HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

enlarged heart found by accident during thoracic surgery. scared about it

Support Forums
>
Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted Yesterday 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
I posted earlier & so far no responses so thought I'd re-post. Doc discovered enlarged heart while fixing a severe hiatal hernia. I've had crazy palpitations most of my life, but now I'm worried about the enlarged heart finding. Doc asked if I had
heart problems but did not elaborate. Anyone have an enlarged heart? If so, what does it mean? I'm a bit scared. Hope to speak with PCP soon. Any info from anyone would be helpful. Going back to work Monday & hope things will get back to normal.

Thanks all
Posted Yesterday 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there, I'm not a mod here in the Heart forum but I'm going to post a link to the Mayo Clinic about enlarged hearts. Years ago in my 'other' life as an instructor, I had to take groups of students for chest x-rays and the doctor said one of them had an enlarged heart. The doctor asked if he was an athlete. So, although you will read about all the conditions that might lead to an enlarged heart, please don't stress out at this point.

I think you should go to your family physician or be referred to a cardiologist for an evaluation. I understand that you are worried but it's good that a potential problem has been discovered so you can learn more about it and take care of it. Best of luck!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/enlarged-heart/ds01129
Posted 12/10/2012 8:05 PM (GMT 0)

hiatal surgery newbie said...
Doc discovered enlarged heart ... I've had crazy palpitations most of my life



When the heart is not allowed to rest normally, over a long period of time, it enlarges and weakens. Heart Rhythm disturbances, such as tachcardia, are a main reason for an enlarged heart. Your long-time crazy palpitations might have been unhealthy for your heart.

Other contributing causes can be high blood pressure, diabetes, Coronary artery disease, etc.

hiatal surgery newbie said...
Anyone have an enlarged heart? If so, what does it mean?



I've had an enlarged heart (Heart Failure) for over 25 years, and am now close to 70. Mine was caused by an out-of-control tachycardia that went non-stop, at 160bpm, for seven months (I know... it was dumb of me to let it go that long! confused ).

I have Diastolic Heart Failure, in which the top part of my heart is enlarged 50% more than it should be. It has been a real drag, especially the older I got. But....... I found out that, thru diet, appropriate exercise, Coreg and avoiding heart stimulants and heart irritants, I survive Heart Failure with a reasonably high quality of life and I have slowly gotten much better.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply