Just diagnosed at 24(F) and pregnant.. what now?
So.. 2 years ago i got a routine ekg and when the doctor came in he looked visibly confused/concerned and ordered another one and echo. I was told that it looked like HCM and to just take it easy on the salt(?).. such great advice. Anyways, I probably should’ve taken that more seriously but I graduated college, moved states and changed insurance so my doctor obviously changed. Fast forward to November 2025: Im now a year into my marriage and find out I’m expecting my first baby. I started experiencing increased heart rates and thought maybe I should get this checked out again because it’s not just about me now. I was in a ignorance is bliss mindset up until this point.
I got seen by another cardiologist, did my EKGs, and just got my echocardiogram done yesterday. These were the findings:
Left ventricle: Severe LV hypertrophy is noted. There is severe asymmetric hypertrophy of the septum. The appearance is consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Overall left ventricular systolic function is normal by by visual assessment. The estimated ejection fraction is 65-70%. There is dynamic obstruction at rest in the outflow tract, with a peak gradient of 27mm Hg. Left ventricular diastolic function is indeterminate.
What does this mean for me? Has anyone else been diagnosed this early? I’m literally so scared, confused, and honestly angry. I feel like I’ve been handed a life sentence or something