[exercise and work]
Author: Ray (---.as0.clmb.oh.voyager.net)
Date: 08-26-02 20:55
Hi All,
I am 52 and was diagnosed with I.H.S.S. in 1986 in 1995 had a pacemaker put in and replaced it this Jan.2002. I must say it does help with shortness of breath and chest pain as long as I don't exert my self. I have had atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia that is why they use the pacemaker. I am taking 120mg a day of CALAN SR, 600mg NORPACE a day and 25mg atenolol a day.
Dr. tells me moderate exercise is ok waking and bike. I work in an auto factory were the pace is about like aerobic that's were your heart rate get for two hours. I have asks the Dr. about it and it seems that he thinks I am not telling he the truth. I will get short of breath, very pale all must the color of our white uniforms.
My question should I find another Dr.?
Thanks Ray
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: exercise and work]
Author: Lisa Salberg (---.dyn.optonline.net)
Date: 08-26-02 21:26
Ray,
I think it would be well advised to seek a 2nd opinion. For starters if you are having ventricular arrthymias you may well be a canditate for an ICD. Further if your having such symptoms while at work you should concider speaking to your employer about accomidations for your disability..it is the law under ADA.
Any questions please call the HCMA office.
Lisa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: exercise and work]
Author: Sarah B--Board Moderator (---.client.attbi.com)
Date: 08-27-02 00:12
Dear Ray
It sounds like you know the answer. A good doctor believes you when you tell him what your life and your symptoms are like. If he doesn't think that you can feel that way, then he doesn't understand the disease. If you call the office, (973-983-7429), they can help you find an HCM specialist.
take care and I think you should get evaluated for an ICD, too,
Sarah
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: exercise and work]
Author: Dave Johnson (---.lr.anc.net)
Date: 09-02-02 12:53
I used to own a floor cleaning/maintenence company when I was diagnosed and my original cardiologist told me that I should be able to continue working with no problem (then proceded to prescribe Ambien and send me on my merry way). My job involved lifting 200lb propane floor buffers and carrying 5 gal jugs in and out of buisinesses, loading chemical stock, and exposure to floor wax and stripper. In other words, this guy had no idea whatsoever what type of work I did, nor did he care. Doctors tend to make generalizations based on thier own experience (which is walking around in a lab coat with a clip-board all day - few doctors have experienced the exertion and physical stress associated with manual labor and most blue-collar jobs). I think they often underestimate the effects of particular jobs on patients with HCM. My current cardiologist was instrumental in helping me get disability compensation - I was resistant to this, but as my condition has deteriorated over the last five years, it's been a lifesaver both physically and financially.
Author: Ray (---.as0.clmb.oh.voyager.net)
Date: 08-26-02 20:55
Hi All,
I am 52 and was diagnosed with I.H.S.S. in 1986 in 1995 had a pacemaker put in and replaced it this Jan.2002. I must say it does help with shortness of breath and chest pain as long as I don't exert my self. I have had atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia that is why they use the pacemaker. I am taking 120mg a day of CALAN SR, 600mg NORPACE a day and 25mg atenolol a day.
Dr. tells me moderate exercise is ok waking and bike. I work in an auto factory were the pace is about like aerobic that's were your heart rate get for two hours. I have asks the Dr. about it and it seems that he thinks I am not telling he the truth. I will get short of breath, very pale all must the color of our white uniforms.
My question should I find another Dr.?
Thanks Ray
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: exercise and work]
Author: Lisa Salberg (---.dyn.optonline.net)
Date: 08-26-02 21:26
Ray,
I think it would be well advised to seek a 2nd opinion. For starters if you are having ventricular arrthymias you may well be a canditate for an ICD. Further if your having such symptoms while at work you should concider speaking to your employer about accomidations for your disability..it is the law under ADA.
Any questions please call the HCMA office.
Lisa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: exercise and work]
Author: Sarah B--Board Moderator (---.client.attbi.com)
Date: 08-27-02 00:12
Dear Ray
It sounds like you know the answer. A good doctor believes you when you tell him what your life and your symptoms are like. If he doesn't think that you can feel that way, then he doesn't understand the disease. If you call the office, (973-983-7429), they can help you find an HCM specialist.
take care and I think you should get evaluated for an ICD, too,
Sarah
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: exercise and work]
Author: Dave Johnson (---.lr.anc.net)
Date: 09-02-02 12:53
I used to own a floor cleaning/maintenence company when I was diagnosed and my original cardiologist told me that I should be able to continue working with no problem (then proceded to prescribe Ambien and send me on my merry way). My job involved lifting 200lb propane floor buffers and carrying 5 gal jugs in and out of buisinesses, loading chemical stock, and exposure to floor wax and stripper. In other words, this guy had no idea whatsoever what type of work I did, nor did he care. Doctors tend to make generalizations based on thier own experience (which is walking around in a lab coat with a clip-board all day - few doctors have experienced the exertion and physical stress associated with manual labor and most blue-collar jobs). I think they often underestimate the effects of particular jobs on patients with HCM. My current cardiologist was instrumental in helping me get disability compensation - I was resistant to this, but as my condition has deteriorated over the last five years, it's been a lifesaver both physically and financially.