Heart valve leak, poor heart function and exhaustion

Submitted by Dr T on July 21, 2011 – 6:53am

Other

Question:

My fiancee is a 48yr old blk male. He has pretty severe IBS and has lost 60lbs over the last year due to the IBS. He is now underweight for his height. Recently he has been having severe fatigue barely able to go to work and come home and go to bed. He always feels exhausted. Blood work showed his cholesterol was high even though he eats very little due to the IBS. They were going to do a stress test but cancelled when a ultrasound showed his heart is working at 25% and he has a heart valve leak. The Dr. performed a heart cath. which showed no blockage. They still don’t know what’s causing the leak. The Dr. prescribed Crestor and sent him home for a week. What tests should we be talking to the Dr about? Why would his cholesterol be high with him being underweight and eating so little? Is the Crestor safe with his history of IBS?

His doctor and you are focusing on the wrong thing, his cholesterol. Crestor is not going to help his heart except maybe in the long run. The issue here is the leaking valve and poor heart function of 25%.

Leaking valves have many causes, but if severe, can only be fixed with an operation. His poor heart function needs treatment as well. These two are the reason for his exhaustion; Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may have contributed as well.

For further diagnosis and treatment he needs consultation with his cardiologist!
Hope this helps,
You can read more here:
https://www.cardiachealth.org/heart-information/valve-disease
https://www.cardiachealth.org/heart-information/heart-failure
https://www.cardiachealth.org/heart-information/heart-failure/cardiomyo

Hope this helps,
Dr T
https://www.cardiachealth.org/

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