From Jim Gilliam's blog archives
My heart is too big
August 17, 2005 10:06 PM
Last week, described two problems, radiation fibrosis, and some other unknown thing. Now there is an additional problem -- cardiomyopathy -- a condition where the heart is enlarged and doesn't eject blood that way it's supposed to. A normal heart pumps out 55% of the blood, my heart only does 40%. I'm being referred to a cardiologist for this one, and will set up an appointment tomorrow. My pulmonary doc said this is treatable, and mentioned an afterload reducing agent as a possibility. There are several kinds of cardiomyopathy, and based on what I've read, I think it's dilated (congestive) or DCM, but I need to ask that specifically. DCM is not curable, but there's a decent chance I can improve with some treatment. I do not have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Radiation fibrosis looks a lot different on the x-ray. I am to meet with my pulmonary doc on Monday to discuss the lung biopsy. He's not confident that it will help him figure out what the third (unknown) problem is, but is almost positive he wants to do it. He described what he's seeing as a lot of "dead space" -- areas of my lungs that aren't working to get carbon dioxide out or oxygen in. What I've read on cardiomyopathy says that alcohol is a bad thing. I don't drink much, but I'm going to lay off entirely for now.
My heart is too big (08.17.2005)
Next Entry: Minimum health care -- just like the minimum wage (08.18.2005)
Read the 7 comments.
Dave E.:
Thu Aug 18 2005 12:55 AM
Thu Aug 18 2005 4:27 AM
Thu Aug 18 2005 8:09 AM Paul:
Thu Aug 18 2005 7:59 PM Ellen:
Fri Aug 19 2005 3:21 AM J:
Fri Aug 19 2005 11:39 AM tommy guilbeau:
Tue Aug 23 2005 11:24 PM |
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