| Author | Message | ||
     kim |
hello, im 15. last year my aunt, who was 43, died suddenly. we were later told that she had lqt syndrome. my aunt was just tested, and she too has lqt syndrome, and she just had a defibulator put in yesterday. both aunts have a lower heart problem. my mother has just been tested, and there are signs that she probably has it as well. for the past year or so, ive had some problems. almost every night when i lay down, my heart flutters and sometimes i have trouble breathing. it usually lasts anywhere from a minute to a few minutes. at the beginning of this year, i played varsity soccer. when i run, or play during a game, i have a painful discomfort in my chest sometimes. my heart seems to beat really fast, and i get dizzy. also, even just sitting down relaxing, i have mild chest pain. But i feel uncomfortable talking about this with my parents. my mom thinks i just imagine these things, and that theres nothing wrong with me. i think she just dosent believe me..because i tend to over react over some things occasionally. so, my question is, could my symptoms be related to lqt syndrome? i already know i need to be tested, just because of relitives having the disease. but are my problems and discomforts related? Thank you.  | ||
| kimberly |
also, one more question. do both parents have to carry the genes in order for the child to have the disease? or to carry the gene as well? | ||
| Dr. Jorgen Kanters Username: Jorgen Registered: 08-2003 |
You have to get the gene from one of your parents. If your mother have to sisters with LQTS, one of your grandparents must have LQTS. Then the risk for your mother is 50%. If the testing shows that your mother have LQTS, then the chance that you (or your siblings) have it is 50%. You have to consult your doctor to be referred to an electrophysiologist and have an ECG taken. Genetic testing of your aunt with sure Long QT could help to find how which family members are affected in your family | ||
| Ginny Johnett |
I had an unusual episode today at a public pool. I had been swimming with my 3 year old and we were having a nice time when I suddenly began to feel very faint and ill. We started walking towards the shallow end and just before we exited the pool, I had a brief syncopal episode ("brief" meaning that I came to shortly after I fell forward). I continued to feel very weak and faint and rested at home all day. My blood pressure was quite low for me (105/60 generally). I could not get in to see my doctor today but plan to call him Monday to see if he will schedule an ECG for me. I've had a problem lately with faintness when I exercise too intensely and at times, I have "spells" (for lack of a better term) at night where I awaken suddenly, gasping for air with my heart pounding very fast. I talked with my mother today and she told me that she has also had fainting spells after swimming or exercising on a treadmill but has never been evaluated with an ECG. I have been reading about long QT syndrome and am doubtful this could be the cause because of my age (I'm 37 and just recently started having problems). How suspicious are my symptoms for long QT? I understand my doctor will need to do a full checkup and an ECG, but I'm just curious and a little concerned. Thanks for any insight. | ||
| Nancy Y |
Hi Ginny I had my first symptome/syncopal episode at age 40 years, so you are not too old (and have heard of others even older than me). My first syncope was swimming related also (I ended up losing consciousness immediately after I woke up and put myself in a bad airway position, so my husband had to give me artificial respirations for a while). Please see a cardiologist as soon as possible (a general practitioner may not be able to correctly measure your QT interval)--be very concerned because your next episode could be death (and you'll want your child evaluated ASAP if you do have long QT). | ||
| Dr. Jorgen Kanters Username: Jorgen Registered: 08-2003 |
Every patient who experienced a fainting should have an ECG performed, and measured the QT interval. Most patients who faint do not have LQTS, but a small minority have. |