Well this sucks.

My uncle that dropped dead suddenly earlier in the year turned out to be from a previously unknown and undiagnosed hereditary heart defect. So of course most of the family went to get checked out, and I've got a heart defect, too. My uncle's was a bad mytroid valve, but mine is an enlarged left ventricle. They may or may not be related. The cardiologist has done blood tests, an EKG, and two echocardiograms already (one w/ contrast). I get the big mother of all of them, the cardiac MRI, at the big honking teaching hospital down in Portland in a week and a half. I'm not supposed to worry about (yeah, right), but head straight to the ER (do not pass go, do not collect $200) if I get chest pains or faint.

Sucksucksucksuck!!!

Luckily I got serious about my health in January after Javelin Jr. popped out and went from ~230Lbs to ~197Lbs (and I was exactly 200 at the end of boot camp!) and became vegetarian about 2.5 months ago. I have to be honest, I feel pretty great (and dropped from a 38/40 waist to a 34/36) and I'm liking the lightness and more energy. I get the pleasure of telling the fam this weekend.

In other news I sold the 944. Doc said I can still autocross for now though, so I'm borrowing a 914 2.0 (that should be slow enough to keep the heart rate down).

Man, sorry to hear that.

Well, at least youre finding all this out now, while youre still vertical....sure beats the other option. I am glad to hear you were able to get some weight off, thats a big checkbox on my list that I am still trying to get to. Shame you had to thin the herd for the sake of your health...hopefully theyre able to do something about the enlargement that will allow you to fill the stables again.

Better to know when you have options to do something about it. Still sucks.

I'm sorry. That really sucks.

Fingers crossed that the summary of all these tests is that the condition is as minimal as possible.

And I hope you can relax as much as possible while waiting. I had what turned out to be a really minor heart rhythm concern a couple of years ago, and it's not a subject that makes it easy to relax while you wait to find out what's going on.

I am sorry, of course, but I have a suggestion for you. My numbers (cholesterol, triglycerides, etc) went in the right direction when I started buying more organic/natural stuff and looking for meat with no antibiotics and veggies with no pesticides. May not help as much since you're not a meat-eater, but something to be mindful of nonetheless.

I'm glad you found this out. We lost my sister-in-law in December due to an enlarged heart(from obesity). She had a doctor's appointment scheduled for the week she died. I don't envy you or your situation one bit, but count yourself as luck - or at least as luckier than the other option - in this case.

Now that you're no longer supplying 30 extra pounds of flesh, it's time to get some running into the program. Start easy and take your time building up. If you need more info, there are many books on the subject and even coaches or running clubs in your area who can help you implement a program.

Also, you'll find it a hell of a lot easier crawling under cars and bending or contorting yourself to reach stuff under the dash. I'm sure you figured that one out already. Congratulations and keep up the good work.

Early detection is key. Good luck.

There are things you might be just as well not knowing about, but I don't think this is one. You should be able to manage this pretty well, I'd think. See what the docs say and be smart about it.

I'm with Jerry from LA. If your doc says it's okay and all, running sure does whip you into shape. I know, I did it... once or twice. Damn, I sure am fat again.

I guess the "bright side" is you seem to be able to get good medical attention and you live in a time when these things are understood and can be treated.

Take care,

Ed

tuna55 wrote: I am sorry, of course, but I have a suggestion for you. My numbers (cholesterol, triglycerides, etc) went in the right direction when I started buying more organic/natural stuff and looking for meat with no antibiotics and veggies with no pesticides. May not help as much since you're not a meat-eater, but something to be mindful of nonetheless.

Thanks for the tips. We grow some veggies and spices in our own garden, buy fresh fruits and veggies 2x times a week, and make most of our stuff from scratch (buns, oatmeal, dried beans, etc). We practically live in the Natural/Organic sections. I'm 100% certain that the weight loss has been from eating less chemicals, processed foods, and sugars.

Best of luck, keep eating well, and I'm sure you will be fine. You'll definitely be in my prayers.

Jerry From LA wrote: Now that you're no longer supplying 30 extra pounds of flesh, it's time to get some running into the program. Start easy and take your time building up. If you need more info, there are many books on the subject and even coaches or running clubs in your area who can help you implement a program. Also, you'll find it a hell of a lot easier crawling under cars and bending or contorting yourself to reach stuff under the dash. I'm sure you figured that one out already. Congratulations and keep up the good work.

Thanks. I've been doing some serious walking (30 min + 1 hr) almost daily, and the 1 hr walk is usually with the 14Lb kiddo on my chest (Ergo's are awesome!). Doc says no distance running or sprinting yet, but now that the weather is breaking I plan on getting back on the bicycle.

I have to admit I've been more productive with the Javelin, yard, and housework in the last 2 months than in the last 2-6 years.

N Sperlo wrote: Best of luck, keep eating well, and I'm sure you will be fine. You'll definitely be in my prayers.

Thank you. And thank you everybody else. Needless to say, it's been "stressful" the last 6 weeks going through all of these tests. We found my only surviving uncle also has a heart defect, as does my great aunt, so there's definitely some family history now. I just hope it's something we can manage/minimize as I obviously want to live as long as possible.

I'm sorry to hear that man. Sounds like you're doing what you need to do though, congrats on the weight loss, BTW.

It's much better to find out earlier.

Keep up what you are doing and at least now you know to look out for issues before they get big.

Also, you have kids right? now they will know what to watch out for.

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote: Keep up what you are doing and at least now you know to look out for issues before they get big. Also, you have kids right? now they will know what to watch out for.

Yeah, if my uncle hadn't have died suddenly, none of us would have known. It's really kind of bizarre to think about.

Yes, I have one kid. She'll be 5 months old in a week. We have to pin down what I and my other uncle have before knowing what to do with her.

Enlarged left ventricle is usually a function of high blood pressure over long periods of time, and if that's the cause I'd jump on it sooner than later. Increased exercise and a better diet are a good way to do that, and it sounds like you've started down that path already, which is a good thing. The less excess weight you have, especially in the chest and belly, the better.

There are other causes to be concerned about, so it's good you're getting a full workup.

I would certainly encourage you to exercise, but don't go all-out and start training for a marathon or anything - overexertion can lead to this problem as well.

It's good you learned of the problem now, and great you are being proactive about it.

bastomatic wrote: Enlarged left ventricle is usually a function of high blood pressure over long periods of time,

That's what has the Cardiologist worried. I've never had high blood pressure. In fact, my BP and pulse have always been on the lowest side of the normal spectrum.

My father ended up dying at 52 after a massive heart attack. He had always had high blood pressure and drank and smoked alot. I know that I have an enlarged heart for my size and have mildly high blood pressure. My mothers side of the family is healthy though. I do not smoke but do drink occasionally. I am most worried about dying in my 50s.

Ah well. It's not like you didn't know you were going die in the end anyhow.

Javelin wrote: I'm not *supposed* to worry about (yeah, right), but head straight to the ER (do not pass go, do not collect $200) if I get chest pains or faint.

Best of luck, Mike. Please everybody posted. You're in my thoughts.

I don't know if this will help you feel any better, but in my mother's family they have a history of high blood pressure and the associated risks to the heart and brain. My grandparents (on my Mom's side) died in their early '70s and my Mom never expected to live as long as they did because she smoked most of her life. She has high blood pressure and is taking all sorts of meds for different maladies...but she is in her mid to late '80s.

You have already taken several positive steps and have time to take any more that may be needed. It's not the "death sentence" you might be thinking it is.

Good luck.

Wooooooooo!!!!!

My heart is okay!

Apparently the local hospital in our hick town sucks (as both echocardiograms showed defects) because as soon as I did the cardiac MRI at OHSU in Portland, ta-da, my heart is 100% awesome!

Berkeleying E36M3heads GAVE me heart problems for two months why I worried about this E36M3 and it turned out to be nothing.