Tweet
My daughter was diagnosed with HCM 4 years ago when she went for a physical to play soccer for her university. She went to our family doctor and the Dr. heard a murmur she had not heard before. This started our visits with the cardiologist. My daughter had asymmetric thickening to 1.4cm at the very basal antero-septum. She was showing no symptoms physically. They had her wear a Holt monitor. Everything was fine. Told us of 2 places to go if we wanted a second opinion. We went to this doctor and he confirmed; said she should go on a low dose of beta blocker 25mg/once a day after a stress test. The test was good; he was really happy with it; said a low dose would only be needed and that she would most likely never need a device. She was 19 years old. We decided to stay with this doctor and not our local; we like him a lot. The next year her stress test was not as good; he increased the beta blocker to 50mg/once a day then to 75mg. Last year he told us that her HCM improved and that he never had anyone improve before. The stress test was still not good; her heart rate was going to high at the end of her run. He increased the beta blocker to 100mg/once a day. This year she got light headed right before the stress test and her blood pressure dropped during the test and she heart rate still increased too high. He talked about increasing the beta blocker to 100mg in the morning and 50mg at night or putting in a device. I asked him about the fact that low blood pressure runs in our family. I myself get light headed and dizzy because of it and I do not have HCM (we have all be genetically tested) and could it just be that? He said that it was a bad combination. I then asked why her symptoms were getting worse when her HCM was better could it be the beta blocker? He said that he did get the same measurement this year as last so we will get an MRI to confirm that the thickness is less. I now got a call from his office that the MRI is the criteria for a device. I have go get that straightened out.
My questions are: 1) should she be taken off the beta blocker? 2) Should we see a new doctor and if so who should we go to? 3) We live fairly close to Dr. Martinez at Lehigh Valley Hospital & my daughter’s campus is right down the road from Morristown Hospital (they just opened a new HCM department). Does anyone know either of these doctors? We would have to find a new doctor next year any way since the one we are seeing is pediatric.
My questions are: 1) should she be taken off the beta blocker? 2) Should we see a new doctor and if so who should we go to? 3) We live fairly close to Dr. Martinez at Lehigh Valley Hospital & my daughter’s campus is right down the road from Morristown Hospital (they just opened a new HCM department). Does anyone know either of these doctors? We would have to find a new doctor next year any way since the one we are seeing is pediatric.
Comment