Question: Dear dr iliri,
It is XXX, the crazy ex heart patient. I am currently in the ER- not for my heart but because I have badly cut my hand. I am awaiting stitches. I am writing because when they took my BP in triage, it was 150/70 and then quickly after 135/70. My pulse ox was 100%. Even off carvedilol my BP is always always low, only 105/65 usually. Do I need to worry? I'm in pain and am very anxious of course. Would pulse ox be 100 if I had any return of my heart issue? I am frightened as only time I've had high reading was in hospital when I got cardiomyopathy diagnosis but was normal once I calmed down(but also given medication). Just very very scared now that BP is indicator of heart issue. I had also just eaten and had a very large drink. Trying to calm down. I think normally my BP is fine but this worries me. Thank you very much.

Dear Dr Iliri:
I ended up getting 10 stitches for a very deep laceration which cut all the way to the tendon and nearly to the bone. It was a very painful night but a bit better today.

My blood pressure is always low normal even at the doctor's office so I was very surprised to see it high at the ER. Are you sure I needn't worry about it? I was bleeding and scared and hurting when BP was taken. I understand what pulse oxygen is, but would a 100% reading indicate that there is no heart failure? The BP reading upset me and made me so scared for my heart. But just 30 seconds later it had already gone down 20 points. I'm sure it was normal once I was calmer. I just fear everything is a sign of heart trouble because of my history.

Thank you so much, Dr Iliri. You, as always, help ease my mind so much.
Mi
a

Dear Dr Iliri,
Many thanks again for your knowledge and kindness. My hand is healing and the pain is gone.

I am left, yet again, with my concerns about possible return of cardiomyopathy despite the fact that my PVCs have not returned. I wish I could feel as sure as you do that I will not get sick again. I have uploaded the three echo reports of my dr to ask you again if there is any sign of relapse. I am still unhappy that EF is reported as 64 when it was 70 two months before. That last study was done in a different office, different machine, and different tech, though my cardiologist is the same interpreter. I notice the imaging is described as just "adequate" and yet the EF is listed as just 64 rather than as a range like 65-70 as he always had before. Is there any meaning to that?

As you know, I've seen multiple cardiologists and my 2nd cardio has called to say I am due for my 6 month echo from her. She has always reported my EF as 60. She has changed offices, though, and will have different tech and machine now. If hear




If my heart is truly normal now should I not be concerned? No machine will say heart function is low?

Also, I am thinking more clearly now about my symptoms when I was ill. I was always functional and never seemed truly sick but I did feel tired sometimes and have some odd shortness of breath on stairs. My PVCs started in May 2014 and by July 2014 I had a cough, and some orthopnea which two doctors told me was bronchitis. Could I have gotten so sick so quickly? EF was reported as 25 in October 2014 but do you think it become low very quickly after PVCs started? At what EF do you have symptoms generally? All my doctors said I was "well-compensated" and asymptomatic when I was diagnosed although they also said I would not survive for more than a few years. They were shocked I was taking care of sick parents, small child, and working full time and even going to the gym. Is that unusual to be so functional with such low EF? I guess I feel like it could just creep up on me again because it did so the first time. I was able to do everything I always do so feeling ok now doesn't comfort me.

Thank you, dr iliri, I hope to be able to put this all past me someday soon.

XXXX