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Small vessel heart disease & extreme fatigue and depression

Posted by grachilds @grachilds, Feb 24, 2016

I'm an active 57 yr old female recently diagnosed with small vessel disease in the heart. Im extremely fatigued. Is this the new normal? Does

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caregiver49 | @caregiver49 | Apr 7, 2016

Thank you but my SVD is in brain mri

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 8, 2016

Oh dear @caregiver49, my apologies. What was I thinking? Let's get you connected with members on the Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases group here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-have-vascular-small-vessel-disease-that-so-far-just-has-caused/
Colleen

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rakierin | @rakierin | Nov 11, 2017
In reply to @caregiver49 "Does small vessel disease cause fatigue and inability to function normally? SVD of brain has made..." + (show)
@caregiver49

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.

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Hi im 42 yo and brain mri shows ischemic changes, small vessel disease... pain in my right head is intense at times it wipes my memory for awhile. I was prescribed medsforepilepsyand pain. Can someone tell me why i feel its progressing? Need help.

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rakierin | @rakierin | Nov 11, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @grachilds, welcome to Connect. Here's an short excerpt from MayoClinic.org that I think you'll find..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

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

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Hi im 42 yo and brain mri shows ischemic changes, small vessel disease… pain in my right head is intense at times it wipes my memory for awhile. I was prescribed medsforepilepsyand pain. Can someone tell me why i feel its progressing? Need help.

REPLY
Solo Act | @soloact | Nov 13, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @grachilds, welcome to Connect. Here's an short excerpt from MayoClinic.org that I think you'll find..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

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

Jump to this post

It's more than a year later, but I just read your message. Depression is very common, probably universal, after the diagnosis of any heart disease. It's enough to cope with just dealing with the news, the doctors, the fears, and changes. So consider getting an Rx for an antidepressant to minimize dealing with that, too, and be able to get a better perspective. Depression distorts how we see things.

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