After feeling run down and no energy for several months, we finally determined that my testosterone levels were far below normal. We started T injections, but that really didn't seem to help. A couple of weeks ago, I ended up in our Urgent Care facility, ironically the day before a normal appointment. UC Doc looked at me, had some X-Rays done, an EKG done, found what might have been an enlarged heart. Later that week, had an echocardiogram done, and last week, had a stress test done.

Soooo. . .

Went to the cardio today. Basically, he said that I am carrying a LOT of fluid in my body, and that I have to get rid of it. He is increasing my Lasix level to 80mg per day, and doubling the potassium intake as well. I am decreasing my weight, much of which is fluid retention.

It's the fluid that's doing the most damage right now. It may easily be 30 pounds of the stuff I'm carrying around. Because of this, my heart has to work harder to move blood through my body. The ventricle that receives blood from the lungs is muscular, instead of flexible. What this means is that the ventricle doesn't fully expand and slows the mass of the blood coming from the lungs, which in turn increases the blood pressure. We won't be able to reduce the muscles in the heart, but by reducing the amount of fluid in the body, I can move to reduce the blood pressure.

The actual pumping action of the heart is not effected by this, in relation to getting the blood into the body. The cardio said that the after images from the stress test aren't that bad.

In essence, the diagnosis is Diastolic Heart Dysfuntion. This is a form of congestive heart failure, however, it is, at least right now, not life threatening.
Once we remove the fluids from the body, and get that pressure off the heart and circulatory system, my BP should go back down, and my heart can resume at least a semi-normal function. From there, it will be a matter of maintenance, and gradual weight loss.

I had posted something in one of Don's threads, but I'm just putting this out there for everyone to see.

Gary

I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!