Hi everyone-
I'm brand new to the board and have not as of yet read through the entire forum. I'd like to know if there is anyone that is having the same problems that I am having.
I have a paternal history of heart disease, my father was dead at 47 and his father at 45, both suddenly. I assume it was heart disease, as I know of no autopsy results.
Well, because of this history, I thought it would be a good idea to have a stress test done.
There was an abnormality found. My family doctor assumed it was a blockage and wanted to put me on lipitor, and also ordered a cath. The results came back that I did have a blockage, but it was only 20% in my RCA, mild coronary disease, moderate LV dysfunction and a primary cardiomyopathy. My EF was visually estimated at 40%.
I had an echo done about 3 months after that and my EF was calculated at 37%. I know that it doesn't mean that I got worse, as the method of arriving at that number differs in both cases. So I assumed I stayed the same which means to me that my DCM was not virally caused.
I do not consider myself symptomatic. I play hockey every Sunday, play racquetball about 6 hours during the week, and lift weights as well although not as much as I used to. I don't recall feeling any differently at any period of time in my life. I can still pretty much do the things I could do when I was 21.
As of now I am on 40mg of Lipitor, (my cholesterol was 199, now it is below 100. I am also on 10mg of monopril at night. I asked my cardiologist about other meds, but he seems to think at this point they are not neccessary. A second opinion with a specialist at the Cleveland Clinic yielded the same results.
My doctor said he doesn't know what caused this, and also said it may be something I had all my life.
Is there anyone else out there in this situation?
Posted on Aug 4, 2004, 7:06 PM from IP address 65.120.99.8