Heart conditions?

[orangeman]

Ok, I know for a fact I have a slight problem with my heart. Theres no reason why I should be feeling any type of irritation or pain from my heart or anywhere in that area. So I'm convinced I have a heart problem. But I just wanna know if I have a heart problem, any type..sever or minor.. should I smoke marijuana or not?

[birdgirl73]

Are you going to go to the doctor about it? I know you won't because you don't like docs. So listen to Dr. Mom. Take a weed break. See if the chest tightness or pain goes away or if you're aware of rhythm changes or improvement. Make sure you're getting plenty of rest and aren't stressed or spending too much time by yourself, working yourself up into worrying about an imaginary physical complaint. Take a break from caffeine while you're taking the weed break, just in case caffeine's aggravating your "condition." Get some exercise for a change. Then, once you're well rested, unstressed, uncaffeinated, and "uncannabinated," if the problem's still present, sure enough it might be something to look into, or, if you want, I'll call my spouse in here and let him give you the quick online history/physical cardiology questionnaire. My guess is it's just your regular six-week to two-month cycle of developing a somatic complaint, then thinking about it until it worries you.

I hesitate to ask you this question, O-man, but how many meals have you eaten at McDonald's this week? That's something else you could stand to have a break from too, you know? One of these days in just a few more years when you're finished growing, your diet is going to catch up with you. Maybe work on eating healthier food for a few days, too, just to see if you can feel a difference?

I strongly suspect you're just fine. You generally always are.

[Breukelen advocaat]

Ok, I know for a fact I have a slight problem with my heart. Theres no reason why I should be feeling any type of irritation or pain from my heart or anywhere in that area. So I'm convinced I have a heart problem. But I just wanna know if I have a heart problem, any type..sever or minor.. should I smoke marijuana or not?

I think that you should stick with a vaporizer, or just use the stuff once a week or so for a while.

Another thing you could do to maintain your heart health is to have fish two or three times a week, and/or take fish oil capsules. A steady supply of Omega 3 fatty acid is necessary for all people, especially the young and old, and can sometimes help people with heart problems. In any case, it's a good preventative.

Magnesium supplementation, with the appropriate addition of Calcium, is also recommended by heath experts. I do all of this, to some extent, and take CO-Q10 and Hawthorne extract pills as well.

Of course, it's also a good idea to see a cardiologist if possible, and get an Echocardiogram. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that you have a mild Mitral Valve Prolapse (which I have), because you sound like you may have MVP Syndrome, and/or Dysautonomia. There are steps you can take to relieve this, and diet/supplements is one way to start. MVP is not a dangerous condition in the majority of cases, but can feel like it because it often has neurological symptoms that are more annoying than anything else.

[orangeman]

Lol sometimes I just dont like it. I can handle being high off my rocker but when my heart starts paining me or my brain feels like it's getting tight that shit bothers me, my heart scares me the most when anything is bothered in me because if my heart stops I stop. And I dont wanna stop right now :p. Sometimes it feels like it burns or it feels like some one stabbed me or something, not a sharp pain but..it's hard to explain, anyways obviously, I live through it and it only happens ocassionally. But I rather not have it happen at all. And Bird I dunno, I've been bothered by my heart for some time now, but I dont want to get it checked out because I dont want to end up having something fatal and having that on my mind. The last I can recall was the doctor said I had a heart murmur or something like that. And yes, I will try to cut down on McDonalds, I know it isnt helping. And also sometimes my throat bothers me when I smoke blunts. Sometimes my lungs (or what seems to be my lungs) bother me also. God I dont wanna take too long of a break but I know I need one.

[phytokind]

Sounds more like heartburn, or acid reflux to me.

[orangeman]

Sounds more like heartburn, or acid reflux to me.

I also was thinking this. God I fuckin hate fish. I dont even like the smell of baked fish (my grandmother always cooks it!) I guess I'll just get on a healthy diet and...get high and eat the fish. Thats the only way I'll eat it xD.

[birdgirl73]

Sometimes it feels like it burns or it feels like some one stabbed me or something, not a sharp pain but..it's hard to explain, anyways obviously, I live through it and it only happens ocassionally. But I rather not have it happen at all. And Bird I dunno, I've been bothered by my heart for some time now, but I dont want to get it checked out because I dont want to end up having something fatal and having that on my mind. The last I can recall was the doctor said I had a heart murmur or something like that.
Sweetheart, the best advice I can give you is to go have yourself checked. I've told you this before. What you need is an echocardiogram, which'll look at your heart's structure and rhythm at the same time--while it's beating and you're comfortably resting on a table. Lots of people have heart murmurs. Most of those are benign and don't cause any trouble. You can live to be 110 with most heart murmurs. An echocardiogram isn't painful or scary in any way. They just have you open up your shirt and they rub a little device over your chest that bounces sound waves off your heart. I personally have had lots of these tests and downright enjoy them, but part of that is because the echo tech at my heart doc's office is a very handsome young gentleman.

As far as having something fatal, here's the thing with that. If you did have a deadly heart or vascular problem, you wouldn't have it on your mind for long. You'd fall over and die. That's why the "I don't wanna worry about it" reason doesn't fly very far. Would you rather be dead? No, of course not. Would you really rather bury your head in the sand instead of facing it like a man and finding out the very likely reassuring news that it's nothing? You're smart and mature enough to know the answer there is no, too.

That's why I always urge folks to go have themselves checked, and while I know I sometimes simply reassure you because you are a little bit neurotic (in a completely charming way, of course) about health symptoms, you're the type of patient who'll go in and feel a thousand times better once you've heard officially that you're fine. And in the highly unlikely event that you weren't fine, I promise you you'd survive whatever the problem was. Keep in mind here that you're a young man of color. People of color have more trouble with high BP, heart disease, and strokes than other races, and do you know why that is? Because they don't get seen until problems have advanced to the point where they're far sicker than they have to be. They put it off, in other words, and that's understandable because, of course, insurance and money get in the way.

Orangeman, you're like an online son to me. I mean that. I think the world of you. And that's why I want you to buck up and tell your mom or your grandma that you want to go to the doctor. If you lived down here in the Dallas area, I'd pick you up myself and take you to see my husband, then we'd take you out to eat something better than McDonald's once you were through at the office. Then I'd slap your sweet face, tell you to mind your manners, which you generally do anyway, and send you on your merry way.

The guys here are right. It could also be acid reflux, which is treatable. It could be a leaky heart valve, also treatable. It could be lots of other things. None of which anyone with any sense would try to diagnose over an online cannabis forum. At least think about making an appointment, OK? It's time for you to have this weight off your mind. Once this heart thing is settled for good, I promise you will want to hug my neck you'll be so relieved.

[BobBong]

Athma?

[orangeman]

Sweetheart, the best advice I can give you is to go have yourself checked. I've told you this before. What you need is an echocardiogram, which'll look at your heart's structure and rhythm at the same time--while it's beating and you're comfortably resting on a table. Lots of people have heart murmurs. Most of those are benign and don't cause any trouble. You can live to be 110 with most heart murmurs. An echocardiogram isn't painful or scary in any way. They just have you open up your shirt and they rub a little device over your chest that bounces sound waves off your heart. I personally have had lots of these tests and downright enjoy them, but part of that is because the echo tech at my heart doc's office is a very handsome young gentleman.

As far as having something fatal, here's the thing with that. If you did have a deadly heart or vascular problem, you wouldn't have it on your mind for long. You'd fall over and die. That's why the "I don't wanna worry about it" reason doesn't fly very far. Would you rather be dead? No, of course not. Would you really rather bury your head in the sand instead of facing it like a man and finding out the very likely reassuring news that it's nothing? You're smart and mature enough to know the answer there is no, too.

That's why I always urge folks to go have themselves checked, and while I know I sometimes simply reassure you because you are a little bit neurotic (in a completely charming way, of course) about health symptoms, you're the type of patient who'll go in and feel a thousand times better once you've heard officially that you're fine. And in the highly unlikely event that you weren't fine, I promise you you'd survive whatever the problem was. Keep in mind here that you're a young man of color. People of color have more trouble with high BP, heart disease, and strokes than other races, and do you know why that is? Because they don't get seen until problems have advanced to the point where they're far sicker than they have to be. They put it off, in other words, and that's understandable because, of course, insurance and money get in the way.

Orangeman, you're like an online son to me. I mean that. I think the world of you. And that's why I want you to buck up and tell your mom or your grandma that you want to go to the doctor. If you lived down here in the Dallas area, I'd pick you up myself and take you to see my husband, then we'd take you out to eat something better than McDonald's once you were through at the office. Then I'd slap your sweet face, tell you to mind your manners, which you generally do anyway, and send you on your merry way.

The guys here are right. It could also be acid reflux, which is treatable. It could be a leaky heart valve, also treatable. It could be lots of other things. None of which anyone with any sense would try to diagnose over an online cannabis forum. At least think about making an appointment, OK? It's time for you to have this weight off your mind. Once this heart thing is settled for good, I promise you will want to hug my neck you'll be so relieved.

Lol wow, that was warm and made me feel better. I think I might just go have it checked out. *Sigh* God I dont wanna go in that doctors office. I think I skipped a few appointments where I was suppose to get a shot for some stuff lol, I forgot what though. Wish me luck :(.

[Dave Byrd]

Orangeman, you don't know me, but I know you. I'm Birdgirl's husband. She loves you, man, and wants you to feel better and not worry so much. (Did you know we have an orange cat she calls Orangeman after you?) Let me know if I can help you find a heart doctor up in Michigan. I can make some phone calls. Another good way is to start with your primary care physician and get him to make a referral. It'll be pain free, I promise. Besides, we cardio docs always enjoy getting young people in our offices since we mostly get the old ones who can't hear what we say. You'll already be ahead of the game when you walk in the door.

Good luck, man. Bird'll be back online in a little bit. She's helping her sis right now.

[orangeman]

Ok, thanks for all you guys help. Makes me feel so welcome lol. The orange part was also hilarious lol! Man, I'm gonna have to go soon. I really hope I get some good results. I dont wanna hear something I didnt expect. Wish me luck once again for the future :).

[birdgirl73]

Good luck, sweetie. Dave says the same thing. He's sitting behind me, trying to tickle me in the ribs. (He's about to get it.)

Can I say "I told you so" when the doctor gives you a clean bill of health? You can say "I've been telling you I was sick for six months" if he gives you any other news.

Good luck. Let me know when you get an appointment on the books. I'll try and take a picture of my Orangeman kitty for you!

[orangeman]

Good luck, sweetie. Dave says the same thing. He's sitting behind me, trying to tickle me in the ribs. (He's about to get it.)

Can I say "I told you so" when the doctor gives you a clean bill of health? You can say "I've been telling you I was sick for six months" if he gives you any other news.

Good luck. Let me know when you get an appointment on the books. I'll try and take a picture of my Orangeman kitty for you!

Lol ok cool, will they take any x-rays?

[Breukelen advocaat]

Lol ok cool, will they take any x-rays?

They probably won't take X-rays. I had a carotod Doppler a couple of times, because my GP's heard a "whooshing" sound with the stethoscope, in my neck.

If you go for an echo, be sure to ask them to send a copy of your results to your GP, and a copy for yourself as well. Youâ??ll probably be given a good report, he or she may not think that you have anything worth worrying about, and they may just say that you're fine and leave it at that. This has happened to me, and I found out about several abnormalities, which confirmed my suspicions, after receiving the reports. Because most cardiologists are used to seeing much worse problems, they usually donâ??t pay any mind to leaky valves. Many people are affected by this condition, and the symptoms that we experience not just in our heads.

I have, according to my last exam:
IMPRESSION: Echocardiogram:
Thickened aortic valve with normal valvular opening - remaining valves appear normaL.
Normal chamber sizes.
Left ventricular wall motion is symmetrical and systolic function is normal.

IMPRESSION: Doppler Color Flow Doppler:
Trace mitral regurgitation
Trace aortic regurgitation
Mild tricuspid regurgitation
Normal mitral and aortic flow patterns
No significant aortic or mitral valve gradient
No significant left ventricular outflow tract gradient

The first Echo I had, a few years ago, only reported a "mild" mitral valve prolapse. I guess you can get different results at different times. I don't feel any worse now, and actually much better because I've been taking care of myself more dilligently.

Those "stabbing" and â??heatâ?? sensations that you wrote about sound like MVPS. I get both, and many people have high pulse rates and panic attacks as a result of these, and other, sensations.

You don't have to eat much fish to help your heart - a couple of ounces a week is sufficient. Or, you can just take fish oil capsules and avoid the taste altogether. This is what I've been doing for a while, but plan on incorporating some salmon into my diet soon. I'm going to glaze it with some high-quality maple syrup, from Pennsylvania, that I picked up recently while on vacation.

[birdgirl73]

No X-rays, babe. None really needed. But your GP or gatekeeper doc might take a chest X-ray just so he can bill you for one. I hope he doesn't, but they sometimes do that just because they can.

[LIP]

I was just wondering, is the pain only when you breathe in or is it all the time.

I have really bad acid reflux, i never chewed my food as a kid, and still dont, and i find its actually worse after i've smoked weed or cigs. But the real pain comes as i breathe in, and like you orangeman, i cant really explain it.

Luckily im ok, i got some pills to take after everything i eat. Im only meant to take one with each meal, but i take two because 1 dont work for shit.

Well, like everyone else has said man, at least if you have got something wrong, you'll know, and so will the hospital. Belive me, it'll be a relief just to know.

And i bet your fighting fit!

Take care man, good luck!

[orangeman]

Well actually ocassionally when I breath in it hurts but not all the time.

[birdgirl73]

I wonder if you're having some anxiety about something and are somatizing that. And also whether you may have some asthma, like BobBong suggested. It will not do you any harm to have a chest X-ray to make sure your lungs are clear. They can also determine that by listening to you breathe.

You still feeling unwell today, sweetie?

[orangeman]

No actually I'm feeling quite good today. Nothing has bothered me yet. Every since I cut out the fast food my heart has seemed to be doing a bit better (even after just a 2 days break it feels better wow). I just hope I dont have something wrong with my lungs or throat now :p.

[the image reaper]

Lol sometimes I just dont like it. I can handle being high off my rocker but when my heart starts paining me or my brain feels like it's getting tight that shit bothers me, my heart scares me the most when anything is bothered in me because if my heart stops I stop. And I dont wanna stop right now :p. Sometimes it feels like it burns or it feels like some one stabbed me or something, not a sharp pain but..it's hard to explain, anyways obviously, I live through it and it only happens ocassionally. But I rather not have it happen at all. And Bird I dunno, I've been bothered by my heart for some time now, but I dont want to get it checked out because I dont want to end up having something fatal and having that on my mind. The last I can recall was the doctor said I had a heart murmur or something like that. And yes, I will try to cut down on McDonalds, I know it isnt helping. And also sometimes my throat bothers me when I smoke blunts. Sometimes my lungs (or what seems to be my lungs) bother me also. God I dont wanna take too long of a break but I know I need one.

if smoking made me feel like that, I'd quit smoking .... simple ... :smokin:

[orangeman]

if smoking made me feel like that, I'd quit smoking .... simple ... :smokin:

Ya, one of my long time friends said the same thing but I have my reasons why I continue :p.

[orangeman]

Speaking of heart conditions you guys should see that movie "Crank" that movie is crazy insane seriously lol.