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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> uh oh :(
        
(Message started by: chopmyheadoff on Sep 15^th, 2006, 3:28am)

Title: uh oh :(
Post by chopmyheadoff on Sep 15^th, 2006, 3:28am

Hi boyz an girlz - i hope your all having a pain free time right now :) :)

im a bit worried coz when i had my ecg's as my verapamil dose was being increased they found an anomoly.the neurologist decided to give me the verapamil anywan and wrote to a cardiologist to ask for advice.

now i have just recieved a copy of the letter that the cardiologist sent back to my neuro and it says that i have "left ventricular hypertrophy" and that i need to go in for a echocardiogram to see if i have chamber enlargement :-/

anyone had any experience of this ??
BB - i know ur a GP . .. what do u think ??

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by TxBasslady on Sep 15^th, 2006, 4:08am

It sounds like you got a pretty good doc.

I would definitely follow through with the extra tests.

It's hopefully something minor...but you sure need to know if there's a problem.

Follow your doc's advice, Chop.

Good luck, sweetie...and be sure and let us know what you find out.

Lots of vibes...

Jean

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by BB on Sep 15^th, 2006, 4:23am

Hi Chop

Left ventricular hypertrophy means the left lower chamber of your heart is a little bit larger than normal. It might mean that one of the heart valve is weak and leaks a little bit causing the muscles of the left ventricle ( chamber ) to work a bit harder than normal and they either become more developed ( ie got bigger ) or become a bit weaker and stretched ( ie appear bigger ).

Quite often its a false reading too ie false alarm. The size of the heart chambers vary from person to person and you may just have a big heart compared to the rest of us :) yet the heart is functioning fine.

An echocardiogram is just an ultrasound of the heart, where they use ultrasound to watch how your heart is beating, how well the muscles contract, how tight the valves are opening and closing, in the same manner as when they use ultrasound to look at a baby inside mummys tummy. Its a very safe test.

The fact that the cardiologist is sending you for echocardiogram to check for chamber enlargement means that they are not sure if you do, they just need to look to see. ECG results are not that accurate. I have seen many patients who have pretty bad looking ECGs but perfectly normal echocardiograms.

So my dear friend, I wont panic yet. Just go get the test done, you may find what we have already known, that you just have a big, kind heart which is working perfectly. :)

Take care, sending you good vibes and prayers.

Annette

PS: even if the chamber enlarges a little, its no big deal, just mean you need to take better care of it like exercising daily, avoid fatty food, lower cholesterol etc or take blood pressure tablets for a while to relieve the pressure on that chamber.

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by chopmyheadoff on Sep 15^th, 2006, 4:37am

ahh thank you both - they were such nice replies and made me smile at work - not something i do often ;;D

Im gonna book an appt for the test today and ill post back on this thread when i hear something !!

basslady - yes my doc is very good, he is proffessor goadsby's buddy so he has a lot to live up to :)

bb - you've put my mind at rest at least until i get some results, thank you ;) i hope hubby is having an easy time of it now - are his eyes well enough to join the board yet ??

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by bothofus on Sep 15^th, 2006, 5:01am

Well chop, dang it, let us know what's going on. I don't know ya like the others, but I see ya on these boards and want to continue to see ya on here.

Take care.

Carl

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by chopmyheadoff on Sep 15^th, 2006, 6:29am

why thank u bothofus - its a little worrying but at least im havin a pain free day !!

iv not had chance to welcome you to CH heaven have i ???

welcome - [smiley=wave.gif]

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by alchemy on Sep 15^th, 2006, 7:38am

Chop, sorry to hear about the test results. Good thing your doc sent you in for them. Please keep us updated on the new tests and how your doing, We're always here.
jim

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by nani on Sep 15^th, 2006, 9:27am

Keep us posted, chop. When docs start talking about my heart, I get a little nervous also.
Annette, when you say "and leaks a little bit", is this patent foramen ovale? I ask because there may be a connection with migraine/CH and PFO.
pf and healthy heart wishes chop, nani

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by chopmyheadoff on Sep 15^th, 2006, 9:29am

on 09/15/06 at 09:27:55, nani wrote:

lol you little cutie !!! thank you

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by georgej on Sep 15^th, 2006, 10:55am

Hey chop,

Keep us posted as to what's going on. BB's post should help take a bit of the worry off, but let us know anyway. Hope it's nothing at all.

I'd hate to see anything happen to one of the pillars of our community here....

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by stpp77 on Sep 15^th, 2006, 11:23am

Hi, I was just wondering if you have high blood pressure? I'm only asking because I have left ventricular hypertrophy and my heart is enlarged like Annette talked about. Mine is directly related to the high blood pressure...I just have to follow a more strict diet and keep my bp under control better than I was. The echo is a simple test like everyone said, don't worry to much until you know (I know this is easier said than done).

Take care!!!
Chrissy

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by drivin_blind on Sep 15^th, 2006, 11:49am

Had one of those tests a few years back. My annual physical EKG came back showing that I may have a problem. The technition had the audio turned up on her monitor so I could both see and hear my heartbeat. I thought it sounded strange so I asked if it sounded o.k. to her. She looked at me really seriously and said, "It would be improper for me to say anything right now" Alright, that scared the living **** out of me. Turns out everything was all right, one of the leads on the EKG machine was defective and I was fine. Even though my father was a veterinarian and I used to help him in surgury, It's never good to see and hear your own insides! Best of luck to you. Just remember, and this will help you with your low fat diet. If it tastes good, spit it out! My Dr.s advice.

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by JeffB on Sep 15^th, 2006, 11:57am

Sorry to hear that Choppy, sounds like you have a good Doc. tho. Keep us posted dude!

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by Thomas_Martin on Sep 15^th, 2006, 12:29pm

hey choppy. hopefully its nothing bad. best wishes from denmark!!!

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by prcole18 on Sep 15^th, 2006, 2:21pm

Best off luck to ya Chop, hope all goes ok mate.

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by roy21302 on Sep 15^th, 2006, 2:37pm

Hey Chop,
I only just found this posting, I'll be thinking of you. As Annette says go and get it done and you will probably find it OK, take ---------------------Cheers Roy

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by Carl_D on Sep 15^th, 2006, 6:35pm

Definitely keep us posted on this.

You see, I've had a 'crackpot theory' for years that maybe the reason they can't find the cause is they are merely looking in the area where the pain is, while the actual cause could be somewhere vascular, like a minute heart defect that goes undetected in most. I think it was in October of 2004 when they came out with PVO "Patent Foramen Ovale" that is a minor heart defect in some migraine and CH sufferers - but haven't heard anything broadscale on it since.

When the heart ruins the mind eh?

Peace,
Carl D

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by BB on Sep 15^th, 2006, 8:22pm

on 09/15/06 at 09:27:55, nani wrote:

Hi Nani,

Foramen Ovale is not one of your normal 4 heart valves. Its one that you had before you were born and it should close at birth. Before birth you do not use your lungs so blood from your tiny little heart bypasses the lungs via the foramen ovale and communicate directly with your mothers blood for exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

At birth when you take your first breath the lung expands and the pressure closes the foramen ovale. In some people it doesnt close porperly and you have "funny" blood flow and leakage.

But ventricular hypertrophy is not usually caused by that, its usually caused by the valve between the atrium ( the top chamber ) and the ventricle ( the lower chamber ) not closing properly and leaking through there, increasing blood pressure inside the heart chamber itself by causing flow turbulence. Its the increased pressure inside the heart chamber that tires out the heart muscles and cause them to get bigger or stretch.

Hypertension or high blood pressure in the body can cause the heart valve to struggle to close properly so if you have high blood pressure that should be treated or you will eventually get ventricular hypertrophy.

Hope I explained it well enough. In my surgery I usually draw a picture to illustrate but cant do it here, sorry.

Annette

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by unsolved1 on Sep 15^th, 2006, 8:32pm

I got some problems with my left ventricular too. Doc said it's leaking blood backwards or something. After getting me very worried for a few days and doing tons of heart testing, they told me not to worry about it. [smiley=huh.gif]

Hope you get some good tests results

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by chopmyheadoff on Sep 16^th, 2006, 6:30pm

you guys are top !! i guess theres no point in worrying is there - tons of people are far worse off than me . .
and it doesnt sound too serious anyway

thanks for a top post BB :)

as for the rest of you . . thanks so much for all your support . . seriously i cant thank u enough !! :) :)

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by bothofus on Sep 17^th, 2006, 4:58am

Soooooooo....................... ya will still let us know what the deal is though, right?
When docs start talkin bout your heart, ya know......

See ya on the boards later,
Carl

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by chopmyheadoff on Oct 18^th, 2006, 5:38am

;;D im ok - its official - no leaky valves etc just a slightly enlarged left ventricle which the nurse says is prolly due to my excessive weight lifting in the gym !!

thanks for all your suport guys an gals !!

tell u what - thats a weight off my mind.

PFDAN

CHOP !!

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by BB on Oct 18^th, 2006, 7:52am

TOLD YA ! ;;D

Annette

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by georgej on Oct 18^th, 2006, 11:17am

Good to hear, chop.

Welcome back. Been missing you around here.

Best,

George

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by roy21302 on Oct 18^th, 2006, 11:50am

Good news Chop, glad to hear it and to see you back on here, missed seeing you around. Cheers Roy :D

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by LeLimey on Oct 18^th, 2006, 12:36pm

Oh Choppy I'm sorry. I've been at Air Products all day and Ive missed this. I'm so very glad you're okay I'm not even going to be horrible for at least.. ohh.. 3 sentences!
You gave me the fright of my life reading this and I'm very, very relieved you're okay. (shit how many sentences is that? does this count as two?!)

Now bugger off and do some work you lazy little toad before I clobber you with my holy rolling pin of doom! :-*

Title: Re: uh oh :(
Post by chopmyheadoff on Oct 19^th, 2006, 3:29am

^^ gotta love helen !!! ;;D