Now What’s Burt Up To?

[Burton Borrok]

Hi folks,
This is going to be short because I’m really pooped. Got back from California this afternoon and have been playing catch-up the rest of the evening.

I saw the specialist in LA yesterday, after having an echo. I have 14 other diagnoses, besides being diagnosed with HCM last New Years, so I tend to present a complex picture to the doctors. Back then I looked very much like I had HCM, but now I look more like I have Hypertensive Cardio Myopathy.

I’m going back to LA next week to have a cardio pulmonary stress test on Wednesday to see how much my lungs are involved (if at all) and how much my heart is involved. Hopefully a clearer picture will be available then.

I may in fact not have HCM – (How about that.) I now have a lot of research and reading about Hypertensive CM to see how well that glove fits me. I’ve made a lot of friends here, who I will miss a lot, if you guys feel it would not be cricket for me to continue posting - if in fact I do not have HCM. We don’t have a definitive answer as yet, but I am hoping it is Hypertensive rather then Hypertrophic - and I would like to know how you guys feel about my continuing to post here - if that’s the way it turns out.

Lisa, this website is your baby, so I specifically would like your input on this question along with the other people who have put up with me to date. I will be guided by your responses – along with the doctor’s final diagnosis of course.
Burt

[Laoshur]

Hi, Burt,

The whole question of whether there really is a hypertension cardiomyopathy apart from HCM seems to me to be up for grabs as I read about it. Initially I think that is what they thought I had, but now they are saying not. So, I would make sure they don't go for the easy one (hypertension) and miss the far more common one (HCM). Perhaps the distinction is not so important for you, but could be quite important for your kids and grandkids, since it could give them a false sense of security.

As far as whether you are welcome here or not, why what would we do without your sense of humor, your research, your statistics, and yourself?!?

Rhoda

[Largehearted]

Burt.
You can't get away from us that easy. My vote is for you to stick around and bring whatever heart you have along.

Peace,
Leon

[Shirls_6]

Hello Burt:

And I second that - whatever you have does not give you an excuse to dump us. We need to have you around - especially me - you would always say something that would bring a smile on my down days - we need you around.

Have a great day!

Shirls_6

[Reenie]

Shoot, stick around. We have a lot of people here who don't have HCM, me included. ;)

Reenie

[Glen Beamish]

Burt, I don't care what you have, your insight, humour, stories and advice will always be welcome for me.
You meet someone on the golf coarse, become very good friends because you have something in common, but then they cannot play golf anymore for one reason or another, you don't suddenly end the friendship.

[Linda]

Burt, I can just hear "grandaughter" Mary's teeth grinding at the thought of missing you. You've learned a lot about HCM and have so much to offer to those others who are looking for info. I hope you soon get some real good answers as to what's really going on with you. Linda

[shirleymahoney]

Burton

It is a cadiomyopathy, so what's the problem here....i have HCM but it looks like Restricted does that mean i don't have HCM


Of course you are welcomed here, you have learned alot about this disease and you could help other people Take Care

Shirley

[Lisa Salberg]

If you claim it is my party and I can choose who stays and goes.... BURT STAYS!! :D Hypertesive or hypertrophic you add a great deal to the discussion and you would be missed!!

STICK WITH US!!
Lisa

[Burton Borrok]

Wow! I am deeply touched. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I love you guys.

I really don’t know which disease is better – easiest to control – and I’m not particularly thrilled with the choice, but I’m seeing an expert, so I’m hoping for a definitive answer one way or the other. Frankly, from what I’ve read so far, and I have just brushed the surface, they appear to have a lot in common. Not so much in the genetic or structural aspects of the disease, but in the consequences and/or effects on the owner.

I feel like an Eskimo whose house is on fire and it’s forty below outside. Don’t know which way to run. But it’s nice to know I have a home with you guys.
Burt

[mtlieb]

Dear Mr. Borrok,

Although your dedication and hard work have been greatly appreciated, it has recently come to our attention that you have been in our employ under false pretenses. At this time, we would ask that you please clean out your desk and turn in your keys to the security guard. Furthermore, regarding your membership in the cookie of the month club that you received as a Christmas bonus last year... forget about it.

Should you require them, references will be made available to the Online Forum of your choice.

Regards,

Harry C. Myopathy
V.P Personnel Relations

[shirleymahoney]

Jim

We are in a great mood today huh :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :P :P :P

Shirley

[Ronnie]

Burt, I can't imagine any place you've been, your presence not welcomed! You've been my "laugh a day", for some time - PLEASE PLEASE STAY!

A correct dx would be great, for you, if they can provide more relief & some added mobility.

Happy & Healthy New Year

[Pam Alexson]

Burt,
It's the cow's tail here just to tell you , ya ain't gettin off that easy. Think ya gonna run out on us folk? I DON'T THINK SO MISTA. Just stop looking for a way out, if we wanted you to leave then we'd tell you. You are with us for life buddy no turning around on this commitment. So there I said it . So please stay Burt :cry: Besides who would be the oldest daily contributor if you left, huh ? :lol: LOL
Pam

[Midge Rollins]

Burt, I am an ex-HCM'er and I still post no one said I can't. I too would miss your wit and humor. No matter what you have you better keep up your posts. Good luck on finding out what you do have. :wink:

[SheliRenee]

Gee Burt - I'm not quite sure if people here like you or not.... :BIG:

I think you'd get lynched if you tried to leave.... better be safe and stick around.

:big_joke: Besides, you do keep us all in stitches...

SheliRenee

[Burton Borrok]

Of course you know I will now have a heck of a time getting my swelled head through the doorways – do you really think that’s funny? I’ll get through and my ears will be lying on the floor – another Humpty-Dumpty. Just exactly where are all the king’s horses anyway.

All except Jim – Hey fella, do I have to go all the way back to Pennsylvania to straighten you out? – And it’s not the cookie of the month club – It’s the Malady of the Month Club, and you can’t cut me out – I’m one of the founders. (Geez, - give somebody an inch.)

Hey, my hat size and my pants size now match. What a kick. I can now use my belt as a sweatband. - - Remember folks, you asked for it.
Burt

[Debora from Brazil]

Hi Burton, although I haven't been around here long enough, I would like you to know that by what I've seen, you're one of the regulars on this site and people have grown accustomed to your posts. You seem to be the sort of person who has always got something nice to say to everybody, as well as having a great sense of humour. Now, whether you're suffering from something else or not, is totally irrelevant, I mean, I'm sure you've been of great help to others here, and just like all of us, you too need to be helped in order to cope with your heart issues. I wish you good luck for your next appointment, and hope the doctor will have a definite answer to your questions. Take care and don't even think about leaving us,
your overseas friend,

Débora from Brazil

[Donna]

Burt, please don't go away. I would miss you very much. My Grandson will miss your picture on your letters. He always asks my about you. I just tell him you are a good friend that help when I need someone to talk to.

I hope you get the HCM that is the easiset to treat and live with. Let us know.

[Debbie]

BURT,

DON'T LEAVE US!!! PLEASE STAY!!! :( :(

Actually, I didn't know this was such an exculsive board. I don't know how I made it through the screening myself! :lol:

You are a ray of sunshine and we would miss you too much. I know that I look for you every day.

Take care, and good luck with your appointments.

Debbie

[Tigger1]

HMMMM,

And all along I thought that because of your age, You were the original HCM'er. A guy with a single digit social security number is much to smart for us to let get away.

Burton, we need you. Don't go.And by the way, I havn't seen a joke posted in awhile...


Tigger1

[Burton Borrok]

Hey Tigger (the first),
Most of the jokes I get sent these days are a bit too colorful to be posted at this site, and the material from my own collection winds up sprinkled liberally into my postings. (Geez, if I didn’t, my mouth would be running and nothing would be coming out.)

And don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere - how could I desert this many friends? By the way, with what research I’ve done so far it appears more and more likely that what I have is Hypertensive CM, as evidenced by the insulin resistance and Hyperlipidemia. I wish it didn’t carry the same propensity toward CHF and SCD though. Oh well, if I didn’t have it I never would have met all of you nice people. I guess everything has its compensations.
Burt

[Burton Borrok]

Hello – It’s me again,
Since there is so much love sprinkled liberally through this thread, I wonder if you’ll allow me another ramble.

Today is Rosh Hashanah (New Years, or the birthday of the world,) and in ten days it will be Yom Kipper (The Day of Atonement.) Between these two days lie the Days of Awe. It is said that during this time G-d reviews all his creatures and He decides their fate for the coming year. His judgments are written in The Book of Life, and on Yom Kipper that book is sealed.

To atone for our sins of commission and omission between us and G-d and to seek forgiveness, we prey, we think of ways in which we can be better people in the year ahead, and we do Mitzvoth (Good deeds – our most powerful tool.) For the wrongs we have done by commission or omission against our fellow man, we must seek forgiveness from our fellow man.

Therefore I would like to say that I am truly sorry if I hurt anyone here in any way. It was never intended, and I ask your forgiveness.

Finally, I would like to say; “May you all be written in The Book of Life for a Good Year.”
Burt

[Largehearted]

Bless you Burton. While I have never experienced any wrongdoing on your part towards me, allow me this honor:

You are graciously forgiven!

Eastern Orthodox Christianity seems to have borrowed yet another page out of the Jewish religious playbook. They too have a wonderful service of forgiveness wherein each member of the parish humbly asks for and receives forgiveness from every other member.

The more I study history the more I believe we, who call ourselves Christian, owe a lot to the Jewish faith.

Peace,

Leon

[Laoshur]

Uh, I think we owe everything since Jesus Christ was clearly and unmistakably and proudly a Jew!

Just my two cents.
Rhoda

[jujemendoza2002]

burt it wouldn't be the same here without you, so please do stay and post more, you crack me up even on my worst days.

[Virginia]

Ok Burt what is the major malfunction here on whether you stay or not? Boy what an insult to think your post would not be wanted here.

Now I might be new to the web site but I so look forward to your post. I get to laugh and be amazed at your knowledge. Especially the ESP part of you.

If you only knew how much it means to me to laugh, you would understand. I am in the house 97 percent of the time and have very little left in friends.

So to find a friend that makes me laugh is a treasure, that I am not ready to let go of. So hang out as long as the Boss Lady said it is ok, your in. I see the Boss Lady already gave her ok. So no excuses. Will patiently wait for your next post. :lol:

[Heartmans Wife]

Well, Burt -

If you can stand your head getting a little bigger, I'll put my 2 cents in. I don't have HCM, but I'm a family member - as I understand there are alot of us here.

I also understand that your granddaughter, Mary is an HCM patient, ergo YOU STAY. If I'm allowed here - and I guess I am - you are. We'd miss you too much!!

Ange

[Burton Borrok]

Ange,
Mary is my adopted granddaughter – and I think I’m getting more and more relatives here by the hour. (And I thought I had a big family before.)

The thing of it is, if it turns out that I do not have HCM, and I have no blood or married relatives with it, would it be proper for me to stay. I want to stay very much, but I thought it would be only proper to ask rather then assume I could.

I must say the response has been heartwarming in the extreme. Personally I think I’ve done more babbling then a brook – but I guess you guys like that sound after all.
Burt

[Toogoofy317]

Alright Gramps,
IF I HEAR ONE MORE WORD about you leaving the board I will :microwav: :!:

I really don't have a "blood" family to call my own. This has become my family and my other wonderful friends. Things happen for a reason. I will not let you leave your insights they are much too helpful to all of us. Hey are cardiologists don't have it but we rely a lot on them right? The more people to spread the word the better!

Your Granddaughter,
Mary S.

[cynthia]

Burt,

Boy, what else could anyone add to what's already been said??!! You know how we all feel....STAY !!!!! :D :shock:

[Burton Borrok]

My goodness guys,
You couldn’t get rid of me now if you came after me with a baseball bat. This is getting embarrassing.

Like the salmon swimming upstream and running into a wall, then exclaiming, “Dam, - enough is enough.”

By the way, did you hear about the nun who kicked a dirty habit? Or the chicken who crossed the road because she wanted to lay it on the line? When nuns go swimming do they have to wear black bikinis trimmed in white? What does a silent order monk do when he sees a fire? If French fries are potatoes, what are fish fries? If a tin whistle is made of tin, how do you make a fog horn?

Tip for the day – Never role thirteen in a crap game. It’s unlucky.

By golly, I do love to ramble.
Burt

[Burton Borrok]

Well folks,
I do believe the tempest in the teapot is over, and I have what I believe is the definitive answer. Guess what? I belong here.

Today I took my wife to see our PCP, grabbed a quick lunch, and then we went to see my old cardiologist. (Actually he’s only middle aged, and has gone and opened his own office again. I’m seeing him outside the insurance coverage.) We discussed my condition and he said that last December 31, when I was originally diagnosed, there was no question about it – I was in HOCM. With the change of drugs and proper care I am now in relatively good shape, and it would be extremely difficult to distinguish by today’s echo between Hypertrophic and hypertensive cardiomyopathy. (In December, the findings included, “Hyperdynamic left ventricle with near cavity obliteration” among other things.)

This diagnosis is supported by my being told from about the age of four on that I had an ‘athletic heart’ and a murmur. (In the thirties they didn’t know about HCM, and at that age I was definitely not suffering from hypertension.) We also discussed my resistance to insulin, which is a mark of Hypertensive CM, and it was concluded that it was possible to have that condition and still not have Hypertensive CM. I think as long as my triglycerides stay as high as they are I will continue to have a diabetic problem, and I’m already taking all the medication I can for the lipid problem. I will talk to my endocrinologist next Monday about taking Actos or Avandia to increase my sensitivity to insulin, but the problem there is that these drugs may contribute to my problem of the water in my legs.

As far as the water goes, he heard a crackle in the base of my right lung, but I am definitely not in CHF – hooray, but I DO have Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – Boo. Tomorrow I am having a fasting blood test, then driving back to LA so I can take a cardio/pulmonary stress test on Wednesday. I will then drive home because I have another doctor’s appointment on Thursday.

Sooo, I guess I’m here legally, - and I ain’t budging! I definitely will remember this thread for a long, long time to come though. You guys are absolutely the greatest.
Burt

[Laoshur]

Burt,

Welcome back into the fold! I know you wanted to stare at all of us from the outside, but see you had to come back afterall! Good for us, bad for you!

Rhoda

[Largehearted]

Burt.

I am torn. I am truly sorry you have HCM, but it is good to re-affirm that you really do belong here. Anyway may your treatment plan bring you much relief. Drive careful to your many appointments.
Peace,

Leon

[Burton Borrok]

Well folks,
I guess it’s time for a bit of an update. That Tuesday I drove to LA and spent the night at my daughter’s house. Wednesday we went into Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Hollywood for the cardio/pulmonary stress test – at 12:30. I was quite concerned about being able to do the test, and thought I wouldn’t last on the bike more then thirty seconds.

We started out with some breathing tests which didn’t bother me much at all. (I had taken the breathing tests about seven to ten years ago, and had gotten quite light headed at that time.) We then proceeded to the bike. By this time the cardiologist who works there, and my specialist had joined the group – along with an echo tech and his machine. A nice sized audience for me to fall flat on my face in front of.

I got on the bike and we started the test with a worm up first. The test was scheduled for a twelve minute maximum – and believe it or not my chest didn’t start to get tight until I was into the ninth minute, which I finished before we went to the cool down stage. While I was stressed they did a bit of an echo, and my gradient under stress was only 55. I guess we were all amazed – me especially.

After the test it took about three quarters of an hour for the valet to get my car, and I proceeded to the six hour drive home. We got home around eight-thirty and went out for a late supper. Thursday I had an appointment with the VA doctor, and we took it easy for most of the rest of the day – but I had no ill effects from the test to speak of.

On the week-end I became symptomatic again. (Hello – why not.) Monday I saw my endocrinologist. I am now at 200 units of insulin a day. He said the swelling in my legs is not due to my diabetes, (and it is not cardiac related), but he can’t give me any medication to make me more sensitive to insulin because that medication would add to the water problem in my legs. This leaves only my kidneys, and I see that doctor at the end of next month.

I think I mentioned that my doctor is a professor of endocrinology at the University of Nevada Medical School – and I think very highly of him. Well, Thursday he told me that he is retiring no later then February, and possibly as early as December. Last winter he went skiing and I thought he was good for quite a few years yet, but he said he was 71 and wanted to relax and enjoy life. I will see him one more time before he goes. How come the good ones disappear before your eyes and the others stay around forever?

I saw my PCP today (Tuesday) after working on the Talking Books – for the blind, and brought her up to date. I phoned the specialist in LA as requested, and he cut my atenolol from 50 mg / day to 37.5 – three quarters of a tablet. I will monitor my blood pressure and pulse, and call him again in one week. I will also be monitoring my blood sugar closely to see where I get with the larger dosages of insulin. – What a pain. My current glycohemoglobin A1c was 9.2 – down from 9.8 three months ago, down from 10.1 the month before, - (for all you nurses out there.) Not good, but better.

I also got a call from my insurance High Risk Case Manager. She got back from vacation today and wanted to know where I stood. She’s a buddy.

Finally, Shirley has been fighting bronchitis for the past two weeks and has been on medication for it. Well, now her balance is completely shot. She fell by the bed last night, and twice today. She keeps overbalancing backwards. Just something else to worry about. I expect it’s epilepsy related, who knows for certain. I had her chest x-rayed today and we won’t get the results until next Monday. The old wait and worry game.
Enough rambling.
Burt

[Laoshur]

Burt,

I do hope and pray that Shirley will be much better before Monday so that regardless of the results of the test, she is on her way to feeling better.

I hope you, too can get some answers to the puzzle about your swelling as well as why you felt better for the stress test, but do not now.

Rhoda

[Burton Borrok]

Rhoda, dear Rhoda,
I really appreciate your good wishes – and your intelligence. Fortunately Shirley is well on her way to recovery. I took her out for over four hours today and she felt fine. The congestion is all breaking up, and I expect her to be fine tomorrow.

On me, the doctor is doing some fine tuning of the medications. First step is to cut my atenolol from 50 to 37.5 mg. I am monitoring my pressure and pulse and will call the doctor in a week and see where we go from there.

Hope all is well with you, and you are enjoying your return to China. Please keep us informed on how you are doing, as we do care.
Burt