Worried

[Perfectdogowner]

I have had an ablation to correct a pathway in my heart 2 years ago. The racing heart and breathlessness has gone. But this past few months I have had high blood, and been getting a heavy tight feeling in my chest that radiates to my jaw. It makes Me feel nauseous and clammy. Seen my GP about this and been to A & E several times. GP sent me for echocardiogram and results are saying the condition is atrial dilatation. I have no clue what it is and not seeing my GP until next Monday can anybody enlighten me what this is.. worried sick! Also I have been given a GTN spray for suspected angina and put on statins and bisoprolol plus aspirin.

[PadThaiNoodles]

The atria are the two upper chambers of your heart. Dilation means larger than normal. Did the echo results say whether it was left or right (or both)? Any mention of your valves?

In any case, the atrial dilation is caused by something else. In my case it was leaky aortic and mitral valves, but it can be many other things too (including high blood pressure).

[Perfectdogowner in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Thankyou for your reply. Think it's the left side. My GP doesn't seem to be concerned they haven't contacted me or anything. Until I phoned the doctor and the receptionist told me it will be next Monday when I will get a phone call to discuss. The results so it can't be that seriousm

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to Perfectdogowner]

It's also possible the atrial dilation is just an incidental finding. (The prolapsed disc in my back was found when doing an MRI of my descending aorta. Needless to say it doesn't have anything to do with my cardiovascular issues, but at least I now know why my back gets sore. 🙄)

Ennasti's post below contains excellent advice.

[Perfectdogowner in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Possibly I had same problem when I went for mri last year and they found a tumour on my spine.apparantly it's a hemangioma.

[Ennasti]

I’d guess they may need to do some tests to view your arteries. The spray is a vasodilator which will help ease the restriction of the flow of blood through your arteries by opening up the blood vessels. The statin will help stabilise any calcium build up in your arteries and prevent more from building. The aspirin will help prevent blood clots.

Self-advocate and follow-up with your medical people. It’s important you get a clear diagnoses so that you can also do whatever you need to do, to stay healthy. In the interim, avoid stress and if you’re a smoker or drinker, start working out how you can remove these from your life.

[Perfectdogowner in reply to Ennasti]

Yes all seems good with the speed they got me on the right meds. But it's the not enlightening me on what is actually wrong which makes me anxious..I also have sleep apnea and meant to wear a cpap machine at night. But I hate it. But don't think that's doing my organs any good.

[Ennasti in reply to Perfectdogowner]

The CPAP machine is really important for your heart. You might need to exercise some determination and try to work out ways you can accept wearing it. Best of luck.

No one on this site can tell you what is wrong as we’re not medically trained. Your best bet is to stay calm until you see the doctor and ask as many questions as you need then, to understand what is happening.

[Perfectdogowner in reply to Ennasti]

Thankyou for your reassurance.

[Qualipop in reply to Perfectdogowner]

There are numerous different styles of mask for the C Pap machine if your present one doesn't suit you. I think my son tried about 6. IT really is important to use it. The only alternative are to lose weight around your neck or surgery to tighten the soft palate which has a high risk of bleeding so is avoided as much as possible.

[Friendliarthur]

Atrial dilation is the result of atrial blood being under pressure. It really shouldn’t be seen as benign until the common causes are ruled out.

They include such things as hypertension, AFib, LVH, diastolic dysfunction, mitral valve stenosis, aortic valve stenosis or a combo of these. Such issues put the atrium under stress like a blown up balloon, by preventing the normal smooth flow of blood through the atrium and into the ventricle.

The atrium itself expands over time to cope with the stress of the extra blood remaining there instead of flowing through to the ventricle.

Sounds like you need to pursue further diagnosis. You might be able to construct pertinent questions based on the above.

Good luck. I’m happy to rewrite this more clearly if my explanation has been inadequate.

Cheers.

[nilmonisikdar40]

Atrial fibrillation means fast and irregular heart rate caused by erratic function of the left atrium which is upper left chamber. Since you had the ablation and you were okay for a while, the next step would be medication- probably digoxin. The enlarged heart showed by echocardiogram meant so many things including heart failure. The fact that you have angina and breathlessness may mean narrowing of coronary arteries which can only be confirmed by coronary angiogram- dye injected through femoral artery which is in the groin, Hope this helps. Regards.

[Perfectdogowner in reply to nilmonisikdar40]

Thankyou so much

[nilmonisikdar40]

Hi there, It's good in a way that there is atrial dilatation which sheds some light. It is possible the left atrium which has been affected caused by narrowing of the mitral valve which leads into left ventricle. Did you suffer from rheumatic fever in the past? I don't think there is any connection between atrial dilatation and high blood pressure? I feel your G.P. needs to refer you to the same cardiologist who did the ablation for racing heart.