ajand ...all you described could have been me. I'm surprised your Dr diagnosed you with HOCM. A murmur alone doesn't tell them that. It wasn't until my cardiologist did an echo (among other tests) and found the the thickened heart muscle that he said I had HOCM. We tried medicines that didn't really help so the end of Aug I had a Septal Myectomy. Two different doctors here told me not to have the surgery anywhere except the Mayo in Rochester Mn which is where I had it. Tests had to be repeated there even tho they had everything from here...just making sure of everything I guess. I could never live in Mn because of your weather but I think people there are so blessed to have Mayo at their fingertips.