From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2001-03-04 15:51:00 UTC
Subject: cardiomyopathy and ultrasounds
Cardiomyopathy can cause a number of general symptoms, many of which
come under control when treatment for the heart disease begins. In
fact, as you know, other things can cause hind end weakness,
ascites, coughing, trouble breathing, tiredness, and some other of
its symptoms that can happen. When we have had such symptoms --even
a few-- we have traditionally had first chest x-rays and then
ultrasounds. (We have also used ultrasound to better understand when
an elderly female got pneumonia and pleurosy which had some similar
symptoms to make sure there was not also cardiomyopathy and to better
handle the respiratory problems.) One of our's who had ventricular
bigemini and bit of trigemini had regular EKGs but that has not been
needed for the other two with cardiomyopathy. Not only does
ultrasound help with the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy but it refines
what is known about the individual case and helps show how to treat
the problem most effectively for any individual's specific situation,
though one facing this should expect that doses and perhaps even what
is used may change as the disease progresses.
Dr. Bruce Williams has a wonderful reference on cardiomyopathy at
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc to help anyone facing this.