Left Ventricular Hypertrophy...

[Groundhog]

...is what I've got. :(

Sometimes it sucks being able to look this things up on the internet. Seeing a cardio Thursday week, so between now and then there is little to do except worry about what nasty, potentially life-threatening things I might have.

[Eaglesfan27]

Just out of curiousity - How do you know that you have Left Ventricular Hypertrophy?

Edit: Forgot about the time difference. Did you just see your primary doc this morning?

[Groundhog]

Yup, just got back from the doc when I posted this.

[oykib]

I hope that's not as bad as it sounds. I hate to hear "ventricular."

Either way, you'll be in my prayers.

[Groundhog]

Thanks oykib. I'm trying not to worry too much about it, which is hard, especially when everyone else in my family is.

[Raiders Army]

You're in my thoughts. I hope there's some medicine you can take that will deal with it.

[Kodos]

Hang in there, Groundhog.

[molson]

Probably one of those things that you're damn lucky it was diagnosed, so it could be treated.

[StarBuck]

Sorry to hear that Groundhog. I just read up on it too,. Good news is that you can be fine with taking care of yourself. :)

[Eaglesfan27]

Yep, usually, the cause is something treatable such as high blood pressure. Also, sometimes EKG's are misinterperted as showing LVH and the cardiologist may determine that there really isn't LVH by using some more sensitive tests. Good luck with your cardiologist appointment.

[CamEdwards]

Best of luck to you GH. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[bbor]

My father in law has this.....he is in his 60's and lives a happy normal life......

[JeeberD]

Best of luck, man. Take care of yourself!

[Lathum]

best wishes

[Antmeister]

...is what I've got. :(

Sometimes it sucks being able to look this things up on the internet. Seeing a cardio Thursday week, so between now and then there is little to do except worry about what nasty, potentially life-threatening things I might have.

In my mind, nothing can bring down a Groundhog. :) And I know it can be difficult, but try not to stress on it. Stress tends to make things worst. Even if your family is worrying about it, keep your head up and everyone else will follow your lead eventually, Besides, it may be a misdiagnosis, as Eaglesfan27 has mentioned previously.

[Groundhog]

Thanks for the kind words folks. My blood pressure was high when I got it checked 6 weeks ago, and that's why I went back yesterday to get it measured again. Blood pressure was back to normal, but I had been having periodic chest/arm pains. I'd had the same symptoms about 12 months ago and they went away, but it's good to get it diagnosed anyhow. It's also a little nice to know that I'm not the hypochondriac I'd begun to suspect I was. :)

[Groundhog]

**Update**

Just got back from the cardio, and it was very good news... in a way! They did an ultrasound on the heart (can't recall the test's proper, technical title... echocardio something) and a stress test. Stress test showed the same results as the ECG I'd had earlier... ie. LVH. Thankfully the ultrasound disagreed. My heart looks completely healthy, and the doc went through the results and footage with me, which was actually very interesting. Seems my chest just gives off a high amount of voltage, probably due to the fact that I have quite a long, slender torso.

Obviously I'm very happy with the news that my heart isn't about to shut-down on me -- which was far better than even my "best-case" scenario that I'd been running through my head these past 2 weeks -- but I was kind of hoping to get an answer as to some of the pain and discomfort I've been having that led me to get the ECG test in the first place last week.

[CraigSca]

Wow, that's awesome news! Congrats on having a heart with lots of voltage :)

[DaddyTorgo]

groundhog? can you come over here? I can use the excess voltage to power my hybrid car!