My doctor thinks I might have a heart problem...

PJFAN_seattle

I'm a bit freaked out about it, I mean im only 17.
Anyone else gone through heart issues?

Kilgore_Trout

my cousin had chronic heart problems since he was a baby... but i don't wanna bog ya down with worst case scenarios

hope its nothing too serious, mate

eat well, get exercise, all that good stuff

Fifthelement

Oh, so sorry to hear this. I hope that it's nothing too serious. I can completely understand that your freaked right now. I know it's not easy, but it's really important to try not to stress too much, especially until you know for sure. Once you know, then you can make a plan regarding how to deal.

(((Hugs & good vibes)))

FrankieG

PJ_kidd_9-21-22 wrote:

I'm a bit freaked out about it, I mean im only 17.
Anyone else gone through heart issues?

I don't have heart Issues, But I have had Crohn's Disese since I was 12. I am 19 now.
I have handled it very well in my opinion.
If you have any specific question, definitely PM me.
As far as the freaking out part, you just need the right mindset. I don't know your exact situation, but if you think positive, positive things will happen.

PM me!

The Juggler

what are your symptoms?

PureandEasy

Oh I hope not Kidd, but better to know than not know, keep us up to date.

Jukee

I've never had any heart issues myself but I work on a Cardiac Floor and have seen many patient's with heart problems. Medicine has advanced so drastically in the last 20 years that i've seen patient's as old as 85 go through open heart surgeries without any complications. I've also seen many young patients who come in with heart issues and they don't have to have anything done surgically or if they do they don't have to have it done until they are much older and they live a happy and healthy life. I wish you all the best and please keep us updated.

Lizard

PureandEasy wrote:

Oh I hope not Kidd, but better to know than not know, keep us up to date.

Ditto

Ms. Haiku

I'm the first generation of patients with Tetralogy of Fallot to make it past 28, and I'm 41 and counting - Yay me! I rock, I know.

The last time I had open heart surgery was 35 years ago - again, I rock, thank you.
I had open heart surgery 2x, and started with a heart shunt at 21 months.

I've lived kindof cautiously as I don't want to EVER EVER EVER visit the ICU again. I've done my time, if you know what I mean.

I still have an enlarged heart because one side of the heart works harder than the other. 1 hole - the kind you dont' have to sew up. I had 4 that you do sew up. One side of the heart gets 65% of the blood and the other gets 35%, and the norm is at 55/45% split. Let's see . . . sluggish, has leaks.

My heart sounds great for someone with tetralogy of fallot. It may look abnormal, but it's been my version of normal for going on 42 years, and I don't have problems breathing. I can work out. I have 2 heart murmurs, and the cardiologists don't even reference them as they are so minor compared to anything else. I haven't seen a cardiologist in 10 years. I think they have done all they could do. Remember they don't know what to do with someone with tetralogy of fallot who lasted this long.

What's the problem anyway? I may not have current answers as so much has happened since 1974 when I had my last surgery.

It's very scary when doctors tell us something that takes us off guard in such a big way. A couple times in the 1990's doctors made me face my mortality (fucking BASTARDS!!!!!), and I proved them wrong. It's amazing what power those doctors have . . . of course we are going to listen to them.

I hope the process is smooth and uneventful. Keep us posted.

PJPixie

Ms. Haiku wrote:

I'm the first generation of patients with Tetralogy of Fallot to make it past 28, and I'm 41 and counting - Yay me! I rock, I know.

The last time I had open heart surgery was 35 years ago - again, I rock, thank you.
I had open heart surgery 2x, and started with a heart shunt at 21 months.

I've lived kindof cautiously as I don't want to EVER EVER EVER visit the ICU again. I've done my time, if you know what I mean.

I still have an enlarged heart because one side of the heart works harder than the other. 1 hole - the kind you dont' have to sew up. I had 4 that you do sew up. One side of the heart gets 65% of the blood and the other gets 35%, and the norm is at 55/45% split. Let's see . . . sluggish, has leaks.

My heart sounds great for someone with tetralogy of fallot. It may look abnormal, but it's been my version of normal for going on 42 years, and I don't have problems breathing. I can work out. I have 2 heart murmurs, and the cardiologists don't even reference them as they are so minor compared to anything else. I haven't seen a cardiologist in 10 years. I think they have done all they could do. Remember they don't know what to do with someone with tetralogy of fallot who lasted this long.

What's the problem anyway? I may not have current answers as so much has happened since 1974 when I had my last surgery.

It's very scary when doctors tell us something that takes us off guard in such a big way. A couple times in the 1990's doctors made me face my mortality (fucking BASTARDS!!!!!), and I proved them wrong. It's amazing what power those doctors have . . . of course we are going to listen to them.

I hope the process is smooth and uneventful. Keep us posted.

I knew I'd find you here Ms. Haiku!!

Hope all is well Kidd! You're doc should give you some sort of clue as to what exactly he thinks might be a problem.

PJPixie

My son has a defect called Hypo Plastic Left Heart Syndrome. He is 10 years old and has had 3 open heart surgeries, all before he was 3 years old! He's amazing! As Ms. Haiku said, and others, there are so many things happening medically out there. Something diagnosed now as opposed to 15, even 10 years ago, is probably treatable with much more success.

Keep up posted Kidd. I'm interested in what the docs think might be a problem and if there is a problem, why has it taken so long for them to find it?

samjam

Lizard wrote:

PureandEasy wrote:

Oh I hope not Kidd, but better to know than not know, keep us up to date.

Ditto

Ditto as well.
I really hope everything is ok!

PJFAN_seattle

Thanks for the replies guys haha.

Well I don't want to bore you with my medical history, but since I've been young doctors have thought I had somethng because of my muscle issues, skeletal structure issues, joint problems, etc., they tested me for many things inlcuding Stickers and Marfans Syndrome - which is what I have the most sympoms of, I think I have some form of marfans or "emerging marfans syndrome", basically meaning my connective tissues have problems as I have many joint problems, and am tall and meet much of the criteria. Anyways people with marfans have cardiovascular problems, because the walls around the blood vessels are weakened because the connective tissues are not strong enough and I have bad connective tissues in my body. Anyways they are pretty sure thats whats going on with me that the connective tissues are too weak thus according to Wikipedia I'd have a 10 percent chance of having an aortic dissection, that is when your main artery that leaves the heart the aorta tears open or bursts, and that is very bad which is why they're so concerned, because theres an 80 percent chance you'd die and half of people it happens to die before they reach the hospital.
Im not really sure how to prevent an aortic dissection from happening, I think you'd just need to be really aware about your chest pains and go to the doctor immediately if you start getting pain.
Im gettin my heart looked at in a week or two don't remember when my appointment is.

chadwick

sounds serious.
i wish you well.

my current heart doctor says i have an enlarged heart.
i've known this for years.
high blood pressure causes a heart to work harder.
thus the heart grows, it is like any other muscle that grows when working.

it has been a good life.
i will miss writing.

Ms. Haiku

PJ_kidd_9-21-22 wrote:

Thanks for the replies guys haha.

Well I don't want to bore you with my medical history, but since I've been young doctors have thought I had somethng because of my muscle issues, skeletal structure issues, joint problems, etc., they tested me for many things inlcuding Stickers and Marfans Syndrome - which is what I have the most sympoms of, I think I have some form of marfans or "emerging marfans syndrome", basically meaning my connective tissues have problems as I have many joint problems, and am tall and meet much of the criteria. Anyways people with marfans have cardiovascular problems, because the walls around the blood vessels are weakened because the connective tissues are not strong enough and I have bad connective tissues in my body. Anyways they are pretty sure thats whats going on with me that the connective tissues are too weak thus according to Wikipedia I'd have a 10 percent chance of having an aortic dissection, that is when your main artery that leaves the heart the aorta tears open or bursts, and that is very bad which is why they're so concerned, because theres an 80 percent chance you'd die and half of people it happens to die before they reach the hospital.
Im not really sure how to prevent an aortic dissection from happening, I think you'd just need to be really aware about your chest pains and go to the doctor immediately if you start getting pain.
Im gettin my heart looked at in a week or two don't remember when my appointment is.

It sounds like you have an idea of what is causing problems, and that's a good step. It also sounds like doctors will monitor, and you will monitor how things are going, and possibly nip any potential issue in the bud. I wish for you all the best, and that you don't have an aortic dissection. It sounds like odds are in your favor if only 10% of people with weak connective tissues do.

Pearl Drummer

samjam wrote:

Lizard wrote:

PureandEasy wrote:

Oh I hope not Kidd, but better to know than not know, keep us up to date.

Ditto

Ditto as well.
I really hope everything is ok!

Ditto as well
i hope all of well!
keep us updated

Ms. Haiku

PJPixie wrote:

I knew I'd find you here Ms. Haiku!!

I was hoping you would show up Good to hear your son hasn't had surgery recently.

PJFAN_seattle

Ms. Haiku wrote:

PJPixie wrote:

I knew I'd find you here Ms. Haiku!!

I was hoping you would show up Good to hear your son hasn't had surgery recently.

Yes thanks for your post mrs haiku, good luck with your heart

josevolution

Godd luck kid , i'm scheduled for a stress test next week i have high blood pressure & high colesterol ...

Ms. Haiku

Totally amazing story - boy, is it good to read this!

http://www.mapmyrun.com/story/3066/user ... love-ellen

PilateOfTheStorm

woah, that's scary but it's better to know now than later - makes it all the more treatable and manageable.
like someone said - you sound very knowledgeable about it which is a great thing and it will make you a lot more stronger.

i hope that whatever it is, you are able to deal with it and it doesn't affect your life too much - wishing you strength and sending my thoughts and good vibes

keep us informed, good luck and hope that you stay well

RKCNDY

I'm sorry to hear about your condition, but finding out about heart issues at a young age is better then at an advanced age...

sending good vibes your way!