I just LOVE him. I would give anything to have him down here in my area. I didn't find out alot yet because the echo tapes I took in were VERY bad. I have to go back there and he is going to give me a stress echo. I have quite an obstruction. Some things he did tell me are:
Do NOT see any EP doctor. Those studies are worthless for my condition. NO heart catherizations. Also worthless for my condition unless I was going to have the septal alcohol ablation, then they would do one to see your vessles while they were doing that procedure.
He is not too crazy about the alcohol ablations. There is not enough data on them. Myectomy still the gold standard and I could tell he much prefers that procedure.
He has not told me I need either procedure but he did say if you had the alcohol ablation not to do it in my town but to go to one of the major centers doing LOTS of them. Cleaveland Clinic, Mayo, Houston (or was it Texas?) were a couple he mentioned. He said the regular centers just do not have enough experience. You must go somewhere that has done at least a 100 or more. Preferably more.
I do not need an ICD. He also wrote on a prescription pad for me some guidelines for the doctors at the ER should I ever have to go again. Thank God! He also told me that the blood pressure med (atecand or candesartan) was what put me in the hospital the other day. This is what happens when you go to a doctor that is not an HCM specialist! My doctor down here, who is wonderful, had no clue about that. Dr. Shah gave me the reason it caused this problem. Basically it was making my obstruction worse and I could barely walk 20 feet! He mentioned the only type of drugs that should be taken for hcm.
I don't want to leave people the impression that EP doctors are bad for people with hcm. If you have a dangerous arrythmia or meet the guidelines that you may have sudden cardiac death, then an EP doctor is the type that would implant an ICD -- so they are useful. But an EP was not required for me because I do not meet the criteria of someone needing an ICD at this time.
Hope at least some of you found this interesting. I go back in a few weeks for the stress echo and then I will know more about my particular case. I am feeling much better tho after getting off those horrible BP meds!
Do NOT see any EP doctor. Those studies are worthless for my condition. NO heart catherizations. Also worthless for my condition unless I was going to have the septal alcohol ablation, then they would do one to see your vessles while they were doing that procedure.
He is not too crazy about the alcohol ablations. There is not enough data on them. Myectomy still the gold standard and I could tell he much prefers that procedure.
He has not told me I need either procedure but he did say if you had the alcohol ablation not to do it in my town but to go to one of the major centers doing LOTS of them. Cleaveland Clinic, Mayo, Houston (or was it Texas?) were a couple he mentioned. He said the regular centers just do not have enough experience. You must go somewhere that has done at least a 100 or more. Preferably more.
I do not need an ICD. He also wrote on a prescription pad for me some guidelines for the doctors at the ER should I ever have to go again. Thank God! He also told me that the blood pressure med (atecand or candesartan) was what put me in the hospital the other day. This is what happens when you go to a doctor that is not an HCM specialist! My doctor down here, who is wonderful, had no clue about that. Dr. Shah gave me the reason it caused this problem. Basically it was making my obstruction worse and I could barely walk 20 feet! He mentioned the only type of drugs that should be taken for hcm.
I don't want to leave people the impression that EP doctors are bad for people with hcm. If you have a dangerous arrythmia or meet the guidelines that you may have sudden cardiac death, then an EP doctor is the type that would implant an ICD -- so they are useful. But an EP was not required for me because I do not meet the criteria of someone needing an ICD at this time.
Hope at least some of you found this interesting. I go back in a few weeks for the stress echo and then I will know more about my particular case. I am feeling much better tho after getting off those horrible BP meds!
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