HCMA FORUM ARCHIVE
12-17-2002, 10:15 AM
[Type of tests]
Author: Lucho Monserrate (---.com)
Date: 03-21-02 12:50
I have been diagnosed with HCM, my father has had triple bypass surgery and several stent implants and refuses to accept that he has hcm, Accordiing to my phsyician, he HAs to have it.
Also my sister's cardiologist is asking which tests are best to diagnose ?? It's scary when even the cardiologists dont know what to do; and I live in Florida not in a 3rd world country.
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[Re: Type of tests]
Author: sarah beckley (---.dsl.mindspring.com)
Date: 03-21-02 16:39
Dear Lucho,
It is sadly too common that many cardiologists don't know anything about HCM. Please call the HCMA office with your sister's doctor's name and address and they can send him a whole packet of information. The primary test she needs is an echocardiogram and she should definitley be tested asap.
There are cases where HCM is a mutation and no one else in the family has it, but this is EXTREMELY rare. What about your mom? You can have HCM and not have symptoms, and it is gender-blind. Many people with HCM have no problem with cholesterol and blood perssure, either.
Your father should request a copy of his most recent echocardiogram and take a look at the measurements for the heart walls and septum. The report usually lists the normal range and then the echo result. If he hasn't had one in two years, he should get one.
If you have children, they should be tested and if your sister has it, and kids, they should be tested, too.
Let us know how it goes.
Sarah
Author: Lucho Monserrate (---.com)
Date: 03-21-02 12:50
I have been diagnosed with HCM, my father has had triple bypass surgery and several stent implants and refuses to accept that he has hcm, Accordiing to my phsyician, he HAs to have it.
Also my sister's cardiologist is asking which tests are best to diagnose ?? It's scary when even the cardiologists dont know what to do; and I live in Florida not in a 3rd world country.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: Type of tests]
Author: sarah beckley (---.dsl.mindspring.com)
Date: 03-21-02 16:39
Dear Lucho,
It is sadly too common that many cardiologists don't know anything about HCM. Please call the HCMA office with your sister's doctor's name and address and they can send him a whole packet of information. The primary test she needs is an echocardiogram and she should definitley be tested asap.
There are cases where HCM is a mutation and no one else in the family has it, but this is EXTREMELY rare. What about your mom? You can have HCM and not have symptoms, and it is gender-blind. Many people with HCM have no problem with cholesterol and blood perssure, either.
Your father should request a copy of his most recent echocardiogram and take a look at the measurements for the heart walls and septum. The report usually lists the normal range and then the echo result. If he hasn't had one in two years, he should get one.
If you have children, they should be tested and if your sister has it, and kids, they should be tested, too.
Let us know how it goes.
Sarah