cardiomyopathy

[Guest guest]

,

I have not been diagnosed with a mitochondrial disorder, but I have

something similar to CFS. It has been discovered within the past few

years that all severely ill CFS patients have diastolic cardiomyopathy.

The field of diastology is only a few years old. Diastolic cardiomyopathy

is diagnosed via impedance cardiography and echocardiography with GE's

Vivid 7 machine. In diastolic cardiomyopathy, the ventricle contracts and

ejects just fine, but it does not expand enough to fill with blood. So

the end result is that cardiac output is compromised just as badly as if

there were an ejection fraction, i.e. systolic, problem. As I understand

it, the atrium can enlarge in diastolic cardiomyopathy in an attempt to

force more blood to fill the ventricle.

Tim

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I am curious if any of you have been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. My

ejection fraction is 45% with left atrial enlargement and decreased

left systolic function. My cardiologist says he will not worry about

this unless my ef drops below 30%. I spoke with another doctor who

would diagnose this as cardiomyopathy and would start some type of beta

blocker. I do not want to be on unnecessary meds but this worries me.I

have bouts of tachycardia,palpitations along with shortness of breath

but it's hard to tell if the shortness of breath is related to my weak

respiratory muscles or cardiac as well. Any thoughts would be

appreciated.

Thanks!