For 35 years I’ve been an on-air contributor on KVOE and I have shared lots of personal information. Today and next week I will expand that practice by sharing information about my heart health and the plans in place to hopefully greatly improve my quality of life.
Sympathy isn’t my goal, I hope my experience might help others understand there are options available if you look.
I found out 30 years ago I have Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). This condition features a heart with thicker than normal walls that may also be very stiff.
It is estimated that HCM is present in one out of every 500 hearts with widely varying levels of symptoms. My symptoms have become severe, meaning my heart while healthy in terms of strength has developed an alarming inability to pump blood throughout my body resulting in a major lack of energy.
There are two types of HCM – obstructive and restrictive with obstructive being most common. My condition appears to be restrictive. This means my problem isn’t a blockage, but likely a chamber where blood needs to pool to be pumped throughout my heart that is too small due to thick walls and scar tissue build up thus restricting my heart’s ability to function normally.
The tests to define my symptoms included an echocardiogram while resting and a second echo involving a stress test on a treadmill. These tests were followed by two heart catheterizations. The first cath looked into the left side of my heart and the second into the right side and that one included exercise in the form of a stationary bicycle sitting my exam table with me!
I have been in the care a “Heart Failure” doctor from KU for 2 years. After he analyzed my condition he told me that if I was 30 years younger he’d be fitting me for a heart transplant. KU has treated me well including a program that monitors my condition daily thru a report I send each morning by lying on a special pillow with the results transmitted to KU over the internet.
We decided to get a second opinion from the Cleveland Clinic after learning about how they helped our neighbor with a different, but equally challenging heart condition. We are not disappointed in KU in any way and my KU Doc has cooperated completely and acknowledges that the Cleveland Clinic is doing life-changing research.
After two trips to the Cleveland Clinic, I am scheduled for a procedure in August that could change my life. I’m 75 years old and currently have zero ability to do work. Tying my shoes takes my breath away and a flight of stairs kicks my behind.
When we met with the surgeon in Cleveland I told him I’d rather die now than live 10 more years in my current condition.
Life is too short to live this way, so next week I will share with you the procedure that can give me back some energy. I feel blessed for the help.
I’m Steve Sauder
