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1/ After a morning of heart tests the saying ""if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" springs to mind.
I get a respiratory illness (Covid) and coincidentally have shortness of breath and broad chest pains when walking up hills...
I get a respiratory illness (Covid) and coincidentally have shortness of breath and broad chest pains when walking up hills...
2/ so a senior nurse concludes Angina and prescribes aspirin, beta blockers, cholesterol meds, and a spray.
Forget the lung burn, problems breathing.
I am having trouble buying into this diagnosis.
Forget the lung burn, problems breathing.
I am having trouble buying into this diagnosis.
3/ But a CT scan also requested which will pick up lung problems.
Problem: even CT's requested in March have still not occurred. So waits will be very long.
I have corporate private health cover so hopefully can get a test sooner that way.
Problem: even CT's requested in March have still not occurred. So waits will be very long.
I have corporate private health cover so hopefully can get a test sooner that way.
4/ Follow up (sleepless night) - This article is informative on impacts of Covid 19 on the heart: https://www.dicardiology.com/article/cardiovascular-impact-covid-19
5/ Myocarditis and Covid 19 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1547527120304227
6/ Tachycardia and arrythmia are both symptoms reported by long term covid sufferers. They are also symptoms reported at an acute/early stage of the condition.
Myocarditis causes both the above as well as chest pain, and dyspnea (shortness of breath). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myocarditis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352539
Myocarditis causes both the above as well as chest pain, and dyspnea (shortness of breath). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myocarditis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352539
7/ Myocarditis also introduces a limit on exercise capacity.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/myocarditis-exercise-recommendations-1746298
https://www.verywellhealth.com/myocarditis-exercise-recommendations-1746298
8/ Before covid I was pretty healthy. Not elite athlete level but I used to swim 80+ lengths every week, ski off piste, surf, cycle, long walks every day etc.
Then covid hits me like a truck and I can't walk up a steep hill without chest pain and shortness of breath.
Then covid hits me like a truck and I can't walk up a steep hill without chest pain and shortness of breath.
9/ The causality of the angina diagnosis is:
Relatively healthy person suddenly gets severe chest pain because during first 10 days of the illness you were inactive (I wasn't completely inactive at any stage BTW - I had to look after my family - wife (in bed), kids who were ill)
Relatively healthy person suddenly gets severe chest pain because during first 10 days of the illness you were inactive (I wasn't completely inactive at any stage BTW - I had to look after my family - wife (in bed), kids who were ill)
10/ So the theory is I have a comorbodity: an artery which is already almost blocked (arterosclerosis) and then I chill for a few days with covid, and bang, now I can't walk up a hill because I got unfit while being ill.
11/ The nurse said she had seen this in those with chest infections: it was the inactivity of being ill which caused angina to surface in these patients.
12/ But (to me - and I realise I am self-diagnosing and flying blind other than being on the receiving end of all symptoms), viral myocarditis fits better with what I have experienced: which is like hitting a wall in terms of fitness.
13/My ability to exercise plummeted like an airline stock but over time I'm recovering: I'm playing tennis most days (running for the ball now). 3 hour walk with a backpack full of water and food on Sunday.
14/ Three hour cycle ride (mostly flat) on Friday. Got out of the saddle and sprinted a hill at the end.
Last week I carried a heavy oak cupboard (in pieces) up the stairs. I changed wheel bearings on my car (extremely physical).
Last week I carried a heavy oak cupboard (in pieces) up the stairs. I changed wheel bearings on my car (extremely physical).
15/ It feels to me more like something which is getting better rather than a condition like Angina. I mean angina's so serious you have to inform your car insurer you have it.
16/ I didn't ever get tachycardia or arrhythmia and if it was or is myocarditis then the ECG will not even show it up once recovered - and recoveries can be weeks or months from viral myocarditis.
17/ Final note on this is that autopsies of MERS and SARS 1 patients revealed myocarditis in some cases. The heart muscle has ACE2 receptors on it giving the virus a way in.
18/ I'll update this thread if/when I get the CT scan done or more test results and opinion from medical professionals. Overall I am positive on my health and believe I am still recovering though I still have lung symptoms (productive phlegm, burn). (Got CV March 16th)
19/ Evidence of myocarditis in CV patients not even experiencing chest pain https://twitter.com/dasvee/status/1288000116054544385
