Mid septum touching left wall during stress echo?

[Grecoeuro]

So my thickness at my upper septum is 19 and mid is 24, No obstruction or gradient but they said at a fast heart beat the mid septum is touching the left side wall of my heart. They said its not a concern especially since I wasn't on my beta blockers at the time of the stress echo.

Anyone ever heard of something similar?

[Reenie]

I've heard of this. If the meds don't take care of it for you then you might need to have surgical intervention to get rid of the problem. It's not good long-term to have that happen but I bet the meds help a lot.

Reenie

[Pam Alexson]

In my early days of diagnosis , this was an issue of concern for me . I was told to be very carefull with regards to hydration, dehydration. I was in CHF so overhydration was an issue and with the ventricle walls so close and the septum touching and obstructing as well I was at risk of total cardiac collapse if I got dehydrated . When I left after my initial exam I was cautioned and told if I got dehydrated , even a little I was to go to an ER ASAP. Keep in mind I was not informed of any of this by the doctor/cardiologist who had been my pcp and was mistreating me and misdiagnosing me as " not having a cardiac problem ." I was seeing this idiot for 18 years. It was a shock to learn that I had been walking around feeling poorly and was at very high risk of sudden death for some time.

I am not sure this is a big concern for you or not but hydration is a very key point for all those with HCM . Be carefull and keep asking questions.

Pam

[Grecoeuro]

Thanks for the feedback.


Reenie you mentioned surgical intervention? Such as?


Also the HCM Specialist said that I had another temporary condition caused by stress which made my heart not so flexible and not contracting as well. I remember feeling much worse right after I was first diagnosed. He said that he has seen this about a dozen times in his career. Anyone ever heard of this?


T

[Reenie]

The surgical intervention I was talking about was myectomy. That would reduce the septum so that it wouldn't hit the other side of the left ventricle.

Reenie

[Grecoeuro]

That's what I thought you were refering to.

I guess I am not a candidate since they do not myectomys for my type of obstruction. I have no gradient or upper septum obstruction with my valve. Just the mid septum touches the other side during a fast heart beat. I guess I just wait for now? Hmmmm... It seems like doctors don't tell you then next step untill you get there.

T

[Reenie]

My husband has a minimal gradient (only 20 provoked with amyl nitrate) with a mid-septal thickening and he is not normally a candidate for myectomy either. However, after our trip to the Mayo in August the doctors told him that if his symptoms worsened he would possibly be a candidate for myectomy because his massive hypertrophy takes up so much room in the left ventricle there isn't much room left for blood to fill. You might fall under the same category where you don't have the gradient or upper-septal thickening, but they may be able to do the myectomy based on other issues such as touching the other side of your heart. Ask your specialist.

Reenie

[Grecoeuro]

Sounds like me Rennie.

I heard that they cannot reach the mid septum for myectomys but I also heard that they are experimenting on this. My HCM specialist told me that I'll be fine. I guess they tell you this so that you don't start worrying to soon as it can progress sooner or later.

Thanks for the feedback.

All the best


Theo

[elmatt]

I may not be understanding the thread correctly but I think they can get to the Mid-Septum. I had my myectomy on Sept. 27th of this year at St. Luke's in NY. My surgeon was Dr. Swistel and he said that my septal bulge was not the typical HCM type. Rather that having a bulge "like a beer belly"...like we see in most HCM pictures; mine extended all the way down. To my understanding Dr. Swistel cut the incision all the way down. He said he does not see this too often but he has seen it a few times. I had many complications after my surgery but it was more bad luck than surgical skill related. However, I am now 13 weeks post myectomy and feel great. I can now alternate between a brisk walk for a mile followed by a 3 mile bike ride or swimming a 500 in 30 min...which to a healthy person probably isn't much but compared to what I used to be able to do...that's an Olympic qualifier.

[Reenie]

I don't think they do too many for the above stated reasons, but I know that the Mayo does do some. Again, it's up to the specialist. Is there any way you can travel to a US facility like Mayo?

Reenie

[Grecoeuro]

Gald to hear the you are feeling much Better Matt.

So you are a mid septum myectomy patient?

Yes Reenie I actually say Dr. Lever in October. He said that I'm good for now. I guess I think about how I will turn up down the road to much and I'm trying to understand as much as possible.

Thanks for the feedback.

Theo