PVC-Induced Cardiomyopathy?

[martibrew]

My husband has had PVC's for years but only in the last 1-2 years the frequency and intensity have gotten to the point that they are degrading the overall quality of life.  It has gotten to the point that he tires very easy and he is coughing due to fluid in his chest.  

Last year he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  We have seen 2 cardiologists and an electrophysiologist all of whom have said the PVC's and the cardiomyopathy are unrelated.

We met with the electrophysiologist to discuss the possibility of ablation for the PVC's but he told us that he couldn't guarantee the procedure because it was impossible to pinpoint the exact location.  On the contrary, I have a friend who is a medical student in Japan who, while working in cardiology practice was told by the doctor that there is a computer directed procedure which can pinpoint the spot precisely with great success.

In light of that, I began researching the internet to find out more about the ablation procedure to which she was referring and came across a number of articles that adressed "PVC-Induced Cardiomyopathy.  While the articles were written for doctors, I was able to understand enough to find out that there is a potential connection between the two.  A couple of the articles were actually written after very successful research studies using ablation.  

Do you know of anywhere where I can find more layman friendly research and information and/or of any doctors or hospitals in Texas who specialize in this condition?

[bigkev414]

I have a friend who went to the US from Australia to have an ablation done because he is a bit odd and doesn't trust Aussie doctors. Got an Arab doctor there, spent $25,000 and it didn't work. Takes beta blockers all the time and if he stops the PVC s start up again. The heart specialist I go to wanted to ablate me, but they actually poke around with a catheter until the SVT starts and then burn areas of the heart muscle until it stops. That creates a scar which stops the electrical conduction to that section of muscle which controls the rhythm.
I have had SVT's for over 15 years and went through a patch where they triggered if I did anything at all around the house, bent over or twisted etc. That seemed to abate slowly and I have been taking a small dose of Atenalol every day, and a bit more if I feel 'bumps' and it has helped a lot. It makes me a bit 'puffy and I felt a bit sick for the first couple of weeks, but seem to have got used to it now. Still tired etc but not too many SVT's. When I was in the hospital last time and the cardiologist wanted to do the ablation (third time he asked) both ER nurses standing in the background looked at me and shook their heads.
I have had three opinions from GP's and all said not to have it done unless everything else failed, and I just couldn't function.
Is he on medication? I have had three different opinions from so called 'specialists' and doctors are like plumbers - hard to find one in three who's any good. DONT LISTEN TO STUDENTS. Talk to your own GP again about it, and maybe go see another one for an opinion, research and work out what you think is best. It's impossible to diagnose without test results and examinations, but I've found that specialist doctors like cardiologists have tunnel vision - they just look at one bit and say, Oh yeah, another old guy, SVT's, ablation, $35,000 please, next patient.
Ill keep watching to see how you get on. Good Luck.

[Jerry_NJ]

It is possible to get a doctor's answer from MedHelp Forums (Click on the top of this page) for a fee.  The cost is low, I don't know the details myself.

Also, I believe for a small fee you can get a expert appraisal of you situation/question from Cleveland Clinic.  I think that may be the best heart hospital in the world.  I know it isn't in Texas, but you can get expert advice over the Internet/telephone, I understand.  I have not used that service myself.

I believe ablation needs to be in process when the unwanted heart activity is active.  There are methods used to stimulate the activity, but sometime this is without success. In those cases it isn't possible to determine the problematic pathway.  

I would  be surprised if two cardiologist and a EP all had the same answer and they are all wrong.... suppose it is possible.