow for the suckage:  For those of us who started off with childhood disthymic disorder, when we hit our mid-30's, we degenerate down into long-term chronic depression.  I am just now finding this out.  (Yay?)  What I have just developed over the past year or two is a low-level constant upset-y-ness.  My shrink has decided that this is the textbook-perfect time to medicate and she's keeps chasing me around brandishing a giant bottle of Paxil, which I am STILL not taking.  I think I may wait her out and see if I can get electro-shock therapy.  That may actually be fun.  Or at least not boring ;)
946461
To be brutal it is pretty much impossible to completely recover. True CHF is weakening of the heart muscle to the point where it can no longer pump enough volume to keep the blood from backing up. The weakening itself is going to be there. It is very possible you were diagnosed very early and with proper diet and medication you are able to keep the area beating strong enough to not have problems. If you stopped taking care of yourself, however, it would return as it was. This is mostly a conjecture since I don't have any history or medication or what the MD actually told you but, no a complete disappearance of the disease isn't possible.
955278
By what information you have given me my 1st guess would be cardiogenic shock. But you don't say why the thoracotomy was preformed. Was it for heart, heart valves, lung, thorasic aorta, esphageal or spine surgery. You also don't say wether this patient had a cardiac or pulmonary arrest or if both which occured 1st. I chose cardiogenic shock 1st due to all the already existing cardiac issues and additional symptoms. Was the CHF ( which  pulmonary edema is a symptom) caused by the cardiomegaly , the A-fib, the MV prosthesis or a combination of some or all. You also mentioned a previous CABG, but you didn't mention any myocardial injury occuring. This pt. not only had mechanical issues but also had electrical problems as demonstrated by the A-fib and the RBBB. The pulmonary involvement sounds more like it's due to all the cardiac problems. You mentioned hypotention but not whether it was due to medication or if it was a symptom of the cardiomegaly. You mentioned oliguria but nothing of CRF or even ARF post surgery. So was this a new onset? You give no lab values that could indicate organ functions. Sooooooooo. I still stand with cardiogenic shock as my 1st choice (chosen from all the cardiac envolvement and the possibility that he could have thrown a clot [a-fib, PMV and had to be taken off thinners for the surgery] and had an MI. The symptoms of hypotention & oliguria occur in cardiogenic shock). My 2nd choice would be a CVA ( due to the A-fib the PMV and the fact he had to be off anticoagulants for the thoracotomy. 3rd and lastly alcohol withdrawal (just kidding! Really I was just kidding!)
1063966
1. If the patient is NPO do you need evidence with MBS or some other tests before you do a bed side eval with different lquids and food textures? \n2. Also has anyone had experience with the National standards diets for dysphagia? Would like to know whether anyone likes the standardization, whether it works in SNF settings or not. \n3. Have you known of patients developing swallow problems after a few months after a stroke and they have become medically stabilized. What would cause such a sudden onset. Pt has developed no other problem and progressing well otherwise. Are there some medications (changes in dosages , etc., that might likely cause some side effects that affect the strength and mobility of muscles? Any thoughts on that? \nAnyone with experience with   ** Vital Stim? **   or E-stim? what's the difference? between the two instruments? \nSoem SLPs tend to say E-stim is better than Vital stim. redaing the literature both seem to be based on minimal research and the FDA approval seems to just say that the instrument is safe to use under specific conditions. \n\nMay be it help for your but i did not find anything else about this topic
184481
I found information about this on this site. I hope this helps. The diet and rules are clearly set out. \n\nhttp://www.cartercountymarket.com/html/cardiac.html
243542
The matter of fact is...  You have it, assuming you were diagnosed correctly.  I have to imagine your tests showed positive.  If you are not confident in the diagnosis, you could find another doctor and have the tests run again.\n\nYour doctor would be the best source for the answer to this question.\n\nYour kidneys are affected, and liver as well as your heart can be effected.\n\nI imagine your diet and medicine protocols will help your quality of life.\nhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000502.htm
483863
medications like betablockers help to control it but you need to be seen by a cardiologist or dr to determine if this is right for you. you might qualify for an surgical ablasion.   also if it is truly a-fib you must know the risks for blood clots to the lungs or stroke from a clot is present.  the blood pools in the atria during the fibrillation then when the heart corrects itself it pumps the pooled blood with possible clots to the rest of the body. please get checked out by a cardiologist.  don't wait.
409485
May be HOCM (HypertrOphic Cardio Mypopathy)\n\nSudden Death Syndrome is the term, which is now used to describe unexpected and unexplained death occurring in apparently healthy young people. When the heart is examined by an expert pathologist a probable cardiac cause of death is found in the majority. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cause of sudden death in those under 30 years of age. It is a relatively uncommon heart disease although is estimated that ten thousand people in the United Kingdom have the condition.\n\nIn a healthy heart beat results from electrical signals starting at the top and passing down through the heart. HCM is a disease, which interrupts these vital electrical signals, which keep the heart beating. It is an incurable disease, which causes excessive thickening of the myocardium (the muscle in the heart). Heart muscle may thicken in individuals who have high blood pressure or who have prolonged athletic training, but in HCM patients the muscle thickens without an obvious cause.
848417
Sure! You can do whatever kind of exercises you want. As long as you're not experiencing any weird heart problems (a possible side effect) you should be good to go. \n\nHere's a really good, to-the-point website on all sorts of meds. \n\nHope this helps!
145507
I assume that you father is on Atenolol for hypertension as you said it was a stroke medication and hypertension can lead to strokes. If this is the case then I would assume that he is or was taking a diuretic such as HCTZ but that the diuretic did not control the hypertension well enough by itself. A Beta-blocker, which Atenolol is, is often added to therapy when a diuretic alone can not control the hypertension.\nBefore you try anything you might want to consider the possibility that it is not Atenolol that is causing the insomnea. Sleeplessness in not listed as a side effect of Atenolol and in fact some people have reported fatigue and drowsiness. There have been some reports of people having nightmares on beta-blocker therapy.\nAtenolol does not pass the blood-brain barrier very well and so causes few neurological side effects as compaired to other Beta-blockers such as Propanolol which pass the blood-brain barrier more easily.\nHowever if you are sure that the Atenolol is the problem then perhaps switching to an ACE (angiotensin coverting enzyme) inhibitor (such as Vasotec) or an ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker)( such as Diovan) to control hypertension may be helpful. \nIn any case you should talk to a doctor as sleeplessness is associated with many health problem including guess what.....hypertension.\nGood Luck
610404
my father just passed away May 1,dopamine is to control the shaking and tremors Mussel movement in Parkinson's disease patients. Yet, I had just seen a new report on  CNN from a neurosurgeon in Las Vegas. They did not know until recently that it also affect the behavioral. You two trans motors for mussel movement or on the outer side of the behavioral motor and there for when the dopamine cross over it can cause a compulsive behavioral problem. There were two of this neurosurgeon's patients that had compulsive gambling to come on after starting to take the Leve-Dopa and lost lots of money (but it can be other things that they take compulsive) so there for the Dr. went to checking and he had 12 patients that had the same pattern,so therefor he had to take these patients off the Leve-Dopa. Be careful and God Bless you. Let me add this. Talk to your Dr., But I do know that in recent studies the vitamin COQ10 is suppose to be great for early Parkinson's Diseas patients. It's also great for the circulartory system, the heart. Don't let you Dr. discourage you from this vitamin. Get you pharmaciest, Dr. or Alternative Medicene person to cross reference ALL of your medications. And don't just get one opinion. WEBMD,the are alot of places to research medication..From what I can remember an early detection of Parkinson's you shoul take 300 to work up to 1200mg of COQ10 a day. If you do start taking this after cross refercing the medications you are on and it's ok. Say you start taking 300mg of COQ10 and you feel tired of worse, don't stop taking in vitamin.....just cut the dose back and go at a more gradual approach until you work up to the recommended dose. I was a caregiver for both of my parents and researched a lot of stuff. Of course my mother's cancer and heart were to far gone. And Daddy had Parkinson's for over 25 years. My father had no surgery, moved around until the day he passed away. My 1st cousin was diagnosed at 33,now47 had 5 surgery's and barely gets by. If he undoes his batteries on the right he has no control what so ever pm the left, if he undoes the batteries on the left he has no control on the right. I seen my 69 year old father able to still move and talk after going for a while as my cousin can only go for so long. Again, check with your Dr. before you do anything. And always second and third opinions and other info helps. God Bless you
1177036
I am sorry to say that it doesn't appear that this can be cured (although I am not a doctor):\n\nExpectations (prognosis)    \nThe disorder will continue to progress, though at a very slow pace. Complete blindness is uncommon\n\nhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001029.htm#Expectations%20(prognosis)