Haven't posted in a while

CHF

by TAC - 2017-08-21 13:06:31

How old are you? It seems to me that you should not work with the type of symptoms that you have. The CHF will only get worse, your doctor will probably recommends that you retire or be put on medical disabily. CHF means that your heart is getting weak and can barely keep up with the physical demands. So cutting down the physical demands seems logical.

age

by kmom - 2017-08-21 13:23:27

I am 57 will be 58 next month. I have considered disability but i don't know if i'd be able to get it. i don't have systolic failure its just diastolic and right now they're saying it's only mild although i do have a lot of symptoms but we didn't know if they were related to the afib or not. now it's looking like they're not so hopefully we can proceed. I'm seeing the dr. today so we'll find out. how to proceed from there. i'll have a different dr. most likely NOT from the rhythm clinic. i'll probably be referred to a regular cardiologist or the heartfailure team if it's that bad. i've of course had other issues including ASD repair in 1985 and OHS in 2015 for cox maze (for the afib) i'l like to think as the energizer battery that keeps plugging along. not that full of energy though. just a sloww chug chug lol. (I work as a cashier at walmart--they have let me have a stool to sit on after the dr. requested it. but it's still tireing) 

OK back from DR.

by kmom - 2017-08-21 17:55:47

I am back from the dr. with report following. I am to see a heart failure specialist next week or so. 

Adult Echocardiogram 

Procedure  

The images were of good technical quality. Complete echo, cardiac Doppler and color flow imaging were performed. 

M-Mode/2D Measurements and Calculations 

IVSd: 1.01 cm LVIDd: 5.23 cm AOd: 2.70 cm EF: 56 % +/- 3% 

LVPWd: 0.89 cm LVIDs: 3.78 cm LAs: 5.10 cm FS: 27.7 %  

Doppler Measurements 

MV TV  

E Vel: 1.33 m/s TR Vel: 3.0 m/s  

A Vel: 0.37 m/s Pk Grad: 36 mmHg  

E/A 3.6 RA press: 15 mmHg 

PHT: 58 msec RVSP: 51 mmHg  

MVA: 3.8 cm2 

Decel Time: 201 msec  

Left Ventricle  

The left ventricular chamber size is normal. There is normal left ventricular wall thickness. Left ventricular systolic function is normal. Left ventricular ejection fraction is estimated to be 56 %(+/- 3%). LV basal fractional shortening is normal, as measured by 2D. Restrictive pattern of diastolic filling. Elevated mean left atrial pressure (LAP).  Right Ventricle 

The right ventricular size is mildly enlarged. Global right ventricular systolic function is normal. Catheter consistent with pacer or defibrillator seen in right heart. 

Left Atrium  

The left atrial size is mild to moderately dilated.  

Right Atrium  

The right atrial size is normal. The right atrial area is 17 cm2.  

Aortic Valve  

The aortic valve is tricuspid. Mild aortic valve regurgitation. 

Mitral Valve  

The mitral valve appears normal. Mild mitral annular calcification. Calculated valve area by pressure half time is 3.8 cm2. Mitral valve pressure half time is 58 msec. Trace mitral valve regurgitation.  Tricuspid Valve  

The tricuspid valve appears normal. Mild-moderate tricuspid regurgitation is present.

Calculated RVSP is 51 mmHg assuming a right atrial pressure of 15 mmHg.  

Pulmonic Valve  

The pulmonic valve is normal. Trace pulmonary valve regurgitation. 

Pericardium 

No pericardial effusion is seen. 

Aorta  

The aortic root size is normal, measuring 2.70 cm. The ascending aorta measures 2.90 cm in diastole.  

Pulmonary Artery 

There is moderate pulmonary hypertension.  

Venous  

The IVC is dilated, with respiratory size variation less than 50%.  Impression:  

Left ventricular systolic function is normal. The LVEF is 56 %(+/- 3%). 

Severe diastolic dysfunction. 

The left atrial size is mild to moderately dilated.  

Elevated mean left atrial pressure. 

Right ventricular systolic function is normal. 

Mild-moderate tricuspid regurgitation. 

There is moderate pulmonary hypertension.  

The IVC is dilated, with respiratory size variation less than 50%. 

  Trying now to figure out what it all means! and what the next steps will be. 

Robin

by kmom - 2017-08-23 10:49:52

Just to let you know--I did go from an EP with other insurance to a NEW EP with our new insurance. it was actually the NEW EP that is working on the other problem. the other EP that I had before kept batting around some differnt things but none of them checked out and I felt like i wasn't getting anywhere. The New EP that i'm with actually is doing something! realizing that it's not the PM or the afib and getting me over to a Heart Failure dr. who I see next week. i'm being extra careful and reducing my salt and fluids. (maybe a little too careful on that one?? ) and i've already lost over 15 lbs in the last week. 13 of it in just 1 day! i was really fluid overloaded and didn't realize it. i realize this isn't just a work on this for a couple of weeks then go back to my old lifestyle i think that's what happened in Dec. i'm going to have to make the committment of no salt and limited fluids for the rest of my life. but I'll DO IT! step by Step! 

Regarding disability I hope you finally got it! From what I understand you'll always be deneyed the first go round. you can always appeal after that and usually it's granted or at least considered. I would think so difenately in your case with Renal failure that's usuall an automatic qualifier! When I listen to stories like yours It really makes me think twice about even applying for SSDI because you've got it far worse than I do. I really think once they figure this out and get me feeling better again I'll be at it strong. I do beleive we're getting somewhere though now.