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Should I get a second opinion about my Mild Cardiomegaly?
I was diagnosed with mild cardiomegaly while in the ER back in October 2024 for an unrelated issue. Due to an anti-inflammatory medicine given to me via IV, my chest started hurting and they ran an EKG and Chest X-Ray. On the Chest X-Ray, they determined that both my my heart and aortic valve were enlarged. Since my EKG showed no atrial fibrillation, or any other concerns (minus the inverted T Waves that did show), they recommended me follow up with my Primary Care Physician and to get a referral to a cardiologist.
in 2023, I was a 38F and had experienced chest pain, nausea, light headedness (similar to vertigo) while driving, and ended up in the ER. But at that time, no irregularities showed on a Chest X-Ray (no cardiomegaly).
I have since followed up with my Primary Care Physician and have been seeing a Cardiologist in my small town. I have done a Stress Test, an EKG, an ECG, and I am scheduled for a Nuclear Stress Test in May 2025. My Cardiologist doesn't seem to share any concerns over the current results from the tests run so far. I am worried that I am not at ease at all, since I was just in the ER again, this past weekend for a similar episode from 2023. Bloodwork, Chest X-Ray, EKG keep coming back fine, minus the mild cardiomegaly. Not sure if this is something I should get a second opinion on or not.
Thoughts?
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When in ever in doubt get a second opinion.
Your mentioned cardiomegaly. Can you explain what that is. I have cardiomyopathy caused be a virus that got into heart and really messed up my electrical system. That cause enlarged heart, low EF, and HF.
I have not heard of cardiomegaly. I did get a second opinion on my cardiology diagnoses and the need for a AICD/Pacemaker. I was seeing a cardiologist in Merritt Island Florida and went to Mayo Jacksonville for my second opinion in 2006. I have been now a patient at Mayo Jacksonville since then and all my care is there including seein a HF doctor and EP. I am glad to took the time to get second opinion. Not only was I told needed a pacemaker also not just ICD but Mayo changed my medications.
With this my EF stopped getting worse and has been low but stable every since.
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1 Reactionhttps://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/enlarged-heart/symptoms-causes/syc-20355436
Did your cardiologist order a Holter monitor for you to wear for a week or two/three? It may be that you have an occasional arrhythmia. I have had two MIBI nuclear stress tests on treadmill (both negative) numerous X-rays, angiogram, ultrasounds, Doppler ultrasound, echo, several ECGs....none of them showed any significant deposition of plaque. It wasn't until I had a polysomnography, an over night sleep lab, that my severe sleep apnea was diagnosed. That was the cause of my AF. I'm telling you this because there might be other diagnostics needed to pinpoint your problem, which might be sleep apnea, might be an arrythmia, maybe both...?
I think they'll get it solved, but you may indeed have to go further afield for an opinion.
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1 Reaction@gloaming thank you for this. I will definitely bring this to my cardiologist's attention to see if they can do a polysomnography as well. I have a sleep study scheduled for sleep apnea already on the books. So this may actually help determine if it's being caused by sleep apnea.