What have I got?
Discussion
I've seen the doc a couple of times but no idea really, but they've booked me in for blood tests and a chest xray.
Beginning of Sept I had a covidy viral thing, not such bad symptoms as the 1st time but knocked me bandy for a few days.
Since then I've trouble completely shaking it, breathless some days while walking other days fine. I've also had 3 proper flare ups, sore throat, coughing, flem difficultly breathing, gasping for air, sitting up no sleeping.
The flare ups last 12-14 hrs, then symptoms subside leaving me fatigued, 12-14 hrs later I'll be okay. By the time I get to see the docs I'm back to normal.
I'm T1 diabetic so susceptible to stuff, blood sugars are normal, usually an infection makes these difficult to control.
My Father was asmatic, could these be asthma attacks, rather than viral?
Anyone else with similar
Beginning of Sept I had a covidy viral thing, not such bad symptoms as the 1st time but knocked me bandy for a few days.
Since then I've trouble completely shaking it, breathless some days while walking other days fine. I've also had 3 proper flare ups, sore throat, coughing, flem difficultly breathing, gasping for air, sitting up no sleeping.
The flare ups last 12-14 hrs, then symptoms subside leaving me fatigued, 12-14 hrs later I'll be okay. By the time I get to see the docs I'm back to normal.
I'm T1 diabetic so susceptible to stuff, blood sugars are normal, usually an infection makes these difficult to control.
My Father was asmatic, could these be asthma attacks, rather than viral?
Anyone else with similar
PositronicRay said:
Echo Cardiogram today revealed a sub par left ventricle.
Instructions to take it easy and wait for a refferal.
Your symptoms sound very similar to mine. I had a nasty virus in 2017 (I was 55 at the time) that left me with a chesty, wheezy cough that I couldn't shake off. At night my chest became rather 'gurgly' and I struggled to breathe when laying down. I felt weak and tired, with a raised heart rate. Ended up in A&E, was admitted to cardiology and diagnosed with heart failure. Essentially, in my case, that means a weakened left ventricular heart wall - the muscle is 'puffy' in that area according to my consultant. They call it "DCM", which is Dilated Cardio Myopathy.Instructions to take it easy and wait for a refferal.
I was put on a cocktail of drugs and now, six years later, those drugs manage my condition quite well. I should point out that at the time of my illness in 2017 I was fit and not overweight; I played 5 a side each week and ran a half marathon for instance. Now I can't do intensive exercise but can walk several miles or play a round of golf without needing a buggy.
Prognosis is to continue with the drugs, have regular echo cardiograms and monitor my ejection fraction (ooer missus). The latter is a key indicator of your heart's efficiency so you might want to ask what yours is after they've done the echo. Mine is around 38 which is not great but not terrible. IIRC under 30 is a big problem, whereas a healthy fit male might have a value of 55+.
Hope this helps.
Hants PHer said:
PositronicRay said:
Echo Cardiogram today revealed a sub par left ventricle.
Instructions to take it easy and wait for a refferal.
Your symptoms sound very similar to mine. I had a nasty virus in 2017 (I was 55 at the time) that left me with a chesty, wheezy cough that I couldn't shake off. At night my chest became rather 'gurgly' and I struggled to breathe when laying down. I felt weak and tired, with a raised heart rate. Ended up in A&E, was admitted to cardiology and diagnosed with heart failure. Essentially, in my case, that means a weakened left ventricular heart wall - the muscle is 'puffy' in that area according to my consultant. They call it "DCM", which is Dilated Cardio Myopathy.Instructions to take it easy and wait for a refferal.
I was put on a cocktail of drugs and now, six years later, those drugs manage my condition quite well. I should point out that at the time of my illness in 2017 I was fit and not overweight; I played 5 a side each week and ran a half marathon for instance. Now I can't do intensive exercise but can walk several miles or play a round of golf without needing a buggy.
Prognosis is to continue with the drugs, have regular echo cardiograms and monitor my ejection fraction (ooer missus). The latter is a key indicator of your heart's efficiency so you might want to ask what yours is after they've done the echo. Mine is around 38 which is not great but not terrible. IIRC under 30 is a big problem, whereas a healthy fit male might have a value of 55+.
Hope this helps.
I'm 65, pretty fit, walk a lot, physically active etc, I haven't seen the report, verbally less than 50%.
My older brother suffered a heart attack earlier this year. A couple of nights in hospital, a fit 70 y/o around 20% with a BNP of over 1k. (Mine is 236) strangely enough his problems manifested themselves after a dose of Covid.
Whilst I'm disappointed, I'm also pleased they're getting to the bottom of it.
You would really need to be seen by a cardiologist urgently with that ejection fraction.
Effectively you have a description not a diagnosis, which matches with your symptoms.
There are lots of cardiologists who specialise in heart failure - unfortunately it is a growth area.
If the appointment was to be delayed by months I would strongly consider going private.
Need to be considered for ACE inhibitors and B-blockers.
Effectively you have a description not a diagnosis, which matches with your symptoms.
There are lots of cardiologists who specialise in heart failure - unfortunately it is a growth area.
If the appointment was to be delayed by months I would strongly consider going private.
Need to be considered for ACE inhibitors and B-blockers.
tyrone1973 said:
You would really need to be seen by a cardiologist urgently with that ejection fraction.
Effectively you have a description not a diagnosis, which matches with your symptoms.
There are lots of cardiologists who specialise in heart failure - unfortunately it is a growth area.
If the appointment was to be delayed by months I would strongly consider going private.
Need to be considered for ACE inhibitors and B-blockers.
I'm okay with seeing a cardiologist privately and self funding. Once I've had a diagnosis and a treatment plan, will I be able to resume NHS treatment?Effectively you have a description not a diagnosis, which matches with your symptoms.
There are lots of cardiologists who specialise in heart failure - unfortunately it is a growth area.
If the appointment was to be delayed by months I would strongly consider going private.
Need to be considered for ACE inhibitors and B-blockers.
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