Connect
resting O2sats of 91%. MD suspects pulmonary artery hypertension.
In 2010 I received a titanium aortic heart valve. Since then, I have been cardioverted 70 times because of afib or a flutter. I have been on Sotalol for approximately 5 years which has slowed but not stopped the afib occurrence. Concurrently, I have suffered from chronically low O2 Sats. I get short of breath with minimal exercise. A six minute walk test showed Sats dropping to high 70’s without supplemental O2, and avg high 80’s with O2. I have used Cpap since 1999 and now use a concentrator at night putting O2 into the airflow stream. I still record avg sleep levels in high 80’s. My cardiologist, pulmonologist, and EP are guessing I have pulmonary artery hypertension, but have not come up with any treatment. I am 69 and really don’t want to believe this is just the way it is going to be. Looking for others that have the same situation, but have found effective treatment.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Health Support Group.
Connect
My husbands case is different as he has 2ndary pulmonary hypertension caused from pulmonary fibrosis but the treatment for that is Tyvaso. There must be some sort of treatment as well for your type of hypertension. Do some research on it. What does your cardiologist say?
How is your hubby doing with the Tyvaso? Does it help a lot? Side effects?
I don't understand why your doctors are not talking to you about medication - there are a number of options for PAH. Maybe it's because you have not had a right heart catheterization to definitively diagnose (the only way). I had an echo prior to my ablation last February and one of the things it noted was "mild pulmonary artery hypertension." The EP did not address this at all and when I asked, I was told pulmonary would deal with that - so I self referred. At first he treated me for asthma but has since "decided" it's not asthma but "probably" PAH and scheduled me for a right heart cath. I cancelled this with the OK from the dr. I had just had the afib ablation and wanted to heal from that first. I then had a second echo which still showed PAH but at a little lower pressure. I then started seeing a cardiologist who sees patients with this issue and he said I didn't need a right heart cath and didn't need "high powered medication." When asked what I could do then, he stated "diet and exercise" but that I could try taking sildenafil (later changed to tadalafil) which I have done. Everything I read about PAH emphasizes early treatment is important. I am considering going to a PAH specialist but will have to travel to either University of Iowa or Mayo Clinic so haven't pursued that yet. I think my shortness of breath when exercising is a little better. But it's very stressful thinking about this disorder for which they say there is no cure. Anyway I think you should pursue treatment of some kind.
We go to Mayo on the 22nd for heart catherization and then they will put him on the Tyvaso so haven't started it yet. Also my husband has had 2 bleeding incidents so don't know if that will keep him from getting the Tyvaso.
PULMONARY HYPERTENSION ASSOCIATION
https://phassociation.org/