Another factor is where you carry your weight. The weight in the middle, like mine, is the worst place to carry it. I’m your age and have zero problems doing hills, stairs, etc. You are fairly active so I have to think you’re in decent cardio shape. When I’ve talked to my dr before, my mom had some pretty serious heart issues her entire life, we talk about how I can do sustained activity for long periods without any problem. He says that is a marker of heart related issues. I just have to believe there is something going on cardio wise. I’m troubled that no one seems to be looking further into this for you. I’m a big believer that you have to be your own advocate, and if it means getting new doctors then so be it.
@eyemamom is exactly right. Abdominal obesity often leads to metabolic syndrome, which is a big risk factor for cardiac disease.
Yes that is true if you carry your weight in abdomen. The excess fat pushes on your organs making it harder to breath. Lucky for me I am a pear shape :))
This is good to know, thanks. If radiation got me into this mess I’d rather skip out on more of it. I’ve done mammograms and the chest xray each time wondering if I should be there if previous radiation is the culprit, and if so, if it’s actually better to not do those tests. The dentist wants xrays again soon too. I’ve put those off so far, but it’s been a few years now.
My mind was musing about something similar yesterday when my lads and I were comparing step counts. Samsung Health has a monthly challenge the three of us (and a couple others we’re friends with) do. Currently there are more than 1.25 million participants worldwide in that and I’m in the Top 5th - I’m always in the Top 5th, each month. Many who use the App who don’t exercise as much (like my H) don’t join the challenge, so there are even more data points in the App itself. While I don’t do marathons or play soccer, mountain hiking was a regular until I had to cut back. I have a tough time believing being in the Top 8% for my age and Top 12% overall in the App would mean I’m getting out of condition for what I’m talking about or more folks would have the same things happening to them. BUT, I can also see the Dr POV as I doubt many Top 8% or Top 12% are seeing them about these issues. It’s far more likely to be those who don’t bother keeping track I suspect.
There really is a lot that makes sense from both sides. It’s just frustrating for me not to be able to assess what’s going on, get useful tests done myself, and sort out whether it’s just a signal issue or a real/fixable issue - then involve a doctor (with test results in hand) if it’s the latter. I can do that with blood tests, but that’s it. Each time I go to a doctor and they add their comment that all is fine based upon the tests they do it doesn’t help Future Me. I can’t select the tests they do. Even if I ask or make suggestions, it doesn’t matter at all. I don’t have that final say (other than to decline tests, but that doesn’t “add” what would help - that just ends all testing).
So maybe this is it, but I’ll admit to having my doubts esp since nothing gets better when I lose some pounds.
Still… since everything else is supposedly caused by radiation, this one may very well be too.
Great - NOW you tell us. Like many other things I missed in my pre-birth stage (fashion sense, many “female” traits), I bet I was busy looking at the travel brochures and missed the announcement. (sigh) I have warned my guys that it could be an issue (though med school lad brought it up first), but it’s a bit too late for them too. They also have it coming at them from both H and I (if it’s indeed a problem with me). Both of our parents (3 out of 4 of their grandparents) have cardiac issues.
Congrats on being in the upper % compared to other walkers on that app!
I,like you, can walk far distances, leg muscles firm, but my walking speed is not aerobic, and any incline, or increase in speed, reveal how aerobically unfit I am,too.
I just found this article and may follow some suggestions for myself-
https://www.heart-disease-and-prevention.com/cardiac-rehab-exercises.html
FYI I presently walk with friends about 10 miles a week, slow pace, and started biking 18 miles last week, but never aerobic level. I am going to change that - intervals ect - as mentioned in article
@SouthJerseyChessMom That article seems good for those who want to get in shape from being out of shape. I’m losing what I could do. I never stepped into the couch potato mode. We’ve allowed it to slip (aka slow down) due to thinking it was aging progression of asthma, but I never quit doing things on a daily or weekly basis. If two weeks of doing something is supposed to make a difference, it doesn’t. Even a month of doing the condo stairs at least once per day (7 flights - 8th floor room) didn’t produce a change. I’ve only slacked off a little since this thread started, but I do plan to resume regularly scheduled activities hoping it helps keep the level I have (keeping progression slow).
It is really tempting to move flat though. One should never underestimate just how good it feels to go a few days without noticing anything being wrong (not counting the constant stuff, of course). Since we can’t retire just yet (meaning we can’t move at the moment), I’m still on my plan to resume regularly scheduled activities even if breathing is affected as soon as we return home. The article mentions target heart rate. 220 - 50 = 170. The 70% level of that is 119. I exceed that multiple times per day with my regular activity because my breathing doesn’t start to get affected until > 120. Small hills or a couple flights of stairs get there and those are routine - done several times per day at home. The similar limited exercise the test had me doing at the doctors office clocked in at 145. I’m sure I hit that on a daily basis when at home too. There’s no need to increase to get to those rates.
That formula isn’t necessarily correct. I exercise on the peloton with a hrm. In looking back at my high number the reality is my high is actually 182. If I went by age alone it would be 220 - 51 = 169.
Since I have a history of high heart rate, when a cardiologist ordered a stress test for me, he asked that they really push me hard to try to trigger an event. I was about forty six at the time and he wanted to see 180s or even 190s. I’m usually in the 150s these days when I do high intensity interval training.
Just want to add that there are chemical stress tests for people who can’t actually get on a treadmill.
Getting on a treadmill isn’t a problem. We walk miles on most days - only missing when we’re with parents and can’t get out. Lasting long on it once they do the incline will be the choke point. Pushing things to get an answer is what I wish they had done even with the BO test, but it just isn’t my call - even when I ask point blank.
Honestly, I give the reason for this all as “out of shape” < 1%. My top two plausible thoughts are a signal being off due to radiation (would explain the lack of other symptoms, the fact that I’m not dead yet from previously pushing this, and match that being the reason for all the other things according to what they say) or cardiac/vascular (if the other symptoms are that instead of being radiation with just my body being unusual in how it reacts - definitely not the first time if so).
The third possible plausible option (longshot) is some sort of tumor perhaps explaining the lack of hunger and being unable to eat much if that’s not due to radiation (this thought being brought up by a doctor friend, being dismissed by me as unlikely due to timing, then staying in the back of my mind after my mom’s cancer diagnosis). Fourth is an ex student with a voodoo doll (fits except I can only think of one student who despised me enough, and he’s unlikely to use voodoo). Fifth (due to lack of other things I can come up with) is being at the far lower extreme of the genetic pool to be the rare one who gets out of shape by regularly doing things.
If I could do it on my own I’d check between the top three settling for my #1 option if the other two tests came back normal. I can’t do it on my own and don’t want the “notes” doctors would add (crying wolf sorts of things) on my chart to continue to build, nor the mental stress of it not really being as simple as it sounds in my real world, so will just assume it’s #1 at this point and resume regular activity trying to keep as much going as possible for as long as possible. 'Tis the best I can do.
This may sound rather “out there,” but if you’re willing to purchase or obtain a Apple watch higher than the original one, you can participate in a Stanford heart study and if they detect something “off” in your heart, they will notify you and send you a monitor that you will wear as directed and you will get further feedback about that. It may help get you information that your physicians has not yet ordered or gotten for you. Our friend ordered a iWatch recently just so he can participate in this Stanford heart study.
Gotta love returning from a trip and finding a 2K+ bill for tests that didn’t even really test for the actual problem. This isn’t even including the doctor bills themselves. (sigh) Our system is really screwy to say the least.
I suppose I at least know the heart itself is fine, but I don’t think that was ever suspect (without exercise) - at least not in any rational thought I can find. I don’t mind paying for things that make sense even if all turns out ok, but this particular bill is really rubbing salt in the wound. In hindsight I should have never started this thread, just stuck with radiation as the cause, cancelled the tests and later appt, figured out I need to live with things (as with all the others), and spent the 2K+ on another trip somewhere flat to enjoy the break.
So, if one were expecting to be mostly inside for a few days hiding from the outdoor oven descending over our area and wanted to contemplate a consultation with a cardiologist to see what they thought (since some things one reads are tough to totally put aside), how, exactly, does one go about finding someone versed enough to consider radiation as well as typical cardio “stuff” (that any cardiologist could probably do just fine) who is also open to seeing someone without a referral?
Hershey is roughly an hour away. JH is roughly an hour and a half. There are also local facilities/groups. Networks are not an issue since we’re with health share and this is covered at 100%, so finances are not an issue either (assuming nothing is experimental).
FWIW, when I ask around locally, I’ve yet to come up with a good recommendation though have heard of some to avoid. That’s all hearsay though. I’ve no idea whether to trust their opinion (or the internet reviews pro/con for that end of things) or not.
Calorie intake is not the only measure of proper nutrition to support your activities. A"healthy" diet beats just thinking low intake is a wise approach.
And appearance isn’t going to tell what internal fat wraps organs. Nor is it the least assuring that muscle builders and committed athletes can have a high BMI. We’re talking an ordinary person.
“…walking speed is not aerobic, and any incline, or increase in speed, reveal how aerobically unfit I am,too.” Yup. Being able to walk miles doesn’t end the story. Walking miles isn’t OP’s problem.
And tough some claim a couple of weeks climbing stairs should shwo improvement, that’s not enough to effect strength change.
So, Creekland, serious question. I recently went through someting I believe is anxiety related. Not all anxiety results in obvious jitters and racing thoughts. So, how much of what’s bothering you could be anxiety. (Iknow, noone wants to hear that question. But this medical situation is clearly wearing on you.)
And, a seach isn’t showing me, but did you actually get a PFT/Pulmonary Function Test? When Isearch it doen’t show up, but you did, right?
Also, ever a CT scan of your chest, which would show certain lung issues?
This doesn’t sound “out there” at all. This sounds like a fantastic idea. I wonder what those cost, or if you could borrow or rent one of those watches. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my heart, but out of curiosity, I wouldn’t mind doing that myself. If I had any doubt that there was something screwy going on with my heart, I’d do this in two seconds flat.
IF I thought there was anything wrong with my heart, I’d start by getting a newer Apple watch and enrolling in the Stanford study. Cleveland Clinic has a great reputation for cardiology.
The only doctor at JH I’ve exchanged significant emails with is pediatrician Peter Rowe, MD, who might be someone to start with, to see if he might be able to refer you to someone at JH that could help you. He helped our family via email. They had heart rates and blood pressure that would fluctuate greatly when they changed position from lying to sitting to standing, known as Orthostatic Intolerance, Neurally Mediated Hypotension (NMH) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
The only way I’ve gotten a cardiologist was by referral. The cardiologist I liked the best was the one I saw at National Jewish, a place with a national reputation for lung health in Denver, Colorado. His name is Andrew Freeman. My lung doctor at NJ referred me because I was having some POTS symptoms. If neither of these appeal to you, perhaps other folks can PM you suggestions or post them here. My insurance does NOT require referrals, but I didn’t know any cardiologists and preferred referrals that others thought highly of.
How about we look at this from my perspective. For all of my life I’ve been an active person running track and riding/caring for horses in my youth, a cadet group, marching band. and AF through college until kicked out, regular activity with my family - regular includes our pony farm, weekly mountain hiking, and various other things like scuba. From a child on I was the “outdoor” person vs my sibling who was inside watching TV, etc. I don’t even know most of the TV shows on or most Hollywood people, etc. If we’re playing Trivial Pursuit - the Entertainment category depends upon H.
The AF kicked me out because the Navy said I had asthma. I trusted their diagnosis and totally changed my life. They told me it would get worse when I aged and that I could do all I did before because I stayed in shape. There was incentive to stay in shape. I don’t care for gyms, etc, but many folks who came to our farm and actually worked with us figured we had a gym right here. The “asthma” never bothered me.
Fast forward a couple+ decades and we (all) start to notice I can’t quite do what I was regularly doing. No biggie. It must be the asthma thing. Let’s keep doing things to try to hold on to what I have. Over a couple more years it continues to get worse while I’m still maintaining activity - on purpose - to keep what I have. There was never a time I got “out” of shape for my daily/weekly things (like laundry or walking around our farm including the hills). Last fall we did a couple of fairly routine things that showed us (all) just how far it had slowly progressed. Sigh. Time to go get the asthma stuff checked out and probably get an inhaler or similar.
Surprise! It’s not, nor has there ever been, asthma. Lungs are normal. WTH? My whole life got turned 180 for a wrong decision? Mentally deal with THAT (not the “asthma”).
Meanwhile, actual life - active life - continues and the same exact things are going on - not better nor worse with travel, diet, or anything else going on - just a little worse with really cold weather and for a short period of time after donating blood. All of us are wondering, if not asthma, then what is it? It’s not normal for anyone else around me including those in worse shape than I’m in and/or older.
Next routine appt comes around and I ask about it. I get sent to the pulmonologist because it’s not believed to be cardiac. There are no other cardiac symptoms I’m told. I agree. I hear my pulse. Nothing really seems off. The heart increases when needed and cuts back when not. Resting pulse is in the healthy range. The pulmonologist suggests radiation as the cause. The timing might be right - we didn’t pay attention to the start because we “knew” what was going on with that one.
I start this thread and hear a ton about how it actually “could” be cardiac - and it “could” match the other constant symptoms even though it doesn’t match the “usual” ones (last BP reading was 126/82 - med school lad had higher on the same machine - his decision to test ours - it didn’t even occur to me - we were grocery shopping!). I don’t get fatigued. The “only” symptoms that seem to be really odd are the breathing and the pulse increasing so much with little effort - normal effort on my part - things I do every single day and often multiple times per day - things that never used to cause any issues with breathing and don’t for every single person who comes here (aside from those with advanced age or medical issues).
It’s not surprising the echo was normal. They didn’t really test the BO under identical circumstances, but may have done enough to know that’s not a problem. They declare me out of shape - really? None of us see it. Regardless, it’s the same lack of true, solid answers as the other “radiation” things I deal with all the time so forget about it.
But now there is that nagging thought in my mind - what if the people of the internet are right? Yes, it comes up daily because the problem is still there except NOW I don’t have answers as I (thought I) did before. The actual problem is no better or worse. I’m losing weight - easy to do - and already have the BMI < 30. No change. Yes, I’ll check that as I get lower, but it wasn’t better before when it was lower (27.5) and I weighed more than I do now back when everything was fine. Perhaps when I get even lower than 27.5 it will improve, though I have my doubts.
So my mind thinks maybe it is worth it to have a consultation with a cardiologist, but how? I’ve never BTDT before. The only specialist I picked myself since pregnancy 20+ years ago was the eye clinic (not actual doctor) at JH. They handled the rest. I picked a local PCP and chose someone whose student I knew at school. That might not actually be the way to get the most knowledgeable doctor - esp for something that could be rare. Asking around gets me doctors people don’t care for (though I might have one lead on someone a fellow teacher liked for her H). Is that a good, reliable system to use? Is there another way to find someone “good?” Let me ask those people of the internet. It’s worth a shot.
It’s likely “just” another radiation thing as I suspect, but even when I mention our (real, planned) desire to move to an island I get reminded to consider health care (a decent reminder). It would be nice peace of mind to know - or at least have an expert in the field agree - that it’s just radiation and something that won’t harm a thing - just needs to be lived with. Or if not, to fix what can be fixed.
I don’t mean to be flip but Hershey and JHU are both pretty good places. Since you haven’t seen any cardiologist before, I would just try to get an appointment with whoever can see you first.
When you call the cardiology department (and in my experience there is usually one or two big group practices) you can give the receptionist a little detail on your issue and she can often suggest which doc would have more experience in that area.
But really I’d get in to see one and at least let them do an actual cardiologist evaluation. You can mention your radiation concerns and the doc can do research or consult another specialist etc. But let him/her do that heavy lifting for you. Pick someone now and get the process started.
I reviewed the Hershey docs online and you can see where they did residency and their interests. You should be able to find one that sounds approachable to you.
Can’t quite figure out where you are geographically but I may know some folks in the JHU area or PA if you’re in PA. If you want.
Ha! Finally get to update this - and no cardiac issue whatsoever (though it definitely does give me peace of mind, so no regrets having it done TBH). This was at Hershey… that’s the short and quick version for those who want it.
The more detailed version… The heart cath was today - the pro being absolutely nothing was found wrong with the arteries or heart itself. Supposedly my system looks far better than pretty much anyone else my age too. It gives me good thoughts about the diet and activity level I’ve chosen for my life - differing from my parents considerably. (Mentioned in another thread), my cholesterol levels are high, but I’m thinking this means statins aren’t necessary to control them.
The con means this is likely part of my body’s reaction to radiation and not fixable. As a recap, my pulse increases super quickly with just minor exertion (110s to just walk on the flat - not an issue even with a 10,000 step daily goal which I almost always reach, but 120s and higher to do anything more like stairs, small hills, gardening, carrying pretty much anything, giving me breathing and stamina problems way too early). Resting rate is usually lower 60s, so consistent with being in shape. It’s just exertion where the signals are apparently off for the rest of my life (sigh) and if I keep pressing on the resting rate won’t settle back below 90 for some time (hours or days pending how much I did). That often causes chest pain. Med school lad tells me it’s likely due to the heart not getting enough oxygen due to the faster rate for so long (not sure how correct he is, but that’s what he suggests).
But at least all is well with it and it’s not causing harm.
I’ll admit I’d secretly hoped any fix from this would also have solved the trigeminal nerve pain I deal with daily, but I suppose I’m stuck with that too. That part is a little bit depressing, esp on worse days.
Such is life. Could be worse. Plenty of folks had it worse there today and I do rather enjoy the feel good part of knowing my activity and diet has changed my (health) path from my parent’s - or at least I can give credit to it even if there are other factors.
Oh, also from a recent thread - they redid the anion test and came up with a great number (10) so I can forget figuring out if I should be worried about that too. Lab error on last week’s test is likely.
Overall a good day albeit meaning there’s more I just have to accept as everyday life from now on. We still have the option of moving to flat land. I don’t know how long that will keep things reasonable or if the signals in the brain will continue to progress more “off.” Only time will tell on that one I suppose.
So postural orthostatic tachycardia has been ruled out? It really DOES sound like it, but the MDs have to be looking for it and trying to rule it in or out. Tilt table is generally the test for it. Not all MDs are aware of it or have training in treating it. Glad your heart is sound! That must be a relief.