LVSD? Very worried

[Kaitlyn76]

hi everyone, I’m a 20 year old female and I am waiting for a cardiology referral.

It came as quite a shock but in May I had an ecg done which showed some abnormalities, flipped t waves, incomplete right bundle branch block, I was referred to get an echo which has shown that I have left ventricular systolic dysfunction although they don’t know how bad yet as it was a poor image, but as far as I’m aware my left ventricle is normal size and no damage? and an elongated mitral valve.

I don’t really experience many symptoms, sometimes I can get short of breath on exertion but nothing debilitating, when I stand up my heart rate often sky rockets and was told that could be a symptom of POTS? Other than that I’m pretty healthy and no other symptoms.

I’m currently studying at uni to become a paramedic and about to qualify in a year, this news has been such a scare and I should know better, but I did google my results and could not stop crying and worrying. I know I should probably wait for my appointment than to google things online but I’ve been absolutely petrified as everything on google says it’s HF?

Upon reading some things on here, I’ve realised that having this isn’t a ‘death sentence’ as such and people have still lead healthy lives, but I’m also only 20 so what does that mean for me? I cannot stop worrying the worst about this. As there’s not only one thing wrong on my echo but 2. Does anyone have any advice please!

[SLK-14]

Hello there...I was diagnosed with LVSD,EF 25 and Left Bundle Branch Block three years ago...needless to say I was devastated, however after lots of medication, exercise and a good diet I have managed to up my EF to 38.There is lots of hope and support on this site...keep intouch..Take care and stay safe 😊

[devonian186]

Do NOT google things unless you have the knowledge to assess often contradictory comments!

Presumably your training is helping but someone-your cardiologist or GP-should be properly interpreting these results and your echo needs to be clearer so everyone knows what is going on.

So first things first, get the basics done of a good echo test and then get a proper interpretation. You will be under a lot of stress which doesn't help. Have you recently changed diet as that is a big factor in staying healthy.

[Kaitlyn76 in reply to devonian186]

Yeah I had the echo done back in May and was told I’d get the results next week, no one contacted me for 2 months I assumed it was good news, but I decided to make an appointment just so that they’d at least tell me my results not thinking much of it, since July I’ve just been waiting to be given a cardiology appointment and the gp has just said they can’t really comment on my results and to just leave it to the specialist 😩

[Heartfairy]

Hello Kaitlyn76 first of all I’m sorry to read about your heart problems especially being so young. I’m in my 50s and I feel too young too. A cardiac nurse told me it doesn’t matter what age we are as we all believe we are too young for things to go wrong with our bodies but once you get the right diagnosis be assured that my cardiologist said if there is something going wrong in your body you want it to be your heart (not that we “want” it but I know what he meant) as they can patch it up, repair it and send us on our merry way. Heart tests and medication have come a long way so with the right help following a diagnosis we can live a normal life. However, I think it’s the emotional and mental side of things that are the hardest, or they were for me. Unable to accept I’d had a heart attack when I felt I did everything right etc but 10 months on, I’ve accepted it and have changed my lifestyle for the better (eating more plant based foods and exercising more). It’s in our nature to be inquisitive but try and not refer to Google. Sometimes there’s too much information on there and a lot of “worst case scenarios”, we scare ourselves so it’s best just to sit down and write out your own questions, fears and emotions and then discuss them with the medics in due course.

Secondly I want to say a huge congratulations on your studies to become a paramedic. You will know exactly how your patients feel when you tend to them as you will have walked in the shoes of someone who is scared and worried about their health and I imagine you will be the first port of all with many heart patients (amongst many other situations of course) but your experience will be priceless in helping and assuring people who are scared when they first see you. You will completely understand where they are coming from. So I wish you well with your tests and diagnosis and hopefully you will be able to carry on as normal with the right treatment. Good luck with your studies and never give up with that career choice - you’ll be amazing and do talk to people if you feel nervous or scared. This forum has really helped me accept my situation as you can’t beat getting help and advice from those who have walked in the shoes of a health scare. Take care and keep us updated ❤️🧚🏼‍♀️

[Chloeb13]

Hey, I was also told I have LVSD recently. I’m 32 and pregnant with my second. I was told I have to have a repeat echo as the image wasn’t as clear. Do you know what your ejection fraction was measured at? Do you know when your appointment is to have a cardiologist explain? It’s all very scary so I won’t say don’t panic because it would be hypocritical of me but push for answers xx

[Kaitlyn76]

hi! I don’t know what my EF was as they couldn’t measure it because it was a poor image, so I just got told to just wait for the referall and that the gp couldn’t do anything, If they don’t give me an appointment by October then they’ve said I have to call them up.

I know my ex boyfriend had the same thing I’m pretty sure from his chemotherapy but he just goes for yearly echo’s and isn’t on any medication etc, so I’m hoping I’ll just be the same? I honestly have no idea but so stressed and feel as though I’ve been waiting ages