breathing and heart problems

[Guest guest]

Becca,

Yes, in some cases, the phrenic nerve is affected by CMT, making

breathing more difficult. And yes, extra weight makes everything have

to work harder - muscles, heart, etc. And yes, perhaps a CiPap or

BiPap machine would help you breathe at night. And yes, in women, signs

of a heart attack can be absent, including no pain. ~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Becky,

It appears you are doing the right thing by following through on your symptoms.

Many large medical centers have neuros who test the phrenic nerve. One of the

men in our support group is having this done soon. Another one already uses a

BIPAP machine at night due to sleep apnea.

As for the possible heart attack, it would seem to me that you should have been

checked for a heart attack as the symptoms for us women do differ from the

symptoms men have.

A few years ago, I was admitted to the hospital for chest pain, had a cardiac

catheterization which showed only minor blockage at that time, and the final

diagnosis was chest pain of unknown origin.

Pray that things work out well for you.

Blessings,

P./NYS

[Guest guest]

Hi Becky:

It seems we may be experiencing the same things.

Since October 2003 the medical gurus have been trying to determine why I am

experiencing a shortness of breath whenever I exert myself.

The journey has been very educational, time consuming, as well as somewhat

frustrating. Let me set the stage. I do snore, I am 20-25 lbs. over weight,

and I have coronary disease which resulted in an angiogram & angioplasty in

1998. I do NOT have any chest pains, and it is highly unlikely I would have

any chest pains if I had a problem with my heart. I have silent ischemia,

and like 25% of people, we do not have chest pains.

Since October of 2003 I have had:

* 3 angiograms and 2 angioplasty procedures. Although I had a blockage

repaired twice, it is not my heart that is causing my shortness of breath.

* sleep apnea testing showed I had a mild case of sleep apnea, but no

treatment is required

* I have had complete pulmonary testing which indicates my lungs are in

good shape and I do not have COPD (bronchitis or emphysema)

* I do have chronic sinusitis and I will have a sinus operation in the

next 3-4 months. BUT this is not causing me to have a shortness of breath.

WE wanted to rule out all other causes for shortness of breath, especially

my heart, before we investigated the possibility that the phrenic nerve may

be causing a weak diaphragm. My own & my family history of coronary artery

disease had to be investigated first. Any problems here could be treated.

Now after working with a cardiologist, respirologist, neurologist, and ENT

doctor, we are going to look at the phrenic nerve and diaphragm. The common

denominator shared by all these specialists is they are very much aware of

CMT, and how it may affect my phrenic nerve.

It is also my understanding that should I have a weak diaphragm muscle as a

result of the phrenic nerve, there is precious little that can be done to

help me. I'll cross that bridge later, if need be.

I hope this is of benefit to you, and to let you know you are no longer

alone in your symptoms. Also, a few people call me Bucky because of my last

name, Beckingham. I never did get Becky, but I suspect Becky is reserved for

females with the name ??

Regards,