Echo results - Anyone else have diastolic dysfunction?

Hi,

I got the results of my echo today.  I am still have continuing chest pain.  Well it said I have the first stage of diastolic dysfunction with inflammation and irritation.  My rheum said it is caused by high blood pressure, except that I have NEVER had high blood pressure.  I am normally 90/60 with the highest measured of 110/72.  I have been as low as 80/48 and still not faint or anything.  My look up on the net has linked lupus to diastolic dysfunction.  I am seeing the cardio next Wed.  Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Lainie

SouthernChick said...
My blood pressure sounds exactly like yours. I woke up ill on July 30th after being a reasonably healthy and active person, and one of my many symptoms is heart palpitations and tachycardia. The only thing I've been dx'd with so far is allergies and my ANA titer has been high 2 times in a row - last was 1:160 H. Upon giving me that news, my allergist said that I have an auto-immune disease. I have not yet seen a rheumy and really don't know which direction to go next. But I do know that my heart is about to jump right out of my chest right now.

Hi Southern Chick,
I am sure you have been tested fro lyme with all the tick bites, but have you had your thyroid tested? Your titers are pretty low being only one titer above normal and your other symptoms with the tachy could be thyroid. It would be worth it to check!

Lainie

Post Edited By Moderator (Lynnwood) : 10/23/2013 9:44:48 AM (GMT-6)

Hi LupieLain. I have diastolic heart failure and a normal blood pressure. I was short of breath for a couple of months, but no chest pain. Many tests later (from pulmonologist and cardiologist working together) my Tled to the diagnosis. So my body is attacking my heart causing the wall of my left ventricle to thicken. The thickening of the wall makes the ventricle unable to contract properly and the resulting fluid build-up puts pressure on my lungs which makes short of breath. I now take Lasix daily. Lasix makes me pee (of course) and that relieves the fluid that presses on my lungs. Some days I have to take 2 Lasix.

Eventually if the Lasix is working I will have to switch to a stronger drug. I've searched this and noticed some, if not all, of these drugs are also used to treat high blood pressure. I'm just guessing, but that's probably why your doc said you have high blood pressure.

I really had a hard time accepting that my lupus has now invaded my heart and the stress caused me to flare. Now I've accepted it, but it still sucks and I'm very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. As long as I take my Lasix I'm okay. I'll see my cardiologist again in six months. I hope your cardiology visit goes well. Love, Butterflake  

Butterflake - I have had severe heart symptoms this week. No pain, but lots of palpitations and mild SOB. Back in July I went through a period of two weeks with heart flutterings and severe SOB. I almost went to ER on two occasions. My allergist said it was due to allergies. May I ask what your ANA titer is/has been? Mine has been only 1:160 which is right on the positive line. I'm still not convinced I have Lupus, but I am having lots of heart symptoms. Went to a pulmonologist who said he thought I "got into something" that caused my symptoms - I'm assuming he meant like an allergic reaction.

I had a lot of indigestion, nausea and vomiting recently.  I kept telling my Drs it was my stomach and acid reflux.   They made me go thru the stomach tests as well as see a cardiologist.  Gastro Dr says aid reflux out of control and put me on protonix, esophagus not working taking reglan before eating for that.  My stomach is much improved.

Stress  test was good , but echo shows enlarged left ventricle with aortic and mitral valve leakage.  The cardiologist says this is nothing to worry about unless I have shortness of breath, and I am good there.  They said the enlargemnt of left ventricle is usually do to high blood pressure which I don't have.  He said some people are just born that way.   I mentioned this to my Rheumy and she wants the records.

I haven;t slept in weeks over 2--4 hrs a night.   Finally got in to see Sleep Dr.  Old one has left (thank you Lord) and I saw new one.  Found out I actually have a bad case of apnea and the old Dr never told me.  So glad I have stuck with my CPAP.  i  am on a adjusting maching for a month and then I go back.  I have actuALLY slept  all night 3 nights this week.  For those of you who sleep.........this is a wonderful thing.  I now know when I have these problems its time to call the sleep Dr.

Hopr everyone has a wonderful week. 

Yes, there are many cross-over symptoms between Lupus, Lyme, Allergies, and many other diseases. I have also posted on the Lyme forum recently because our son was diagnosed with Lyme. I have had symptoms of Lupus - fatigue, achy joints, the butterfly rash, and ANA test at 1:1280. Only my dermatologist ever felt confident in diagnosing Lupus, but after learning more about Lyme, mold and other toxins, I wonder....
I would advise anyone with the cross-over symptoms to investigate Lyme further. Our son was diagnosed at Sponaugle Wellness in Florida, had 7 weeks of treatment, and is now a different person.

Our research is showing us Lyme is much more prevalent than we ever realized, and that it is an extremely dangerous disease that can be fatal. We have also learned that it is not only contracted through ticks, but mosquitos, horses, and even sexual contact!

Lyme is hard to diagnose through tests that regularly show false negatives. However, there are tests that are more accurate, and there ARE Drs. who are experts in the disease. I now believe we have thousands of people diagnosed with things like Parkinson's, RLS, IBS, psychological conditions such as depression and Bi-Polar disorder, who are never correctly diagnosed, never correctly treated, and therefore, their symptoms continue to worsen!

Western medicine has a problem with things like "chronic lyme" but when you see people's health improve, quickly and dramatically, you have a hard time not believing it.

So, for my two cents worth, and in my own opinion, I would suggest consulting with a Lyme expert. I have now seen too many people, including our son, who are not able to find a Dr. to help them. Maybe Lyme has nothing to do with your problems, but if it does, the Lyme expert is the only one who has knowledge to treat it successfully. ABX treatment alone will not be successful unless the Lyme is in it's first stage. Good luck to you all.