Left bundle branch block??
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi Everyone
?Am a newbie here and have recently been suffering with breathlesseness and chest pain. Had an ECG done in January and it was irregular. The problem I have is I've still got the irregular ECG reading months later and now know it's called a Left bundle branch block? Wondered if anyone else has this problem and if so how is it treated? What causes it and does it go away again? Thanks in advance for any help on this x
0 likes, 23 replies
wendy12420 Chelle69
Posted
Hi I too was diagnosed with this in January,my cardiologist said I needed thorough heart investigation as this condition is normally a sign of other heart conditions.My tests have all come back clear so apparently I'm one of the small minority that has this condition alone.
My consultant said I need no treatment and hopefully this will not change.I was really worried when 1st diagnosed but from everything I've read not everyone needs treatment for this.
Hope this helps.
Chelle69 wendy12420
Posted
Thanks for replying it’s really scary knowing you have this thing going on abnormally in your chest. Night time is the worst for me as it wakes me up and I can’t sleep for it. Can you sometimes feel palpitations when lying down at night with yours? It’s been a bit better lately since I’ve been put on small dose beta blockers to slow my heart rate down. Just don’t know how this happened or what caused it it’s so weird! I will know more when they do investigative tests this week to see what’s causing it? I hope you are doing ok and your coping with yours, thanks again for replying.
Best wishes x
wendy12420 Chelle69
Posted
Hi yes it's frightening, my cardiologist said he can't tell me why I have or how long I've had it for, I do get palpitations but I've been told they are fine and not to worry, easier said than done !! I've been told that I have to inform any doctor or hospital I visit that I have this condition and have a copy of my ECG to show what my 'normal' is
take care hope your results all come back good too.
smiler27 Chelle69
Posted
Hi
I have similar symptoms to you and had an ECG which showed I also have left bundle branch block. I was sent for an echocardiogram, and was told I would either hear the result from the cardiologist or from my GP. After a couple of months of no word from either, I spoke to my GP about it and he had had no word either. He advised me to contact the hospital that did my echo, and eventually I managed to track down the cardiologist's secretary who said that they'd both been on holiday and I would eventually receive a letter from someone.
Another couple of weeks went by, and I had a routine appointment with my GP about another matter. i asked if he'd had any communication about my echo. He checked on his computer and he'd had a letter a few days before about it, and it stated that everything was fine and I needed no further treatment.
I have high blood pressure, and I've been on 3 different kinds of tablets for it all at the highest dose at the same time, and there was no change in my blood pressure. I felt dreadful while taking them, like I was on a different planet and very lethargic. When I came off them again I felt so much better. I still have high blood pressure, breathlessness and the occasional chest pain, but it seems no further treatment is necessary or forthcoming.
Hope all turns out well for you.
Chelle69 smiler27
Posted
Hiya
? Thanks for your reply. I'm sorry to hear that your still suffering and your not getting proper investigations into this surely they should take the matter seriously and investigate it further. I was diagnosed with this in January after having an 'abnormal ECG' whilst seeing GP. Was sent straight to hospital with an overnight bag and had some blood tests done and one of the cardiologist's came and said he thought I'd had a 'slight heart attack?!' I had an echocardiogram which was fine, although still having problems can't sleep for it and back and forth to see GP 4 months later. I'm on beta blockers at moment and having an MRI scan done this week so will see where I go from there. It's the waiting and the frightening experience along with the pains and not knowing what's caused it? or causing it? that's the worst for us all I think. What is this awful thing and why does it just happen?? Why is there no treatment for it and does it ever go away again?? Hope you are doing ok smiler and hope all turns out ok for you too
?Best wishes x
wendy12420 Chelle69
Posted
Hi I've been told it won't go away and only need treatment if there is another heart condition with this.
Chelle69 wendy12420
Posted
Hi Wendy
?Oh that's great! We just all have to feel like frightened ticking time bombs then unless we have another heart problem with it!
Do you get pain in your shoulder,neck or upper back with yours? and any palpitations? does it also wake you up at night? I can't sleep properly for it have to sit up in bed it's too scary to lie down, especially at night.
?Sorry for so many questions! I just can't get my head round this weird thing and I'm so relieved to be speaking to others that are the same position as me, I thought I was a bit freaky on my own with this strange thing going on in my chest
Take care xx
?
wendy12420 Chelle69
Posted
Mine was discovered because I wasn't feeling well and bloods showed I had a B12 defincy, while listening to my heart my doctor said she thought I had a murmur so sent me straight to cardiologist. I do get palpitations and weird jumping sensation which are worse at night, my consultant made me wear a heart monitor for 24 hours which showed this but assures me that I have nothing to worry about.I still find it odd that I have this heart condition but no treatment is needed but I trust my consultant so I try not to worry.Hopefully you will get all your test and results back quickly.
Dont worry about asking when I found out I must of spent hours researching it.
Chelle69 wendy12420
Posted
Hopefully I will know more after having these tests done, I will keep you posted!
Take care and best wishes xx
wendy12420 Chelle69
Posted
You are welcome,please let me know how you get on as I don't know anyone else with this condition
take care xx
Chelle69 wendy12420
Posted
Hi Wendy, Hope you are doing ok. After 3 months and all tests done I've now got my results back from MRI scan and CT angiogram and they have all come back normal. Needless to say I am really pleased about this but am left wondering what happens now with having the LBBB. I want to start exercising again and wonder if I will be ok etc, I've got so many questions! I wish I knew what caused this but maybe I will never know. I'm still scared and still feeling confused by it all. I guess I am now like you and in the minority of people who just have LBBB and need no treatment. Hope I haven't bent your ear too much and that you are well Do hope you will keep in touch and we can help each other through this weird thing we both have to live with.
Best wishes and take care for now xx
wendy12420 Chelle69
Posted
Im glad everything has come back clear for you but like you I find it a bit odd and worrying and don’t really feel like I asked enough questions at the time,my consultant told me to go away and not worry when I asked could things change in the future and could I eventually need treatment so Im not sure if that was a yes or a no !
How did your consultant leave things with you ?
I haven’t spoken to anyone who has this so it’s good to speak to someone xx
Chelle69 wendy12420
Posted
Hi Wendy
I haven't seen the consultant yet still waiting for an appointment! I have made an appointment with the GP next week as I have so many questions (like yourself) to ask. I mean what happens now and where do you go from here with this LBBB problem. It seems we have just been left to get on with it and no one wanting to give us any answers to our questions, either that or they don't know themselves how to deal with it!
Let's keep in touch and help each other with any help information we get.
Take care enjoy your weekend xx
wendy12420 Chelle69
Posted
how are you have you seen your consultant yet?
Chelle69 wendy12420
Posted
Hi Wendy, I'm doing ok thanks trying to get back into exercising again but just a bit scared with having the LBBB now though
I've been told I won't get to see my cardiologist now until next year as she has an 11 months waiting list!!I haven't seen her since I was sent into hospital in January! Not sure if it's just the area I live in as I'm living up in Scotland, or it's the same in your area too?
I then went to see the GP about getting back into exercising since I wasn't going to get to see the cardiologist, and I was told that
" exercise is good for the heart "..!! When I asked questions about the LBBB and what happens now and should I stay on the beta blockers etc, I was told to " Go and enjoy the summer..!!!" I'm really annoyed that no one gives you any help, advice or anything when you have this condition and that we are told to go away and live with it but no advice as to how to deal with it, just left in the dark to deal with it.
How are you doing Wendy? Are you getting anymore advice/help with your LBBB? Do hope your well and your doing ok.
Do keep in touch as it's lovely to hear from you
…. Sorry about the long rant!
Best wishes for now
Michelle x
wendy12420 Chelle69
Posted
Im good thank you, like you I was told to go away and not worry when I was asked if the condition could change ,not very helpful for me.
If you look on The British heart foundations site there Is info on LBB and a help line number you can call for any questions on heart condition.
Ive now been discharged by the cardiologist.
Take care and keep in touch x