← Return to Anyone take new drug Camzyos (mavacamten) for HCM?

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@karukgirl

@mckenzie541, welcome to Mayo Connect. You have definitely come to the right place for more information from people who share your same condition. It is so scary at first, isn't it? I'm sorry, but certainly not surprised you fell through the cracks so to speak with your doctor and not getting the care or direction you needed. My story is so similar, but I'm waaaay older than you! This is a genetic condition that many people have and don't know it, until the obstructive symptoms come on. I remember sitting in the patient chair at St. Mary's hearing words coming out of Dr. Bagameri, the surgeons mouth, "you need surgery...open heart surgery." To say I was stunned is an understatement. I felt the blood drain from my brain and felt like I left the planet and had gone to a different universe. At that time, just over two years ago, Camzyos was not approved yet, only for clinical trials. There are now more people on this site taking this new drug with much success. No wonder you are encouraged by reading about it on here. I honestly believe, with all my hypertrophic heart, that no matter what you decide, open heart surgery or the new drug, you will come to a better decision after you educate yourself. Open heart surgery is scary. Not a lie. But it's also a permanent solution to the obstruction. No need for life long meds. It's something only you, your doctor and your family can decide. Poke around here...read as much as you can. Ask questions. People here are willing to share their story with you.
Having little ones has got to up your stress level to the 10th power! Since there is no cure, (yet!) there is only symptom management, surgery, or the new drug, Camzyos. For now anyway. Be sure that your cardiologist is up to speed on HOCM. It's not commonly seen in most practices, but it's something that the Mayo Clinic, and other Centers of Excellence (COE) excel at treating on a much larger scale. The top HCM doctor in the world is at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Dr. Steve Ommen. Again, I would encourage you to educate yourself as much as you can. Learn about all the different pathways you can take on this new journey. You are in the right place, at the right time and surrounded by others just like you. I would like to invite @colleenyoung to this conversation to share a couple of interesting posts and a really cool video about Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. When do you see your cardiologist again? Do you have a list of questions for him/her? What are you doing to handle your stress?

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Replies to "@mckenzie541, welcome to Mayo Connect. You have definitely come to the right place for more information..."

Hello! Thank you for your response and insight. I have been looking into all options and doing a lot of research, I’m prepared for either option. My cardiologist wants me to try the medicine first, and said if I have bad effects or if I just decide it’s too much of a hassle with my age we can do surgery instead. So I think I’m going to try that route, but I’m still having them get me prepared for surgery as it’ll take around 4 months they said. So I figured in the meantime I could try the medication out at least.
Surgery is terrifying, but I do like the peace of mind of having it done and taken care of and it feeling permanent. So I’m definitely not casting out the option either!
My new cardiologist specializes in HOCM, I am currently being seen at OHSU but my previous didn’t and was local to me and I think that was a big reason I wasn’t getting the care I needed. I do wish I could be seen at the Mayo Clinic but my resources are limited.
I will see my cardiologist in one month for a check up and then 3 months for a full visit again! I do have some questions but always ask people what I should be asking because in the moment I space it all haha,
Right now I try to do “normal” activities with my kids like camping, park, beach etc without overdoing myself and that helps take my stress away, otherwise now joining these forums is a step for me and I may see a psychologist if it gets bad. I hope with treatment it’ll get better.
Thank you for all your guys responses and helpful comments!
I’m glad you got treatment even if it wasn’t the medication, it seems the surgery is very successful and a great option! I hope you are doing well now.