Member Profiles
COOKIE
I've been diagnosed with "myocardial bridging"
--that's a congenital defect where the main artery of the heart, the Left
Anterior Descending artery dips down into the left ventricle muscle wall and
then comes back up to the surface--hence, the term "bridging"; (there's a muscle
layer over this vessel just like a bridge) and mitral & tricuspid regurgitation.
They've tried putting in stents to help keep this area open during diastole
(when the heart contracts), but all stents have stenosed--there's 5 in there.
I've had 4 non-q M.I.'s, cardiac bypass (one vessel, one surgery) using the
internal mammmary artery to bypass this blockage. It's not that I have coronary
artery disease, per say, like with cholesterol build-up closing off the vessel--
this is different. Although I've been treated with the normal routine meds
(calcium channel blockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, nitro patch, etc.,etc.--excluding
beta blockers which I can't take due to asthma) these seem to loose their
effectiveness after awhile. My doctors are at their wits end because I
frequently have ongoing chest pain(like almost all the time), and they can only
offer me "pain management" which I'm not all that thrilled about-- it'll just
mask the symptom, not really help it. I'm located outside NYC, and all local
hospitals are unable to "fix" my problem. I've had more than 25 cardiac cath's,
and also had a procedure called a TMR (transmyocardial revascularization)--try
saying that 3 times fast!-- and am now diagnosed with moderate to severe
diastolic dysfunction... another phrase for CHF (congestive heart failure). I'm
a female and not even in my 50's yet; I don't see too bright of a future...which
is disheartening. Anyone know of treatment for this type of cardiac condition,
and where I could go to get the help I'm looking for? Please also, if there are
any cardiac professionals out there, please help explain this little known
cardiac entity to any interns and residents you may come across, as I carry with
me photo-copied text-book diagrams and explainations for the M.D.'s and nursing
staff who frequently have never heard of this...some are appreciative to have
this guidance, others treat me as if i'm trying to tell then what to do...it's
truly frustrating. Thank you to all who have read this, and especially to anyone
who may respond. God bless.
Back
Join COOKIE and the rest of us in the Heart Disease Forum:
