Anyone else have heart problems and trying to lose weight?
Options
Replies
-
I have two damaged valves, and have had since I was 4 years old and developed Rheumatic fever.
I also have a genetic mutation which increases my chances of developing blood clots combined with a high homocysteine level which increases my chances of heart disease.
I go for a series of heart tests every few years.0 -
bcalvanese wrote: »My name is Bob. I am 59 years old, 5'8' tall, and almost 2 years ago weighed 230 lbs.
I developed diverticulitis a few years back and was hospitalized several times over about a year with an abscess in my colon. I had to have surgery to remove that part of my colon so I had to get my heart and lungs tested to be able to get the surgery. During the tests they determined that I had COPD, and a small portion of the bottom of my heart was slightly enlarged. They said I could have had a mini heart attack at some point. I have always had a mitro-valve prolapse (heart murmur).
I still got the surgery but they told me I had to start exercising and lose weight or I would not be around much longer. They also recommended walking at a brisk pace.
I started walking every day, but could not walk any further than 1 mile at a slow pace (about 3 mph) without having to lay down and feeling like I was dying.
I got a fitness tracker, set it to lose 1 lb. per week, stated logging my food, and kept walking that slow mile. 2, 3 sometimes 4 times a day. I started losing 1 lb. a week, and kept walking every day. When it got easier, I stepped up the pace and distance, and when that got easier, I stepped it up again. I did this for about a year and by the time the year was up I had lost about 57 lbs., and could power walk 10 miles at a 4.5+ mph pace.
I didn't stop there.
It got to the point where just power walking I couldn't get my heart rate up enough any more so about 6 months ago, I started adding jog intervals to my power walks. At first I could only jog for about 30 seconds before I had to start walking again, so I did 30 second jog/2 minute walk intervals for about 3 miles every day. when that got easy, I stepped it up to 1 minute jog/2 minute walk, and so on.
Now, I am at the point where I can jog 5 miles non stop, and can keep my heart rate in zone 4/5 (80 to 100 percent of MHR) for well over an hour. I have drastically increased my lung capacity and heart health, and all my blood work (that used to always be a mess) comes back perfectly normal now. My doctor is in AWE of me and brags about me to his other patients.
It was a long hard road, but I worked with my doctor and kept pushing myself, so it can be done. My doctor told me that I not only added more years to my life, but added more healthy years to my life.
I think you can do it too, but work closely with your doctor, and keep your doctor informed as you go along.
Best of luck to you.
Wow that is literally amazing! Congrats on the weight loss! I know my doctor told me to just take it easy and work myself back up to where I want to be fitness wise.
0 -
singingflutelady wrote: »
OK me too. I gained 20lbs but I was 20 underweight so it was needed. I've been on it 2 years now. it saved my life. Probably switching to something else soon though.
I've always been able to control my weight since being diagnosed with Crohns. I know a lot of people lose weight or can't gain weight when they have it, until they get put on a medication. Then some people ballon up. Unfortunately I was one of them lol. I wanted to stop doing my infusions but the doctor said the initial weight gain is normal and once I lose the weight the Remicade won't make me gain it back again.
0 -
singingflutelady wrote: »
OK me too. I gained 20lbs but I was 20 underweight so it was needed. I've been on it 2 years now. it saved my life. Probably switching to something else soon though.
I've always been able to control my weight since being diagnosed with Crohns. I know a lot of people lose weight or can't gain weight when they have it, until they get put on a medication. Then some people ballon up. Unfortunately I was one of them lol. I wanted to stop doing my infusions but the doctor said the initial weight gain is normal and once I lose the weight the Remicade won't make me gain it back again.
My weight gain was 1 year 3 months ago (it took a long time for it to work) and I've been stable weight wise since0 -
singingflutelady wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »
OK me too. I gained 20lbs but I was 20 underweight so it was needed. I've been on it 2 years now. it saved my life. Probably switching to something else soon though.
I've always been able to control my weight since being diagnosed with Crohns. I know a lot of people lose weight or can't gain weight when they have it, until they get put on a medication. Then some people ballon up. Unfortunately I was one of them lol. I wanted to stop doing my infusions but the doctor said the initial weight gain is normal and once I lose the weight the Remicade won't make me gain it back again.
My weight gain was 1 year 3 months ago (it took a long time for it to work) and I've been stable weight wise since
Yeah I started Remicade this time last year and put on all the weight over the course of last year. I will say I haven't had a flare up that I needed to be hospitalized for since December 2015. Before that I was in and out of the hospital every couple months. So it's definitely helping.
0 -
kshama2001 wrote: »I'd been having more heart palpitations while at rest, which my doctor thinks could be related to being anemic. I wore a monitor for two weeks, just sent it back last week, and am interested in the results. My doctor is especially optimistic because my arrhythmia is not activity-induced.
As soon as I found out I was out of Low Normal and back into Anemic, I doubled my supplement and increased dietary sources of iron, and have been getting the palpitations less.
I just learned about the anemia - heart palpitation connection last month and wanted to spread the word.
Well, unfortunately it appears to be more serious than I thought - the monitor said my heart rate goes up to 187 at times. I asked what times to cross check against if that was when I was exercising, and what exercise I was doing. I'm having an echo-cardiogram next week and assume I will be referred to a cardiologist after that. My doctor asked if I've ever been on beta blockers, which I have not.1 -
lucid_wings wrote: »
What kind of SVT. I have 2 lol. The Afib and then out of no where my heart will shoot up to 200 bpm. They said I must have an extra electrical pathway and that's what causes the extreme high heart rate because when it happens I have a normal heart rhythm.
Mine originates in my atrials, they were able to catch it while I was getting fitted with a Holter monitor at the hospital (talk about convenient lol). I still need to go to the electrophysiologist to have my heart mapped, but they think I should benefit from ablation. I don't have any specific, isolated triggers, but when it goes off it's upwards of the 260 range. I can usually get it to revert with a Valsalva maneuver, but have had to go to the ER and be given adenosine before. I've found that I have to be really careful with my diet, hydration, supplements, sleep, and levels of activity or I end up having them all the time.
I have a ecg monitor at home that I'm suppose to use when I exercise so it can pick up what's going on. But it's so hard to workout with wires attached to you.
I may up with one of these from my doctor. Meanwhile, can anyone suggest something simpler and reasonably priced from Amazon that I can use in the meantime?0 -
I have MVP/MVR. I dont have the afib with it. I do have pain under my arm from time to time. other than that I dont have issues. I was diagnosed because I thought even while on asthma meds(Im asthmatic) that they werent working. they did an ultrasound and found thats my issue. I dont know how I ended up with this issue, it wasnt diagnosed until my late 20s I did one of those holter monitors last year and they found no issues. I have palpitations from time to time but usually its at bedtime.but things have improved a lot since I started working out.1
-
also my doctor said people with mvp/mvr also can have panic attacks/anxiety attacks as they go hand in hand with the condition. so if anyone has had them it could be a reason.2
-
I have MVR, a leaky pulmonary valve, and pulmonary issues (hopefully to be diagnosed after tests on Th). I had open heart surgery and had my mitral valve replaced 9 years ago. I will have another surgery in the next few years. It is hard when you have low energy and can't exercise much. After my pulmonary issues are diagnosed, I hope my specialist will send me to pulmonary rehab.1
-
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »also my doctor said people with mvp/mvr also can have panic attacks/anxiety attacks as they go hand in hand with the condition. so if anyone has had them it could be a reason.
Anxiety 100% goes along with the Mitral Valve prolapse. I do have a small regurgitation but they said it isn't bad. I have 2 echo's a year and 1 out of the 2 may show it.
Palpitations can be scary, so until you convince your mind that their harmless you will experience anxiety. Which anxiety and stress itself triggers palpitations. It's vicious cycle.
0 -
keepupwithjack wrote: »I have MVR, a leaky pulmonary valve, and pulmonary issues (hopefully to be diagnosed after tests on Th). I had open heart surgery and had my mitral valve replaced 9 years ago. I will have another surgery in the next few years. It is hard when you have low energy and can't exercise much. After my pulmonary issues are diagnosed, I hope my specialist will send me to pulmonary rehab.
Having heart and lung problems definitely makes it much harder to be active.
0 -
I have two damaged valves, and have had since I was 4 years old and developed Rheumatic fever.
I also have a genetic mutation which increases my chances of developing blood clots combined with a high homocysteine level which increases my chances of heart disease.
I go for a series of heart tests every few years.
Do you have Leiden factor V? I just found out I have that, which is my main reason for losing weight =(. Do you need to take blood thinners before long flights? I've been told I may need to consider it the next time I do a 8hour+ flight. I'm also getting small bruises in the same place on my arms every few weeks, I'm sure it's the anemia though but i keep panicking thinking i have a blood clot.
I've had an issue with heart palpitations for awhile now, but that was linked to my anemia. I have an issue with irregular heart beats once in a while too but it comes and goes. I've just been walking to lose weight and it's been working fine since I focus on reducing calories in the kitchen. When I get a little lighter and once I get the all clear from a specialist, I plan to start lifting heavy. I've already started planning out what to buy and where to put it.
My GP is baffled by some of the crazy things my body has been doing so I'm booked to see a cardiologist in April. Have a few other weird things that I'm slowly sorting out. Hopefully weight loss will ease the symptoms.0 -
DietVanillaCoke wrote: »I have two damaged valves, and have had since I was 4 years old and developed Rheumatic fever.
I also have a genetic mutation which increases my chances of developing blood clots combined with a high homocysteine level which increases my chances of heart disease.
I go for a series of heart tests every few years.
Do you have Leiden factor V? I just found out I have that, which is my main reason for losing weight =(. Do you need to take blood thinners before long flights? I've been told I may need to consider it the next time I do a 8hour+ flight. I'm also getting small bruises in the same place on my arms every few weeks, I'm sure it's the anemia though but i keep panicking thinking i have a blood clot.
I've had an issue with heart palpitations for awhile now, but that was linked to my anemia. I have an issue with irregular heart beats once in a while too but it comes and goes. My GP is baffled by some of the crazy things my body has been doing so I'm booked to see a cardiologist in April. Have a few other weird things that I'm slowly sorting out. Hopefully weight loss will ease the symptoms.
No I don't have Leiden Factor V. I had a DVT during a hospital stay years back when they were still trying to figure out what was wrong with me. During that hospital stay they finally figured out it was Crohns. My DVT was in my right upper arm. I had to go on blood thinners for 6 months which then I developed internal bleeding problems. They tested me for different blood disorders and nothing. They determined the DVT was caused by a infiltrated IV.
I'm technically suppose to be on blood thinners for my AFib but because of my Crohns and the risk of internal bleeding we opted not to.
0 -
If you are in the us you should be able to appeal the procedure denial and could win if your Dr shows it is medically necessary for you. I had 2 types of svts that were not well controlled w meds - dealt w that for 20 years and had an ablation 3 years ago - it was absolutely life changing and worth it. Good luck with the weight loss and getting your heart issues fixed.0
-
TeresaB12345 wrote: »If you are in the us you should be able to appeal the procedure denial and could win if your Dr shows it is medically necessary for you. I had 2 types of svts that were not well controlled w meds - dealt w that for 20 years and had an ablation 3 years ago - it was absolutely life changing and worth it. Good luck with the weight loss and getting your heart issues fixed.
We already did an appeal. Because I'm 33 what i have wrong the insurance doesn't consider life threatening. Oh but at 35 years old I guess it is lol. Gotta love insurance. Only way they will do it before I'm 35 is if my heart muscle starts to become damaged or worse. It's ridiculous.
1 -
Hey! I had two heart attacks at the age of 33 (I'm 43 now) and I now do bodycombat 4 times a week and body pump twice as well as running (not very far cos I hate it!) I'm totally back to normal and on my usual January "could do with losing a few pounds" health kick! What's meds are you on? I was in beta blockers for ages but ditched them last year as they were making me feel tired and rubbish. Good luck with the weight loss... you don't have to exercise to lose weight but it makes you feel great and it's so good for your heart xx0
-
DietVanillaCoke wrote: »I have two damaged valves, and have had since I was 4 years old and developed Rheumatic fever.
I also have a genetic mutation which increases my chances of developing blood clots combined with a high homocysteine level which increases my chances of heart disease.
I go for a series of heart tests every few years.
Do you have Leiden factor V? I just found out I have that, which is my main reason for losing weight =(. Do you need to take blood thinners before long flights? I've been told I may need to consider it the next time I do a 8hour+ flight. I'm also getting small bruises in the same place on my arms every few weeks, I'm sure it's the anemia though but i keep panicking thinking i have a blood clot.
I've had an issue with heart palpitations for awhile now, but that was linked to my anemia. I have an issue with irregular heart beats once in a while too but it comes and goes. I've just been walking to lose weight and it's been working fine since I focus on reducing calories in the kitchen. When I get a little lighter and once I get the all clear from a specialist, I plan to start lifting heavy. I've already started planning out what to buy and where to put it.
My GP is baffled by some of the crazy things my body has been doing so I'm booked to see a cardiologist in April. Have a few other weird things that I'm slowly sorting out. Hopefully weight loss will ease the symptoms.
No ... I have MTHFR with a high homocysteine level.
And yes, I need to do Clexane injections when I fly ... 12 hours before the flight, right before the flight, in the middle of the flight if it is a long one (like between Australia and Canada), when the flight is over, and 12 hours later. Fortunately my husband is OK with giving me the injections because I'm a little squeamish about it. And Clexane really knocks me around ... no energy, zombie-like ... so when we fly, we have to plan for a day or two where I'm not going to do much and just recover.
In 2009, I flew to Australia on what was the longest flight in the world at that time ... LA to Melbourne. We were in the air 17 hours, but on the ground an hour before takeoff and on the ground for an hour before they'd let us off the plane in Melbourne. About an hour before we landed, it felt like my left calf cramped ... and I figured I'd just walk it off.
6 weeks later, I was struggling to walk and breathe and more or less dragging my aching left leg around with me like it was a tree limb and not part of me ... and still figuring I'd just walk it off. Then one day, I was sitting in the bath with my feet up on the end, and noticed that my left leg was twice the size of the right! The next day I walked out to meet my husband after work like I usually did, and collapsed on the way out there. I couldn't walk 2 km. He found me sitting by the path gasping for breath. The next day I was trying to sweep the floor at home and struggling so much with any little movement when he burst through the door, demanded I get into the van, and drove me to the doctor. The doctor rushed me into ultrasound at the hospital, and the ultrasound tech wouldn't let me leave the hospital.
My left leg was chalk full of clots. The main veins were completely clogged.
I was in hospital for 2 weeks, and then on Warfarin for a year. It was during that time that I went through lots of tests and they discovered the MTHFR. The high homocysteine level was a particular worry given my damaged heart valves.
Now, I'm on MegaFol every day, and I must get up at least once and hour to walk, and if I'm going to be standing or sitting for a long time, I've got to wear compression stockings, and of course, the Clexane with flights.
It took me a couple years after that to gain back my fitness and that whole experience contributed to some of my weight gain.
At my heaviest, I was having some weird heart things going on and actually had an angiogram, but fortunately everything was all clear there. It's just my usual heart murmur and irregularities.0 -
DietVanillaCoke wrote: »I have two damaged valves, and have had since I was 4 years old and developed Rheumatic fever.
I also have a genetic mutation which increases my chances of developing blood clots combined with a high homocysteine level which increases my chances of heart disease.
I go for a series of heart tests every few years.
Do you have Leiden factor V? I just found out I have that, which is my main reason for losing weight =(. Do you need to take blood thinners before long flights? I've been told I may need to consider it the next time I do a 8hour+ flight. I'm also getting small bruises in the same place on my arms every few weeks, I'm sure it's the anemia though but i keep panicking thinking i have a blood clot.
I've had an issue with heart palpitations for awhile now, but that was linked to my anemia. I have an issue with irregular heart beats once in a while too but it comes and goes. I've just been walking to lose weight and it's been working fine since I focus on reducing calories in the kitchen. When I get a little lighter and once I get the all clear from a specialist, I plan to start lifting heavy. I've already started planning out what to buy and where to put it.
My GP is baffled by some of the crazy things my body has been doing so I'm booked to see a cardiologist in April. Have a few other weird things that I'm slowly sorting out. Hopefully weight loss will ease the symptoms.
No ... I have MTHFR with a high homocysteine level.
And yes, I need to do Clexane injections when I fly ... 12 hours before the flight, right before the flight, in the middle of the flight if it is a long one (like between Australia and Canada), when the flight is over, and 12 hours later. Fortunately my husband is OK with giving me the injections because I'm a little squeamish about it. And Clexane really knocks me around ... no energy, zombie-like ... so when we fly, we have to plan for a day or two where I'm not going to do much and just recover.
In 2009, I flew to Australia on what was the longest flight in the world at that time ... LA to Melbourne. We were in the air 17 hours, but on the ground an hour before takeoff and on the ground for an hour before they'd let us off the plane in Melbourne. About an hour before we landed, it felt like my left calf cramped ... and I figured I'd just walk it off.
6 weeks later, I was struggling to walk and breathe and more or less dragging my aching left leg around with me like it was a tree limb and not part of me ... and still figuring I'd just walk it off. Then one day, I was sitting in the bath with my feet up on the end, and noticed that my left leg was twice the size of the right! The next day I walked out to meet my husband after work like I usually did, and collapsed on the way out there. I couldn't walk 2 km. He found me sitting by the path gasping for breath. The next day I was trying to sweep the floor at home and struggling so much with any little movement when he burst through the door, demanded I get into the van, and drove me to the doctor. The doctor rushed me into ultrasound at the hospital, and the ultrasound tech wouldn't let me leave the hospital.
My left leg was chalk full of clots. The main veins were completely clogged.
I was in hospital for 2 weeks, and then on Warfarin for a year. It was during that time that I went through lots of tests and they discovered the MTHFR. The high homocysteine level was a particular worry given my damaged heart valves.
Now, I'm on MegaFol every day, and I must get up at least once and hour to walk, and if I'm going to be standing or sitting for a long time, I've got to wear compression stockings, and of course, the Clexane with flights.
It took me a couple years after that to gain back my fitness and that whole experience contributed to some of my weight gain.
At my heaviest, I was having some weird heart things going on and actually had an angiogram, but fortunately everything was all clear there. It's just my usual heart murmur and irregularities.
Wow! Your extremely lucky you didn't get a pulmonary embolism!! Whenever I get admitted into the hospital I have to have lovenox injections as precaution and if I travel long distance I have to stand, walk and stretch every 2 hours for 15 min. As I mentioned before they "think" my DVT was from a infiltrated IV but to be on the safe side I have to take precautions.
0 -
Missyjules1974 wrote: »Hey! I had two heart attacks at the age of 33 (I'm 43 now) and I now do bodycombat 4 times a week and body pump twice as well as running (not very far cos I hate it!) I'm totally back to normal and on my usual January "could do with losing a few pounds" health kick! What's meds are you on? I was in beta blockers for ages but ditched them last year as they were making me feel tired and rubbish. Good luck with the weight loss... you don't have to exercise to lose weight but it makes you feel great and it's so good for your heart xx
Dang!! I'm glad your doing well now. What was the cause of your heart attacks? Coronary artery disease runs in my family, but the doctors swear up and down because my echo's look good and my nuclear stress test was good with a EF ratio of 65% that there is no problem with the plumbing part of my heart and it's all electrical. BUT I do get episodes that mimic Angina.
0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 393 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.3K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 937 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions