HCMA FORUM ARCHIVE
12-17-2002, 11:18 AM
[apical HC]
Author: Tom (209.131.237.---)
Date: 03-26-02 23:31
I am a 62 year old retired husband and father of four that was orginally diagnosed with LVH (1984)...left ventricular hyperphory. Been on various meds for high blood pressure since '84...lopressor, prinivil, aspirin, etc. Recently I have experienced a heavyness in my chest and now after echo, angio, stress and an MRI, I will be having a fibrillator implanted as soon as it can be scheduled. The diagnose today is apical HC...thickening of the heart apex area with intrusion into the left ventricle. I am now on toprol (200 mg once a day) and prinivil. What I would like to know from this group, is what can I expect from the implant. Are medications usually discontinued or changed. What about life style? Risks? etc. Needless to say I am concerned...I have a 47 year old half brother who recently died in his sleep...autopsy showed HC...no warning, but he had recently had knee surgery and it was detected at this time that his thyroid and glucose levels were out of wack...heart problem never showed up. A defibrillator, I am sure, is a better alternative, but I basically feel good, except occasssion heaviness in chest with excercise. Thankful there is such a site for people like us...very reassuring before any procedures needed to correct. Like to hear from you.
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[Re: apical HC]
Author: sarah beckley (---.dsl.mindspring.com)
Date: 03-27-02 14:32
Dear Tom
welcome to the board.
I'm very sorry to hear about your brother. If you have other siblings, they should all be tested. Have your children been tested? They should be, if they haven't, especially now. Some people get tested every year, since it is something that can show up later in life. A blood test will not discover HCM, only an echocardiogram (ultrasound on the heart).
I don't have an ICD, but many people here do and I'm sure they'll fill you in. THere is also a web site (unaffiliated with this one) devoted just to ICDs (http://www.zaplife.org/).
Best of luck and keep in touch.
Sarah
Author: Tom (209.131.237.---)
Date: 03-26-02 23:31
I am a 62 year old retired husband and father of four that was orginally diagnosed with LVH (1984)...left ventricular hyperphory. Been on various meds for high blood pressure since '84...lopressor, prinivil, aspirin, etc. Recently I have experienced a heavyness in my chest and now after echo, angio, stress and an MRI, I will be having a fibrillator implanted as soon as it can be scheduled. The diagnose today is apical HC...thickening of the heart apex area with intrusion into the left ventricle. I am now on toprol (200 mg once a day) and prinivil. What I would like to know from this group, is what can I expect from the implant. Are medications usually discontinued or changed. What about life style? Risks? etc. Needless to say I am concerned...I have a 47 year old half brother who recently died in his sleep...autopsy showed HC...no warning, but he had recently had knee surgery and it was detected at this time that his thyroid and glucose levels were out of wack...heart problem never showed up. A defibrillator, I am sure, is a better alternative, but I basically feel good, except occasssion heaviness in chest with excercise. Thankful there is such a site for people like us...very reassuring before any procedures needed to correct. Like to hear from you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: apical HC]
Author: sarah beckley (---.dsl.mindspring.com)
Date: 03-27-02 14:32
Dear Tom
welcome to the board.
I'm very sorry to hear about your brother. If you have other siblings, they should all be tested. Have your children been tested? They should be, if they haven't, especially now. Some people get tested every year, since it is something that can show up later in life. A blood test will not discover HCM, only an echocardiogram (ultrasound on the heart).
I don't have an ICD, but many people here do and I'm sure they'll fill you in. THere is also a web site (unaffiliated with this one) devoted just to ICDs (http://www.zaplife.org/).
Best of luck and keep in touch.
Sarah