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From: BBB
Color1: red
Date: 4/9/2010
Time: 12:26:43 PM
Remote Name: 93.158.7.163
I had my first of these at the beginning of the week and would like to report that it is nowhere near as bad as people may report. I ended up in hospital after a chest infection caused real problems with my asthma - it was untreated asthma that was the main caue of my heat problems - too much strain on the heart. My breathing got so bad that my heart was showing signs of "cor pulmonale" - my EKG had a right axis deviation and my heart rate was getting way too fast (my doctor came to see me at home and I think he was quite alarmed by the strain on my heart)I was too busy trying to breathe to think about my heart! After lots of TLC and medication, the lungs were sorted out but the doctors were not happy with the cardiac state of affairs. I have an enlarged heart (cardiomyopathy) although not of the worst sort. My heart rate was still very high (130bpm) and there were a lot of irregular beats (I could feel my heart racing in my chest even lying down). I had a usual Echo which showed a lower ejection fraction than I had before but the doctors couldn't visualise the whole of my heart so they gave me a TEE. The upshot is that once the infection cleared, my heart slowed down but I have a lower ejection fraction, and they suspect a disposition to irregular rhythms. I have to see my doctor on a three weekly basis for the moment - I had a checkup today and had a fast and irregular beat just from climbing the stairs. Good news is I've been given a stethoscope - so I can become completely paranoid - speaking of which my resting heart rate was 120bpm half an hour ago and I'm feeling wheezy and a bit breathless again, so I think the doctor might be called out - oh dear! So many people are not even aware of their heart, but believe me, when you have problems with it you are made very aware very quickly. Off to take the asthmas meds, cardiac meds, and probably call the doctor as this heart of mine can't keep beating like this...