Diastolic Dysfunction

Good morning, just to add to my other heart woes, I have been diagnosed with Diastolic Dysfuntion. This is where one has a "filling" defect and not a pumping defect. Many doctors look for pumping defects only when doing and viewing echo's. With DD/Filling impairment, the Ejection fraction is nomal and sometimes high normal. My last EF was 74% and this is too high. I was told they like to see this in the high fifties and in the sixty ranges. The symptoms of Diastolic Dysfunction is bascially the same as Systolic dysfunction. These two dysfunctions are in the class of heart failure but are treated differently. I have learned so much in the past few weeks. More than I cared to.

DD is ususally seen in older women and the main causes of this is Coronary Artery Disease and or LVH (hypertension) Mayo did a research on this and I have read this over and over again and this was also discussed at the Scientific Cardiology convention in Chicago last week. I had planned on starting a monitored exercise program but it has been placed on hold till I can be evaulated further.

I am planning on contacting a heart failure clinic for further testing and therapy. I am awaiting the BUN test (which indicates heart failure) but what I understand is that this could be normal also. My last Echo, 6 months ago never showed any of this but with my new Echo, it was done somewhat differently thus showing the Diastolic filling problem.

Wishing everyone a nice week-end.

HP

By redscotharp
Posted October 19, 2007 at 8:55 am
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I too have this problem. It is not fun or easy and it makes me frustrated. Heart failure diagnosis was bad enough but this? yup, I got angry. How could this happen I was young. Then I started looking things up. Thanks to a great GP and Cardiologist, I am somewhat stable. Losing weight is not easy either. When other people with heart problems say something about EF, it is not easy to explain that the type of heart function problem I have does not effect EF the way they think. You are not alone. From what I have learned, the fact you got listened to and treated is great. You have my thoughts. Take care,

By joanntaylor
Posted May 10, 2009 at 6:58 pm
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I to have this problem. If Diastolic Dysfuntion is usually seen in older women and the main causes of this is Coronary Artery Disease, then why do I have it? I am 53 and my arteries are not clogged. My cardiologist said my coronary arteries look fine, but my heart was tightening up. She did a right and left heart catheterization and this is when she found it.

Saturday, she called me and said that my blood test came back on Friday showing my potassium critically low it was at 2.3. Here we go again. Back to her office for more blood work. I worried about taking so much time off work. She also wants me to go to Cardic Rehab for 6 weeks. I will probably get fired for taking off work so much. I have my health to think about but also my work to think about. It is enough to drive anyone crazy.

My cardiologist said that diastolic dysfunction is congestion heart failure, but it was rather new and she didn't have a lot of information to give me to read. Isn't there anything else they can do for us? Is there any kind of surgery for this?

I don't know how to deal with this, I don't know how to deal with my emotions on this, I am angry and bad that someone didn't catch this before it got to class 3. I scared that I won't be around for the next Mother's Day.

By Annie7
Posted May 11, 2009 at 10:14 am
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Hi Joanne..No one wants to hear the words Heart Failure. First off..there is Diatolic Dysfunction and Diastolic Heart Failure. Taking a BNP bllod test will distinguish the difference. If the BNP reading is well under 100...you are not in heart failure yet and you may never get to heart failure. This DD problem is mainly seen in women. There are variousw causes for this but the one that pops up when a doctor talks about it is: Coronary Artery Disease (Plaque) and Hypertension. Treating what may be the cause and making sure no stone is left unturned as a possible cause since you do not have CAD is very important.
A Dr. Richard Fogoros has written on this. One is on Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Diastolic Heart Disease. http://heartdisease.about.com/b/2008/09/25
If this does not come up...google this and add...subclinical hypothyroidism-cause-diastolic heart.
I too have this problem. I am older than you.
Good Luck

By joanntaylor
Posted May 12, 2009 at 8:07 pm
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Annie,
Thank you for sharing the information on Dr. Richard Fogoros. Everything I saw on his blog and on the website you sent me he seems to be saying the same thing my cardiologist Dr Kim Champney told me.

I starting wheezing today pretty bad. It just seems like I run out of breathe in just a matter of minutes when I am talkng to someone then the wheezing kicks in. The wheezing is the worst because people look at you and don't understand what is going on. They just look at me very strange and say 'are you alright'.

However, after reading a little bit of what Dr Fogoros wrote I probably already have pulmonary congestion.

It all makes sense now why my lung specialist and cardiologist seems to be staying in contact with each other regarding me. And after reading what Dr Fogoros had to say about diastolic heart failure it clear to me why my cardiologist circle both congestive heart failure and heart failure on my papers.

I signed up to get Dr Forgoros newsletter. Again, thanks for sharing his website with me.

By HeartFailureDiva
Posted July 15, 2009 at 2:10 pm
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Well I had a Anginogram in April of 2009 and said my LVEDP was >27 so my Cardiologist and my pulmonlogists diagnosis me with Diastolic Dysfunction but it also called Diastolic Heart Failure with good EF. It scare me and my hubby cause it 2005 I was told I had Right Side Systolic Heart Failure with a EF of 32%. Well I'm having lot's of issue right now with my heart and I'm trying to understand why women have it so bad then men when it comes to the doctor's understanding it.

By denisejoy
Posted October 26, 2009 at 3:16 pm
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Good afternoon everyone. I've been diagnosed with dystolic dysfunction after a right heart cath. Even though I was told it's "moderate" I have symtoms sometimes of lightheadedness & shortness of breath, (on & off for years). They've gotten better since my bp is under control. My cardio & lung specialist (borderline low oxygen sat) both diagnosed this condition working together. Can't seem to get much of an answer toward prognosis. Prior to diagnosis I was hosptialized a couple of times for shortness of breath, so I guess they would have known if I had experienced heart failure. I do need to lose weight (gained a lot, especially around the waist). Can anyone give me any insights on the treatment, prognosis, etc. thanks so much. Denise
p.s. I have no left heart problems, during cath my right side showed moderate dysfuction. My pressure was up somewhat but cardio said this is not "true pulmonany dysfunction" -- all of this is hard to understand. Is it okay to exercise, i.e. long walking, etc.

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