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Am new to this site, about 3-4 weeks now. Have been reading much in the archives, glossary, BB, etc. Have learned a LOT from this site and gotten confirmation on things we were doing for our health. My question is about my husband. He is 56, in decent health, good B/P, etc. He retired from the Air Force in 1983 and is working someplace else now. He had a complete physical upon retirement from the AF and no heart disease showed then. Three years ago he got bilateral pneumonia. The doctor also detected a heart murmur that he had for 30+ yrs. It bothered him so much I never knew he had one. This doctor put him in the hospital and then called a cardiologist who diagnosed him as MVP and wanted to operate while he had pneumonia! He did show me some Xrays and test results (to scare me I think) He said there was regurgitation. To make a LONG story short, we left as soon as possible after numerous tests and my husband has been good since. He works hard and has a stressful job. His only physical problem being some symptoms and the ideas of heart disease put in his head. After reading the archives and many other sites on MVP we are convinced that the diagnosis was very wrong. Also heard from other sources this doctor loved to do surgery whenever he could.
My husband's symptoms are: palpitations when resting (before any food, caffeine, etc.) no pain, just flutters sometime hard heart beats when he awakens or rests. He also says he has a funny feeling in his chest when he lays on his left side. The doctor had said he would get CHF sooner or later. We take care of our health although we have been known to make short sidetrips into things we like...he loves his sugar. When he watches the sugar and caffeine he is fine except for minor palpitations.
He has no symptoms of swelling in his hands or feet and is very active. He does not exercise nor do any SR. He says he will not go to a doctor unless he absolutely has to go. Does this sound serious to you, Dr Stoll? Should I encourage him to go to a dr for these symptoms? Apologize for the length. Want you to get the whole picture.
In Reply to: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice posted by DAC on April 25, 2002 at 12:51:47:
Also he never had Rheumatic Fever.
In Reply to: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice posted by DAC on April 25, 2002 at 12:51:47:
I am a 37-year-old female. I am in good health. I wrote to Dr. Stoll last year after experiencing major palpitations. I had the cario work up and they found nothing, just lots of PVC'S AND PAC's. The Dr. put me on a beta blocker (25 mg. Toprol). My PVC's are triggered by caffeine, sugar, eating too much close to bedtime and STRESS (also hormones). My dad also was having sypmtoms (he is 57). The same cardiologist did a thalium stress test and told my Dad to call the next day for results. (we were all very worried because heart disease killed my grandpa at at 55). Anyway, my Dad had to wait 4 days for results. The Dr. then sent my Dad a letter telling him he was too "pushy" and he was "firing" my Dad from his practice!! My point in this long story is that the cardiologist is not looking at the "whole picture". We have both requested our records and will try to find a Dr. that actually gives a darn. You should make sure you do the same. You must look at your whole lifestyle, not just your heart as an organ.
Upon Dr. Stoll's recommendation, I take Magnesium Orotate (250 mg.) one time per day. Read Magnesium archives and palpitation archives. You must take a good form of absorbable Magnesium. This has helped me big time. I don't touch caffeine, do little sugar, and don't eat close to bed time. I have been able to cut the beta blocker down to 12 mg. and hope to stop taking that as soon as I meet with a new cardiologist that looks at things from a "whole" perspective.
Dr. Stoll will tell you that you must get rid of that stress (stress-effect hormone stored in brain). He is right on with that too. If you don't find a way to do that, it will catch up to you at some point. I am a high-strung personality and for me, I need to walk every night for 20 minutes and then do aerobics on the weekend. This all has taken my palpitations to about once per month down from almost every other day or so!
I hope this all helps. Good luck.
In Reply to: Re: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice posted by Jackie on April 26, 2002 at 10:26:42:
Thanks< Jackie. We are doing all the things we can. It takes a while for me to help him change his lifestyle. I exercise, he doesn't, etc. He is good health other than the few symptoms he has. I have gotten him on vitamins and minerals...good ones. Am trying to help him with his diet more. Since he is slender he doesn't have a weight problem and is very active. Just does not do the SR and I try not to be preachy or pushy.
I really appreciate your input. I got some magnesium again and I am looking for some higher dosge. (Or maby the correct one. I am reading the archives every day and I am so grateful for the help.
Thanks again. DAC
In Reply to: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice posted by DAC on April 25, 2002 at 12:51:47:
Hi, DAC.
I would get copies of all his records and see another cardiologist for a second opinion. ANY ethical physician would welcome a second opinion so do not try to hide it from anybody. IF he has rheumatic heart disease and mitral regurgitation he MAY need surgery, eventually.
This is not a hard diagnosis to make.
However, this is a condition that shows a lot more symptoms than the dysrrhythmia you are describing long before he would need surgery.
First, I would start him on the easiest to absorb magnesium supplement I could find (glycinate, aspartate or orotate) and have him taking at least a gram of elemental magnesium twice a day. See the magnesium archives and the cardiac dysrrhythmias archives.
There is no way he could be harmed by doing this.
Because I cannot imagine any surgeon wanting to operate on MVP, there is a real possibility that this is rheumatic valvular disease and you just had a miscommunication.
Let us know what you learn.
I would be careful that the second opinion doc has no connection to either of the docs that saw him in the first place.
Walt
In Reply to: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice posted by DAC on April 25, 2002 at 12:51:47:
By the way, DAC.
If this truly IS rheumatic valvular disease, I cannot imagine the service ever letting him in. He would have to had it ever since he was pretty young.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice posted by DAC on April 25, 2002 at 13:01:24:
Thanks, DAC.
I seriously doubt this diagnosis as well. See my previous responses today. However, it IS possible for one to have it and not know it.
It is just that I thought everyone already knew that surgery should NEVER be contemplated for MVP.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice posted by Jackie on April 26, 2002 at 10:26:42:
Thanks, Jackie.
This is an example of one of the advantages of successful teaching & personal example. You are now as good at helping others with this as I am.
I appreciate your testimonial and continue to wish you well.
Namaste`
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice posted by Walt Stoll on April 26, 2002 at 19:12:17:
Thanks for the reply Dr Stoll. From what I am reading and from your response and Jackie's, I feel like I am on the right track. Just have to keep on with the trying to get his lifestyle changes. His symptoms are mild and I truly believ myself after all the study on this board and many other sites, that we will continue with the lifestyle changes. I would like him to get a second opinion, however he has no desire to do so. He had very few symtpoms when he was diagnosed. The doctor never even truly addressed the main reason we went in (pneumonia) and then they wanted to operate while he had it. There were numerous mistakes made during his care and so we retreatd from the whole thing. Thank you so very much for the input. Since he assures me he never had reuhmatic fever, I feel sure he has been a victim of the system. Will do as much as possible from the things I learn to get the necesssary changes in place. I guess I just wanted to be sure I have done the right thing by staying out of the operating room until or if he ever shows more signs of needing help surgically.
In Reply to: Re: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice posted by DAC on April 27, 2002 at 10:12:16:
Thanks, DAC.
Sounds to me like you both had more sense than the docs you were seeing. If this is not RVD, these docs should be digging ditches rather than doing heart surgery!
I still think that he should resolve the diagnosis. IF this is a hidden rheumatic heart valve condition, he will eventually start having symptoms of heart failure and THAT is a little (but not too) late for surgical correction. It would be better if he knew exactly what those symptoms might be (early). That IS a worry though and to avoid that he needs to have it established (beyond question) if he has this or not. If not "fuggedaboudit"; if yes, he is forwarned.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice (Archive in hear posted by Walt Stoll on April 28, 2002 at 08:04:39:
Dr Stoll, it sounds like you and I are tracking in the same direction. I will encourage him to get a real diagnosis. We were in California when this happened and it is 3 years down the road. He is having only mild symptoms, no pain, and he acts so healthy and is so active other than no exercise regime. I just wanted to know what you have just suggested, is it or is it not something that will go into CHF. When he watches the caffeine and sugar he does lots better, too. I have him on magnesium, but I am going to get the one you suggested. He does lots of hard work outdoors on his days off from the office and outlasts me. We are in Texas now, and we will move to Arizona when he really "retires," if he ever does. and would have no connection to those other guys. DO you think we should even mention the other, I hesitate to say the word "doctors'" diagnosis if I can get him in? He is VERY resistant to going, since it was such an experience.
Bless you for the work you do. I will pray for your work and thank you so much for all we have already learned and had confirmed for us. DAC (Dolores/husband, Dawayne)
In Reply to: Re: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice (Archive in hear posted by DAC on April 28, 2002 at 16:12:21:
Thanks, DAC.
From what you have been telling us about his activity tolerance (3 YEARS AFTER THE FACT) I am going to have to stop trying to give those docs the benefit of the doubt and say that, in my opinion, it was immoral and unethical to suggest immediate surgery at the time.
To get the best opinion, if it were me, I woudl have copies of all his medical records in hand but not tell the new docs anything but his symptoms and that he has a heart murmur. This is long enough, from that previous experience, that he would need comparison studies anyhow. IF they say it is nothing, they may change their minds when they see the old readings. If they say it is something, the comnparison readings will be invaluable.
Let us know what you learn.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Husband's Heart Symptoms/Dr Stoll's & anyone else'sadvice (Archive in hear posted by Walt Stoll on April 29, 2002 at 10:23:41:
Will do my best to encourage him to get a second opinion as well as the things you have suggested. Appreciate all the input and advice. Will let you all know what happens from here.
Thanks again,
DAC (Dolores)
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