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New here with a possible ARVD diagnosis. Confused and scared.

StephanieB
  • By StephanieB
  • Posted June 10, 2009 at 2:18 pm · 4 replies
  • Shared with the public
0 Recommendations

Recently I have been on a roller coaster ride regarding my heart.

It started 3 weeks ago. I woke up in the middle of the night. My heart was racing, I was sweating, I was having a hard time breathing, and I was extremely dizzy. I had my husband take me to the ER. By the time I got there I was beginning to feel better, but thought it would be best to get checked out anyway.

While at the hospital I had a full workup done, including a CT because I am 2 months postpartum and they were looking for blood clots.

All the tests came back normal so they sent me home, saying that I probably just pulled a muscle. I got a call the next day from a nurse saying that a cardiologist looked at my CT scan and wanted me to have an MRI done because he noticed that my heart seemed larger than it should be.

I went in to see my GP to try to get some answers, and she couldn't understand why I was getting an MRI so she ordered an echo and referred me to a cardiologist who looked at my echo (didn't have my MRI results) and told me that he and his colleague suspect that I have ARVD because my right ventricle is mildly dilated. He is having me wear a holter for 21days, and told me that if I have any more dizzy spells to go right to the ER.

On Sunday, I had a spell again that lasted for about a half hour. When I went to the hospital the tests came back normal and the ER attending couldn't understand why my cardiologist is suspecting the ARVD. She said sometimes they like to "over diagnose". She also said that my MRI results showed that my LEFT ventricle was dilated and my right was fine. That I had a right bundle block and some regurgitation, but all in all, nothing to worry about.

I am so confused now. It seems I am almost always dizzy now, and get winded from the just moving around my house. I don't see my cardiologist again until the end of July.

I guess I am just wondering if anyone has some insight, words of wisdom or support. This is all very scary and I don't know what to do.

If anyone reads this, I apologize that this was so long. Thank you for reading.

Explore topics in this journal entry and replies:

Pregnancy Sweating Cardiomyopathy

4 replies

Jetchicky

I understand how you feel. I had a lot of issues right after the birth of my child and actually got diagnosed with CPVT but am still waiting to hear back regarding the structure problem (its been a few mos). I can totally relate! Hang in there though! I know its rough, especially with an infant!

Jetchicky

One more thing... Did they ever mention it could be Peripartum cardiomyopathy? This sometimes happens at the end of the pregnancy up until 6 mos after delivery and you could very well recover from it.

StephanieB

Thanks for the reply.

It is hard. I just wish I knew what was going on, and who to listen to the GP and ER doctors or the Cardiologist. Probably the Cardiologist, but I'd rather hear there is nothing wrong with me. It is hard with an infant and doubly hard with an 18 month old as well!

Just curious, why does it take so long to hear about the structure problem?

StephanieB

That's what they thought I had in the beginning, but I guess that affects the left ventricle, and it's my right.

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