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pericardial effusion

wabi-sabi

Senior Member
Messages
1,458
Location
small town midwest
Hi,

I'm curious if anyone shares the symptom of pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart). It's one that I don't see commonly listed with ME/CFS symptoms. I had had a couple of echos early this spring when I was having trouble breathing and it was discovered then. It's still there now. Does anyone know anything about this?
 

wabi-sabi

Senior Member
Messages
1,458
Location
small town midwest
Thank you Eastman, I'll take a look. I think it's unlikely that I have B vitamin issues since I take a supplement and I've had at least my b12 checked and it's normal. I'm just wondering if the effusion is a reflection of the general inflammation or a sign that I have heart issues in addition to the ME/CFS thing. I've had sooo many test for autoimmune disease that are mostly negative (and waiting on a bit more blood) to try to check on that. Otherwise it's just the non-specific dysautonomia stuff. My BP and heart rate just get too low.
 

Sushi

Moderation Resource Albuquerque
Messages
19,935
Location
Albuquerque
I'm just wondering if the effusion is a reflection of the general inflammation or a sign that I have heart issues in addition to the ME/CFS thing.
From my experience, I'd say that having this checked by a cardiologist would be advised.
 

wabi-sabi

Senior Member
Messages
1,458
Location
small town midwest
Hmmm... I was seen by cardiology when I got my CFS workup at Mayo. They ordered extra autoimmune tests and I'm still waiting for results on that. Mostly, they told me I needed to exercise. The upshot is, I don't think they know what's causing the effusion, so I'm trying to do my own research here. They didn't feel I needed medication for the tilt table fainting either, just told me to manage at home with fluid, salt, and compression stockings, which or course, I've already been doing. I don't know if my TTT is objectively serious or not. I mean, fainting when standing upright just isn't normal under any circumstances, so what's up with "we'll consider medication if you get worse" type of answer? There's a part of me that's worried they're blowing me off because of the CFS/fibro diagnosis, but I don't know that for sure.

I guess what I'm saying is that I've seen cardio, but I'm not confident in the answer yet.
 

Sushi

Moderation Resource Albuquerque
Messages
19,935
Location
Albuquerque
I don't know if my TTT is objectively serious or not. I mean, fainting when standing upright just isn't normal under any circumstances, so what's up with "we'll consider medication if you get worse" type of answer? There's a part of me that's worried they're blowing me off because of the CFS/fibro diagnosis, but I don't know that for sure.
Mayo is notorious for "blowing people off" who have a CFS diagnosis. I'd hoped that they had changed in the past year, but looks like they haven't :mad:. Fainting while standing is absolutely abnormal and also dangerous. As my autonomic doctor used to say, "It isn't the fainting that is dangerous, but the hitting your head on something when you fall." Most autonomic specialists would want to try you with a variety of different medications. There are some that work very well, though, of course, not for everyone.