You must advocate for yourself to get the best care for your HCM. The first step is to have a plan that includes the tests you need and how often to see your cardiologist. To make planning easier, the HCMA offers Navigation Calls. We encourage everyone with HCM to complete our Intake and Navigation Call at least once to help you get on track with your care. This is a free service, although paid members may take advantage of extra calls if needed during the year.
We encourage you to see an HCM expert at an HCMA Recognized Center of Excellence (COE). We are growing this program to give you more options. For those outside the US, we can often help you find an HCM expert, although we have yet to cover every country.
Is cost limiting your ability to fully take advantage of HCMA services? We offer scholarship memberships. You can apply alone or with your application to the Lori Fund, which grants up to $600 per year to cover the cost of traveling to a COE.
For stable HCM patients, here are some general guidelines for regular testing :
- Annual Echocardiogram
- Annual EKG and/or Ambulatory Monitor
- Annual cardiologist visit
- Cardiac MRI every 3-5 years
If your symptoms change, you should contact your cardiology team to discuss whether a medication change or other treatment would help you stay stable. Be flexible in your plan to handle changes in your situation. Remember, each patient is different – some can safely go 2-3 years between visits, while others may need to see their team every six months or less.
The post The HCMA theme for January is Setting Your Plan For The Year appeared first on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association.
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