Questions about Cardiac Conditions

jerkbait_1075

New member
So I go to the Doctor the other day for a "pinched nerve" in my Right upper spine/shoulder blade area. I had been experiencing moderate pain for over a week and a half. I had experienced this before as I lift weights regularly and a pinch or irratated nerve in that area just seems to happen to me from time to time especially when I "throw a little more weight on the bar". Typically the pain works itself out in a few days and I am back to working out as ussual. Well??? This time the pain went on and on, and actually got progressively worse spreading from the back side under my arm pit and into my right chest. Once the pain got into my chest and arm area my wife wanted me to go to the ER. I compromised and went to a medical clinic early the next day.

Low and Behold to me, If you are a male in your 40's or older and you arrive at a medical facility and tell them that you have any amount of chest pain or arm pain PEOPLE FREAK and all of the sudden you are in for a barage of tests. While investigating what they believed to be a blood clot in my lung, which it turned out not to be the Doctors ordered a 2 day stress test and a Echocardiogram. Both test reveal that I have a Dialated Left Ventricle.......

So my question to my fellow JD'rs...... Is any one familiar with this condition? They have scheduled me with a Cardiologist for next friday. I talked with him on the phone and he reassured me that I am in no way in any imminent danger and that waiting to next friday is just fine. He went on to explain that me having this condition is a bit odd as I have absolutly no conditions that would contribute to or lead to developing this. Such as High blood pressure, overweight, cardiac valve issue, family history of heart disease, ect, ect. He told be that my heart rate and pressure response and recovery during the stress test could not have been better and that it is obvious that i work out regularly. Bottom line I seem to be stumping people. The cardiologist told me that at this point the possibilities as to why range from me being born this way and it now just being discovered, all the way to some type of internal heart situation that over time has lead to this....

Im not TOO Freaked out.....

Just looking for advice. Our little network of friends here a John Dee always seem to know a little bit about everything.....
 

zimmbob

Member
My wife is an Echo Tech, I'll ask her. But based on what the Cardiologist said, don't be too concerned. I hear stories from her all the time, of things much worse, and people do just fine.

Do some research online, that will help comfort your curiosity about the condition.
 
G

G

Guest
If you are a male in your 40's and go to any medical facility and use the word 'chest' and the word 'pain' anywhere in the same paragraph you have given them a license to steal. Each and every test they give you costs a whole bunch of money for either you or your insurance company. They will never tell you that you will be O.K. because then you wouldn't come back. They will scare you into more tests and pills and expert opinions. Which is one of the reasons we have the most expensive medical systems in the world. Oh, and we are fatter and living shorter lives also. Your first instinct is probably right - you pulled something. Lay off the weights and eat a cheeseburger. If you were born with this condition you have made it to your 40's so it can't be that bad. Don't sweat it. Free advice from Dr. Grub.
 

scott_b

Member
Sounds to me like you are a lucky guy, finding the issue early enough that the cardiologist is comfortable waiting to see you. I wouldn't be too worried, cardiologists don't screw around, if it was a huge issue they wouldn't have let you go home.

Best of luck
 

Dave_B

Active member
I agree. Sounds like you are lucky!

My brother-in-law went in yesterday, 40's and chest pain, so they went mad animal with tests on him. He has 4 blockages that need to be cleared. No previous indication that anything was wrong.

At 45, I guess I should get checked out. I've already been thinking about it after what happened to Squat, now I just need to go do it!
 

pez

Member
I think at our age, we need to be a bit paranoid and listen to our bodies.
My brother went in at 40 with chest pains...doctor told him now he knows what heart burn feels like....goes home, goes to bed, can't sleep, sweating and all of that. Drives himself to the ER at 3:00am having a major heart attack. Widow Maker blocked. He is fine now.
 

Dave_B

Active member
I hate to steal the thread because of what bait (I won't call him a jerk because I don't know him) went thru had to be something none of us would expect but, a few years ago, long story, I went thru several anxiety attacks. Never was man enough to go in but should have.

I plan on changing that so, thanks jerk for posting this.

You and Squat may have saved many of our lives! Well, Squat already has for me. Maybe not for the better... but certainly has!
 

zimmbob

Member
Talked to my wife. She confirmed what the cardiologist said. Having it can be caused by something as simple as a virus or many other things. If there is no loss in function or other issues, really there is little to nothing to be concerned about. But, always listen to the cardiologist. She talks with them all the time and does the actual exams, so I trust her, but clearly, JohnDee is not the place to diagnose a cardiac issue.

Good luck. My gut says you'll be fine.
 

Dave_B

Active member
Just an update for my bro-in-law.

Short version, 43 yrs old and needs a quadruple bypass. He is having surgery on Thursday.

I think this a great thread to wake a lot of us up. I'm sure most of us haven't led the stellar lifestyle as far as diet and exercise goes and, probably, focused more on the more "fun" things in life.

I plan on going in to get checked out and I hope some others will too.
 

polarisrider1

New member
Just an update for my bro-in-law.

Short version, 43 yrs old and needs a quadruple bypass. He is having surgery on Thursday.

I think this a great thread to wake a lot of us up. I'm sure most of us haven't led the stellar lifestyle as far as diet and exercise goes and, probably, focused more on the more "fun" things in life.

I plan on going in to get checked out and I hope some others will too.

I am sure your lung x-rays will scare you bud.
 

ffemt

Member
At the age of 46 (3 years ago ) I had a stent put in the Left Artery Desending (LAD) or the window maker any of you who think they have symptoms or ignore them please go get check out for your family members if not for the snow gods !
 

frnash

Active member
At the age of 46 (3 years ago ) I had a stent put in the Left Artery Desending (LAD) or the window maker any of you who think they have symptoms or ignore them please go get check out for your family members if not for the snow gods !

LAD = Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery (Anterior = front)

That's where I got my first stent as well, way back in 1999.
Then with my cardiac arrest event ten years later they discovered that the original stent was blocked! It seems the original stent was one of the first ones ever made. The current stents include some anti-clotting features, so that hopefully won't happen again!
 

tilltheend

New member
Good Luck Jerkbait. I guess it reminds us all to get your physical, and listen to your doc. Even with no symptoms just family history I had a heart calcium score done. 15 min cat scan exam for $50, no insurance involved, it tells them quite a bit about possible blockages ect. Mine was 0 which is lowest on a scale to 1000, I sleep better knowing.
 

anonomoose

New member
While I agree that if the doctor even imagined that you were in any danger, he would NOT have scheduled you way out like that. So there is little to be afraid of right now and that is encouraging news...on another front, you should be looking at "life style" changes to improve your health at every opportunity.

One last thing...Nash...don't worry about stents...if they get blocked up, a super stent doctor at cleveland clinic says that they can put a stent inside of a stent and another one inside that one if needed over time.

If any of you are looking at by-pass surgery, before they do it...investigate a stent first. If it is possible do one rather than the by-pass stuff as the recovery is ten times faster and they really do work to keep open or repair a ruptured line. My 94 year old mother is proof of some skilled stent work and she is still going like the ever-ready bunny!

And anyone who hesitates heading to get professional advice when they have a pain in their chest is more foolish than teenagers driving around with 3 cases of beer in their car.

Error on the side of caution.
 
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jerkbait_1075

New member
Just and update. Saw the cardiologists yesterday. Long story short there is an enlargement but even he was unable to give a good reason as to why. He stated that i am very fit and in excellent health. So the plan from here is to monitor it regularly with echo tests and regular visits to him to see if this is a stable condition or one that is progressive. The enlargement is causing a slight leaky valve on that side but it is of no concern at this time. Thanks for all your input. He gave me the green light to return to my normal work out routine. Oh yah!!!!!!
 

zimmbob

Member
LAD = Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery (Anterior = front)

That's where I got my first stent as well, way back in 1999.
Then with my cardiac arrest event ten years later they discovered that the original stent was blocked! It seems the original stent was one of the first ones ever made. The current stents include some anti-clotting features, so that hopefully won't happen again!

And I think the intent was "widow" not "window"........... Didn't think you'd have missed that one frnash.
 
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