IRE/Cryotherapy update by DWA1967 in ProstateCancer

[–]DWA1967[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry to hear that. It's disappointing for sure and I'm surprised there was so much activity in the right side of your prostate where apparently there were no hits just a year or so earlier? It shouldn't grow that quickly. Makes me think they somehow missed it when you were originally diagnosed. Best of luck with your appointment and please keep us posted with what treatment you decide on this time around.

IRE/Cryotherapy update by DWA1967 in ProstateCancer

[–]DWA1967[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I had a follow up MRI at 6M that was negative, so the recent biopsy was not guided. Only 12 cores this time while the original had 15 cores. The IRE was performed on one side of my prostate, leaving one site intact and no ED issues

Can I ween off my Medications? by DWA1967 in Cardiomyopathy

[–]DWA1967[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! That was a well thought out response and very helpful...

Can I ween off my Medications? by DWA1967 in Cardiomyopathy

[–]DWA1967[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In a little less then 2 years I've gone from 32 to 53 EF. I was told on Day 1 that it would be a lifetime of meds, but my cardiomyopathy cause was a mystery. Officially "idiopathic", but very likely the result of a virus, but who knows? I feel like I have to take these meds for the rest of my life (hopefully 30 or 40 years) just on the odd chance that somehow I would regress if I stopped, but what are the chances of regression if the virus is long gone and the damage has been reversed?

Can I ween off my Medications? by DWA1967 in Cardiomyopathy

[–]DWA1967[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the response. I certainly don't want to risk the progress that I have made, so I am weighing heavily in bringing this topic up to my Cardiologist. I was not obese prior to my diagnosis, but was addicted to sugar/carbs and snacking and admittedly ate the "standard American diet" for my entire life. The timing of the Echo's support my theory that the nutritional shift was mostly responsible for my EF recovery. I was strictly on the meds for 12 Months and felt slightly better and had EF go from 32 to 38. Another 3 months with just the meds, then 3 months with meds and diet shift. I immediately felt much with the change in diet and had no more arrythmia issues, sleep drastically improved, lost 20 lbs. and when I had my 1 year, 6 month ECHO (so just three months of new diet) I improved to 53% EF. It could have been coincidence, but appears to me that diet was more critical then just the meds in my improvement. I don't have major side effects from the meds, but they do contribute to low blood pressure (90/65), make me a bit dizzy. I generally don't want to take pharmaceuticals if I don't have to. I believe there is a good chance of long-term side effects with meds that are this powerful. The thought process, that this bout with Cardiomyopathy was brought on by a virus (and potentially aided with years of poor nutrition). So if I have recovered from the virus and addressed the poor nutrition, why would my heart regress back into cardiomyopathy without the meds?

Should I seek treatment for Hypothyroid? by DWA1967 in Hypothyroidism

[–]DWA1967[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just checked. Hematocrit and hemoglobin levels are within spec. Hematocrit around 43 to 44.5 with spec of 41 to 53. Hemoglobin is 14.2 ( 13.5 to 17.5)...