enlarged heart

[nanniejan]

I have been to chest doctor today referred by endo , as he said I have sleep apnea ,and now the other Dr said that I also have an enlarged heart ,I have got to have lots more tests for both these things to see how bad they are , but has anyone else had either of these problems as I feel very uneasy at the moment .xx Jan xx

[nanniejan]

Sorry about the tags it was not responding and added the slimming,mming,slimming ??

[Daisy]

I too have suffered with sleep apnea before going on Levo but unlike Phicks mine cleared up 6 weeks into the treatment. Think the drug affects people differently and I am one of the lucky ones who is responding well. My sleep pattern is returning to normal but at my age (61) I do not expect to sleep soundly. Sorry i cannot be more helpful

[nanniejan in reply to Daisy]

Thanks Daisy ,I think your right about the effects on different people,I have been on levo for a couple of years and this has only happened recently ,I think it's because of the weight that I have put on and can't shift ,are you having any treatment for it ?

[Daisy in reply to Daisy]

No treatment now but was having treatment for allergies. Needless to say all my allergies have cleared up since diagnosed with under active thyriod. I am very lazy about going to doctor as i do not like taking pills. Do have an appointment tomorrow to discuss latest bloods. my TSH had improved down to 2.5 but this latest test shows it going up again but it is only at 3.9. Doctor may increase my dose as i am only on 25 mg per day due to age. I have been doing very well on the small dose and am careful to take it 30 mins before food and drink in the morning. My temperature now on waking is around 36 it had been 34 so I have made progress. Interestingly enough I have also taken up Tai Chi and this is when I noticed the improvement in sleeping. May not be related but it sure makes me keep going. Hope this helps

[nanniejan]

Thanks for your reply ,what do you take now Armour ? I did ask my GP if I could I try and he said there is no difference !!! I will ask again when I see him again .

[Hidden]

Hi nanniejan - how did the pituitary/acromegaly tests go? xxx

[nanniejan in reply to Hidden]

They were fine ,but now it seems I have an enlarged heart and sleep apnea ,so it just gets better don't you think .

got to have lots more tests so they will send me app; I was so fazed in the end that I can't remember a lot of what he said ,he said about me not driving but was only recommendation not that I must not although that will depend on results ,and that is my life line as i cant walk far ,don't know what i would do if i cant drive as i take my granddaughter to school and to far to walk .

It seems we cant have a conversation because under your name there is not that option??

xx Jan XX

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jane

Have you reported the Conv problem via the feedback tab?

Thanks

Louise

xx

[Hidden]

Suggest you read Hypothyroidism type II by Dr Mark Starr. He shows photographs of a heart which was enlarged on T4, then when the patient took T3 the heart returned to normal, and when the t3 was stopped, the heart grew again...

Nel.

[JackStone in reply to Hidden]

I have severe sleep apena which has played a factor in my having Pulmonary hypertension and heart failure which is basically what an enlarged heart is.Heart failure sounds worse than it is by the way it just means that your heart is not working as well as it should do. You should get the doctor to check to see if you have developed PH which is high blood pressure in the lungs as well as this could be a possibility owing to your other conditions. If it has developed the sooner you get treatment for that the better

The sleep apena would have caused the enlarged heart because it has put it under strain. You need to have a sleep study and then get put on CPAP treatment as that will help your condition and prevent further harm.These conditions are serious but with treatment can be controlled and managed.Good luck and try not to worry to much it all sounds worse and more frightening than it seems I can assure you

[nanniejan in reply to Hidden]

I do take T3 so I don't know if it's to do with the sleep apnea !! I will look at what you suggested ,thanks Nel xx Jan xx

[nanniejan in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for reply Jack ,it is really scary and I'm waiting for app;to come from hospital not sure what tests as nurse took papers as I had a evening app;and at the moment no post coming through because of the snow !!I know they said about the sleep study,but not sure what else .

He did say that my lungs were OK but would he know by listening to my chest about PH ?? and if my lungs are OK why do I still get out of breath ?? so much I would like to know but he doctor kept sh-hing me as he was writing out forms ,I have called surgery today and he said not to worry as the heart is only just on the large size , and the sleep apnea has not long started so hopefully it has be found quickly !!.

It just seems like one thing after another as I have been off work for 7 months now with chronic back pain and waiting for injection in my spine ,my hands are really painful as well at the moment ,that has only just started so whats all this about ,I don't like this getting older lol

Again thanks for your reply you have set my mind at rest for the moment!!.

xx Jan xx

[JackStone in reply to Hidden]

He would not know if you have PH just by listening to your chest. You have to have a number of other tests to find out that.PH is a problem with the pulmonary artery and you can have it and have perfectly good lungs. Its complicated in that its a lung problem but not a lung problem if you see what I mean.

I wouldn`t be frightened of any tests you may have as none are that bad at all and certainly nothing to be scared about. You will need a sleep study to confirm the sleep apena but that can be done at home and is nothing to worry about.

I know all these things may seem frightening but what you have to do is look on the bright side. They are trying to deal with the problem and treat you so that is the main thing. With these problems many people go ages without being diagnosed and treated so you are better off than a lot of people I can tell you.

Try looking at the PHA UK site which will tell you a lot more about the illness. There re people on there who have got PH through sleep apena.

Your hands may be hurting because the enlarged heart may be causing you to retain fluid so that can mean a build up in fluid in the legs and sometimes in the hands.You need to be on diuretics to help that.The problems with your spine i would think are nothing to do with your other problems. They are just an added burden I am afraid.

Try not to worry and just take things as they can. I have learned that is the best way to deal with these problems.

[paslode10]

Sounds like you have Dialted Cardiomyopathy go to Cardiomyopathy.org this is a special site for people with enlarged hearts you are not alone i also have an enlarged heart

[paslode10]

Go to cardiomyopathy.org for help with enlarged hearts i also have this problem.