| Author | Message | ||
     SGT Kunrod |
I have recently been diagnosed with LQT by a cardiologist at Walter Reed. I have undergone 3 EKG's and 1 stress test since JAN. My QTc are: Date QT/QTc BPM 1. 10Jan 522/481ms 51 2. 12Jan 582/519ms 48 3. 27Feb 534/435ms 40 I'm not sure what to look for on the stress test but I was told that the QTc shorten but was still prolonged. My question is that what causes the differences in QTc and is this possible LQTS? My family history also shows no signs of this syndrome. I will be undergoing genetic test soon. Just curious since I will be get seperated from the Army. | ||
| Dr. Jorgen Kanters Username: Jorgen Registered: 08-2003 |
It seems that you have LQTS. I would suggest that you have ECGs taken from your parents, eventualy siblings and kids | ||
| Kunrod |
Is there anything else that could cause a long QTc? I don't take any type of medications or supplements. Also I am a very active. I do alot of lifting and running along with other physical activities. How much of my lifestyle do I need to change. I'm really looking for some answers? | ||
| Dr. Jorgen Kanters Username: Jorgen Registered: 08-2003 |
In general other heart disease can cause LQT, but as long as your's are, its probably congenital. If other of your family members have prolonged QT it seems very obvious it must be the inherited variant. Competitive sports are not recommended, since symptoms in some variants (type 1) are associated with exercise or stress. It is normally taken more strictly in the US than in Europe. In our population of 100 LQTS patients the lifelength seems equal to the normal population, but remember that most of these are treated normally with betablockers. Examining the family history for these families there is about 1 death in each family before 30, in nearly all cases because the diagnosis was not maded and appropiate treatment started. In conclusion most LQTS patients lives a normal life (and should do), but in a few severe cases sudden death may occur. | ||
| tracy conroy |
I just discovered that i have a long QT wave Qtc 476. Going back to an old ECG 8 years ago also revealed a long QT wave. My doctor says since I am 40, and still alive, he doesn't feel I could have LQTS. He says I shouldn't worry about it, despite my complaints of fluttering now. I also had these odd events during my pregnancy 8 years ago. I have a history of cyanosis and an irregular heart rate 11 years ago when I was involved in a strenous exercise program. My family are very poor historians. My father is one of 10, 4 died in childhood. No one remembers the causes of death or their ages. Is my doctor too relaxed over this? I have two boys and am very worried about them. | ||
| Rebecca Vaughan |
I think you should see another cardiologist or better yet a specialist in long qt. It sounds as if you have had some symptoms in the past and the family history is suspicious. I was 40 when I had my first faint or any symptoms. Better to be safe. | ||
| Tracy Conroy |
I live in northern virginia. How do I find LQTS specialist? Thank you | ||
| Rebecca Vaughan |
Perhaps Dr. Kanters knows of one and will reply. What about the University of Virginia? I use Google for everything! You could try online research that way. Good Luck. | ||
| Bionic Roadrunner |
You could contact the SADS foundation at www.sads.org They might be able to help you find a doctor in your area. Good luck | ||
| Jmac |
Tracy, I was 49 when diagnosed "borderline". I had no history ( I thought), limited family as most are deceased from other heart problems. I was told not to worry also as I had not had symptoms, probably would never have and did not put me on betas and told me to come back if I had problems. Started having symptoms several years later, some Vtach and now have ICD. Thank God I switched EPs. Sometimes it takes asking a lot of questions. One of the best in country is Dr. Art Moss, a professor of medicine at the Univ of Rochester in Rochester, NY. He is world reknown for his research in LQT. I called and he reviewed my ECG's. I then made appt with Dr.Rosero in Rochester NY, they are so very familiar with LQT, I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone in States. Email me if I can help, I can get phone numbers if you like. Jmac | ||
| Dr. Jorgen Kanters Username: Jorgen Registered: 08-2003 |
It seems that you have Long QT if the QT measurement is correct. Your family history also sounds like Long QT syndrome. Your doctor is not correct. Many LQTS patients would never experience any symptoms in their whole life. Unfortunately we are not able to distinguish them in advance. If you are 40 and if you never had experienced any syncopes, it is a possibility that you should not be treated at all, but that warrants further examination by a LQTS specialist. Furthermore LQTS is an inherited disease and if you have LQTS, and if you have kids, there is 50% chance they have inherited LQTS. You should have an ECG taken from them and have it evaluated. If you are | ||
| Karla Piechowski |
My 23 year old daughter is teaching in China for another 2 months. As part of her Visa, she had to have a physical over there. They told her she had LQTS. She has never had any of the typical symptoms , she was a marathon runner in college. She had an EKG with surgery in the USA as a teen and we were not told of abnormalites. We have no family hx of sudden cardiac death or LQTS. I'm worried sick, she continues to run there. She questions the dx, should I? What should we do? | ||
| Dr. Jorgen Kanters Username: Jorgen Registered: 08-2003 |
Have her ECG evaluated by an electrophysiologist. Furthermore you and her father should have an ECg performed together with eventually siblings | ||
| Karla Piechowski |
Thank you Dr. Kanters. The problem is that she remains in China and we cannot confirm her diagnosis. They have offered no treatment there. Should I insist that she return early before her contract is up in mid-June? | ||
| kathy vando |
Sombody help Oct> 2004 I got up to go to the bathroom, and by the next day my heart stopped 5 times for 30 seconds in the hospital. Each time I felt like I was going to pass out. To make a long story short they rushed in and put a pacemaker in. The doctor said he didn't knw what was wrong, but he fixed it. Not so about March of 2005 I started having fainting speels. Then I started having seizures in my sleep. Grand Mall. I have gone to an electrophisologist, Seizure doc. Internal medicine , Have had all kind of test run. I mentioned to my Heart Doc that I might have LQTS. He say I do not. My QT on my last eeg was 388. These episodes are brought on by heat, overexertion, upset. Are there some specialists in Memphis I can go see. I am fed up . Please Email me | ||
| Dr. Jorgen Kanters Username: Jorgen Registered: 08-2003 |
to kathy: impossible to say. You have to ask your doctor at the hospital which have seen you | ||
| Dr. Jorgen Kanters Username: Jorgen Registered: 08-2003 |
to karla: I cant tell you. Her risk is low since she had no symptoms. |