Small vessel heart disease & extreme fatigue and depression

<p>A few years ago I had a similiar situation. Then the symtoms developed and it was decided I had Prizmental Angina because tests were neg. After a couple years more, trips to the ER showed elevated Traponin and therefore small heart attacks. My cardiologist decided I must be suffering from Small Vessel Disease after a cardiac cath. was clean.She jokingly called these traponin bumps to describe these tiny heart attacks. PLEASE! do not allow some doctor to tell your wife its only psychological and relax and continue what you have been doing. </p>

Hi @grachilds, welcome to Connect.
Here's an short excerpt from MayoClinic.org that I think you'll find interesting, especially the last sentence.
"Cardiovascular disease is caused by narrowed, blocked or stiffened blood vessels that prevent your heart, brain or other parts of your body from receiving enough blood. Cardiovascular disease symptoms may be different for men and women. For instance, men are more likely to have chest pain; women are more likely to have symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea and extreme fatigue."

I'm tagging @cynaburst @pamattos and @HeartPatches this message too. I bet they'll have more insight to add.

It also looks like you were about to write more at the end of your message. Did you get cut off?

Talk soon
Colleen
Connect Community Director

Hi Colleen

I did get cut off. The second question is does anyone experience depression from extreme fatigue?
Thanks
Grachilds

@HeartPatches @lynnkay1956 and @Sensation, I think you might have some valuable insight to share with @grachilds.

hi grachilds. I think that fatigue is something that is pretty common with a lot of forms of Heart Disease. Cause anytime the heart muscle is overworked due to disease it can leave a person physically fatigued. And yah it can also cause shortness of breath & chest pain as well. I'm fatigued a lot, but I have Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. So anytime I walk up stairs it leaves me breathless & in chest pain & sometimes exhausted as well.

Hi Sensation,

Have you seen an HCM Expert for your HCM? The symptoms that you are having can often be treated so you feel better. Are you obstructed? I personally had a myectomy at Mayo Clinic just about 10 years ago, and it went a long way to relieving most of the HCM symptoms that you describe.

Yah i've seen an expert. I went to the Mayo Clinic & seen Dr. Geske. I have Non Obstructive HCM.

Well, Dr. Geske certainly knows his stuff. He may be able to change around some of your meds so you feel better....Depending on when you last saw him, it may be worth a visit or call...

Does small vessel disease cause fatigue and inability to function normally? SVD of brain has made me extremely tired and weak in limbs. Not depressed and pain is bearable. Have had tests commonly done but extensive white matter changes, an old lacunar infarct, is about all I know that is for sure. My biggest problem is with unrelenting fatigue. Some days I can't force myself to do anything. I don't find much info reported about the fatigue. Can anyone tell me if this is part of brain disease?? I am 66 and find it harder to keep going. I have lots of things I would like to do and simply don't have the energy. I understand brain fog and some symptoms. Family members had heart disease and Alzheimer's which I have to guess is related in some way. Fatigue was not this extreme for my loved ones. I don't want to give up trying to press on and don't expect a miracle but I hate to assume there is nothing I can do if I have missed something. Thanks and good wishes to you all.

Hi @caregiver49, welcome to Connect.
I moved your message to this discussion thread in the Heart & Blood group where I hope you'll connect with @grachilds who was also asking about small vessel disease and fatigue. @HeartPatches @PatMattos may also wish to chime in.