OT: Heart Problems

Hi All,

A couple of months ago I was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). The cardiologist started me on an ACE Inhbitor (Lisinopril). I was already taking a Calcium Channel Blocker (Norvasc) for high blood pressure. This week I started on a Beta Blocker (Coreg). He also said to start thinking about a pacemaker to resychronize the right and left ventricle. And the pacemaker should have defribulator because sudden cardiac arrest is a possibility.

This is all very scary to me. I deal with issues by understanding them better. This forum has taken the 'black magic' out of CPAP therapy and has been unbelievably helpful and supportive. Does anyone know of similar forum for defribulator and/or DCM patients.

Thank you all,
Mark

Hi, doctors just love scaring people, and obviously don't think very hard about doing it, but they should certainly be able to hand out something like the names of support groups or whatever. Anyway if you Google "pacemaker experience" and/or "living with a defibrillator" and similar things you could learn more, and maybe your local hospitals (ask the nurses in Cardiology) know of support groups, etc. which you could possibly join. Hope everything works out smoothly!

I've had a pacemaker since '86. I realize that's not exactly like your troubles, but I hardly think about it anymore. I'm on my third one.

Good luck

JeffH

Mark......

Have you considered purchasing a recording Oximeter so that you can test for correct O2 saturation while you're sleeping?

Last week I started feeling crappy.....my BP was getting too high....and with the use of my Oximeter, I determined that...even though I had an AHI of 0.0 on a particular night....I was not getting enough O2. I was having O2 desats....my pluse rate was elevating a bunch of times during the night.....and my "M" series was not giving me any indication of this problem.

My Oximeter helped me determine that I needed to raise my low-end pressure....and when I did, my BP went down.....as my O2 desat problem went away.

Being on a bunch of meds can get complicated....and if you could solve your BP problem by making sure that you're getting enough O2 at night.....you might be able to get off of the Norvasc.

Just a thought.......

Gerald

Hi Mark. Welcome to the world of heart problems. From what I understand DCM is mostly an enlarged chamber of the heart that can cause a rhythm problem making it hard to pump. I had a rhythm problem with my heart. I found it with my overnight pulse oximeter test. Pulse was falling off to 34 beats per min during sleep. Pacemaker/defibulator is the fix for this also but before I could get talked into having it installed I had a heart attack (last Sept)and went into defifulation while I slept. I was one of the lucky ones that survived. The EMT's could not restart me so being 6 blocks from the hospital and having to listen to the ambulances go by at all hours turned out to worth it.

I was on a Calcium Channel Blocker (Cardizem) and a ACE Inhibitor (Vasotec). My understanding is that they work together very well. Affter the heart attack they changed mr to the Beta Blocker (Coreg). What you are going through is pretty much SOP. The main thing I have been a bit unhappy about is the things I am not supposed to do any more because of the Pacemaker/defibulator. Cant carry my cell phone in my shirt pocket (magnets in the speaker and mic) stay a foot to 18" from most electric moters, no arc welding, not supposed to use a chain saw, etc. So far I have not set the thing off. Have gotten a bit to close to some of my tools but so far been lucky. They tell me that the battery only last 4 to 5 years and they have to go in and change it.

Getting to yours before having the heart attack is a good thing. If I can help with any questions PM me and I will be glad to help. It's a pain but better than the alternative.

Jerry

Gerald wrote:.....you might be able to get off of the Norvasc.

Thanks for the tip Gerald. What is the concern with Norvasc?