Cardiac involvement

[mews]

anita,

I also see doc's at Hopkin's, I see a great GI doc there his name is Dr Ravich, he found that I have those wonderful spasm's and a hiatal hernia. He also found that I have Barrett's  esophagus. I now see a Neuro there, and a Urologist. The Neuro just did 3 skin biopsy's on my leg to see about my sensory nerves and also a sweat biopsy. I will find out this week about it.

I saw a cardiologist outside Hopkin's which I regret, and now I'm trying to get in to see there pulmonolgist doc.

I was told I have diastolic dysfunction, PAH, the left side of my heart is enlarged and thickened and a borderline right side enlarged ventricular hypertrophy, a mild pericardial effusion  and last a trace mitral regurgitation...all this was such a shock to me when I got off the tread mill / echo. But now I would like to see the Dr's at Hopkins, not liking the one I saw. Do you see them at Bayview or down town?

I'm in the middle of everyone trying to figure this all out...one says it's the Sjs the other says it's something else. That's why I need to have all my doc's in the same place.

I hope you get all the answers you need, I believe your seeing the best doc's at Hopkin's, I haven't really met any that I don't like..except the med students I run from them...LOL.

Stay Well Mary

[anita]

Mary,

I don't know the GI you see.  My GI at Hopkins is Dr. Goggins.  He's at Greenspring Station (only one of my JH docs at this location).  I guess you had that (oh so wonderful) manometry, right?  Gosh that was so uncomfortable.  I do have a hiatal hernia also...and severe gastroparesis.

My neuro is Dr Birnbaum, who actually posted here on this site several years ago...looking to help people.  He's actually both a neuro and rhuemy (only one in the country to be both) and devotes his research/practice to the neuro manifestations of Sjogren's.  He's at Bayview.

I hope you can see a cardio there.  Sounds like you could use a good cardio to follow your complex heart problems.  I have two...Dr. Jones (reg cardio) and Dr. Nazarian (electrophysiologist--for my pacemaker).  Both are downtown at the outpatient center (JHOC).

The med students are okay.    I actually did a case study for them this fall at Hopkins...spoke in front of 150-200 of them.   They need to hear your story so they can learn...just don't let them treat you...LOL

[mews]

Anita
I see the GI at his private practice in Lutherville so I don't have to go downtown, I also have  gastroparesis but it's not sever, just enough to keep me at his office every two months...were trying to get the right meds down, right now nothings working.
Yes I did have that great  manometry test and swallowed the radioactive eggs...loads of fun..LOL.

I will look into the cardiologist at JH and see if I can get in soon. I have been seeing no less than 2 doc's a week for the last 6 months. I am so done with being sick!!

My big question is and was a while back is..are my heart issues from the Sjs, they didn't seem so typical for this illness.

Stay Well Mary

[anita]

I think they are, particularly the BP issue and PAH.  Some of the other issues may be a result of the PAH (formally known as PPH)...at least partially.  I think you would benefit from seeing a JH cardiologist.