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Would a post pneumothorax make rheumatic heart disease worse?
Sent to Health Experts June 12 12:09 PM

I was stationed in Alaska at the time. Temperature was sub-zero. I was told that the cold weather aggrevated my system, collapsing my lung and worsened my diagnosed RHD.

 

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Male , Age: 66

Already Tried:
being treated for CHF & COPD

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $8
Info Request
June 12 1:03 PM (53 minutes and 46 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark
Mr Martin,
Were you diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease at that time (age?), or did you have valvular problems such as mitral stenosis as a result of previous RHD before your time in Alaska? Pnemothorax would likely lead to worsening of valvular problems and could cause a stress on any of your body systems, not just the heart.

Will need as much information about the timing of events and all your other medical problems to make a better assessment about the cause effect relationship. Does this concern a legal matter?
--Dr. Sun
ASun -- Doctor (MD) -- 100% Positive Feedback on 104 Health Accepts
MD, MPH, specialized in internal medicine
Reply
June 12 4:08 PM (3 hours and 5 minutes and 8 seconds later)
         
Reply to ASun's Post: According to my family's memories, my sister and I had Rheumatic Fever at a very young age. When I went into the military, the induction medical person, (DR.) heard a "murmer" and called to confirm with my mother concerning the rheumatic fever, and he told her that I have rheumatic heart disease and it probably will take a long time to show up. I was 20/21 years old when the pheumothorax occured in Alaska and it was nearly two weeks before I could be flown from Shemya Island to Anchorage hospital. The very young doctor was very green experience wise, but I helped him to insert the needle for the procedure to re-inflate my lung. Seemed to work. Following the time in the Air Force and during, I was having fainting spells, etc. Could one say that I should not have been accepted into military service?

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on June 12 2006 at 9:14 PM
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 13 4:06 PM (23 hours and 58 minutes and 8 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Mr. Martin,
Hard to second guess that decision, as many people will have murmurs without many problems. Only if you had signs of excessive shortness of breath with exertion would it have been more of a concern, which does not sound like it was the case when you joined up. The pneumothorax does not sound like it is directly related to either your rheumatic fever or valve problem. Hope that helps.
--Dr. Sun
ASun -- Doctor (MD) -- 100% Positive Feedback on 104 Health Accepts
MD, MPH, specialized in internal medicine
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