[BOOTS]

Ok Right Before I Became Pregnant I Had Found Out From Some Tests That I Had Formed An Irregular Heat Beat, Which I Didnt Have The Last Time They Had Done An Ekg Like 6 Months Ago. It Is Called Junctional Heart Rythem Which I Will Have To Live With Now And Just Be Monitered My A Cardiologist. He Also Mentioned It Was Rare Someone My Age Have This. Usually It Is Children Or Athletes That Form This He Said.

Now I Asked My Cardiologist If This Was Related To Weight Loss And He Said No But Last Night I Was Watching Somthing On Tv About Anorexia And That You Can Form A Irregular Heart Beat And Then Lead To Heart Failure. Well If You Think About It We Almost Eat Like We Are Anorexic The First Yr Out Of Wls. So Isnt It Possible I Could Of Damaged My Heart Due To The Wls And How I Eat.

Now I Have Run Into A Lot Of Docs Who Just Arent Really Familiar With Wls And The Effects, Alot Of Docs! So Isnt It Possible My Cardiologist Could Be Wrong And Just Not Educated On This Matter.

[Queenofthenile]

Sorry I have no answer for you but that is a very interesting question. I hope Doc answers this question soon.

[Christy0283]

Boots, I have no answer, but great question. I'll be anxious to see what Doc says about this.

[ragdolldude]

I saw a cardiologist early this year for fainting issues. I had a serious talk with her, and she plainly stated that WLS was not to blame for heart problems. I had a slow heart beat, meaning low blood pressure, causing fainting issues. A pacemaker implant In February cured that issue. I don't know of any study, nor did my cardiologist, that can connect heart issues to WLS. DAVE

[DocSanae]

The A is no. There have been no studies that have come up with heart damage as one of the complications for bypass surgery, or weight loss surgery. If there was anything in that quarter, it would have shown up by now in collective numbers.

Heart damage is complex. Even if resting EKG didn't turn up anything in the past, it doesn't mean that you didn't have any damage. You can have atherosclerotic changes that won't show up with resting EKG, and in the early stages, even with stress EKG. The only exam that will show up such damage for sure are angiograms. However, the risk from angiograms far outweigh giving that exam without any observed changes in EKGs, or without symptoms.

You also need to keep in mind that a thick wall of fat can get in the way of getting a good clear EKG, so the junctional wave may have been there, but couldn't be picked up. You could have had heart damage from your overweight days that is only showing up now. I can throw around a million hypothesis of what's going on, but none will directly point the finger at weight loss surgery.

What goes on with the anorexics is that their nutrition is completely out of whack. I mean, they do not take vitamins and supplements the way bypass patients are instructed to, neither are they under medical supervision while losing their weight. This is something quite different from losing weight while being monitored closely.

There are many types of arrhythmia, some serious, some not. The arrythmia discussed for anorexics may not even be the same as what you were diagnosed for. Also, media will often report stuff that is pretty much on the individual level, in such a way that it is made to seem as a prevalent occurance and blow up the image, for something that is in truth atypical.

[BOOTS]

Thank You So Much Doc. You Are Always There For Us.

Yes Dave Probably In The Future Or When Ever It Will Be Needed A Pacemaker Would Also Help My Prob. But For Now I Will Be Monitered Carefully.

[kbfrmaz]

Doc you really are awesome! If I don't say it enough let me say it now THANKS! You always have not only educated (of course) answers, but you answer with tact and grace at all times....and never judgement. So rare to find someone like that- I really appreciate you. OK sorry I had an emotional moment there- HA! Darn crazy hormones!

[MsVickie]

Thats our Doc !

[MsVickie]

Edie im sorry you have found you have this. My husband has WPS Wolf Parkinson White of the heart. Its been there since birth but they didnt catch it until he was comming OUT of the service that was at age 38. Yes they should have heard this when he enlisted but..... that was Vietnam time so it wasnt. The good thing about this is that you know about it now and know what to look for along with the treaments.

[judijo]

Boots, was that TV show "Intervention"? DH won't watch it and when he came in I had to turn it off half way thru. That anorexic girl was just horrible to look at. I just wanted to ***-slap the mom!

Hang in there!