Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Dealing with Shortness-of-breath

Posted by lakeview @lakeview, Nov 11 12:40pm

I have Hypertrophic Cartiomyopathy….suffer with shortness of breath, no matter what I do….when I go out, I have to use a wheelchair, can’t walk more than 30 feet without getting out of breath. Can anyone relate to this problem? If so please let me know your story. I am being treated by a top notch Cardiologist…but getting no where. I am to old for surgery (80) years old. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you, MMB

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Support Group.

acarla | @acarla | Nov 27 12:05pm

Make sure you are not anemic. Anemia impacts my OHC symptoms (shortness of breath, low blood pressure, dizziness ess) a great deal.

manuelpo | @manuelpo | Nov 27 5:32pm

I have Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and as soon as I started the capsule Camzyos 5 mg all my shortness of breath is gone. I can walk now almost normal and no side effects with that medicine. It works really well on me.

I hope your Cardiologist is "Camzyos Certified" so he may be able to talk to you about that medicine with the potential risks and great benefits it offers for your heart problems yo described above.

alyssa6203 | @alyssa6203 | Dec 1 5:52pm

I was in a similar position. I have HCM and had to use a wheel chair for months because I couldn’t get around without my heart rate skyrocketing and getting extremely short of breath. I had a septal myectomy done but maybe you can ask your doctor about Camzyos (mavacamten). This medication is new in the first one in its drug class. Ask your doctor if you are eligible (your EF, ejection fraction, needs to be a certain point for you to be able to be on the medication. Usually it’s 50% or greater but ask your doctor)