I was told at Regions I had 18 months to live with my diagnosis after RH cath.. that was 30 months ago. Last Echo shows my pressures near normal. it did help that I lost 140 pounds. so not an exact science I guess.

I don't remember a bubble test. Thanks for all your input. I've lost 35 pounds from the first RHC to the second. I still have another 30ish to lose.

Caffeine is a big factor. My eliminating caffeine (except for the occasional chocolate cheat) really dramatically lowered my numbers which stayed really close to my goals until just a few months ago.

I am guessing, and this is my amateur guesswork, that you did bring your numbers down a bit with your dietary changes AND the pulmonologist didn't give you the best possible RHC. I don't think he allowed at all for your overall history.

Whenever it is that you get another RHC, whether that be Dr Moore or whomever, be sure that you request that the fluid challenge be done...if nothing else for your piece of mind.

My doctors have all learned to be patient when I ask all my pre-testing questions which always include: What exactly are we testing to see? What else should we be looking for during this test aside from the standard things?

Have you ever had a "bubble test" back in Minnesota? That's a test to check for tiny holes that might be in the heart that might not get picked up during a standard echo. It's non-invasive and is generally done the first time you have a PH Protocol echo with contrast.

Have you changed your diet? Eliminating all caffeine (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate) will lower your numbers. As will lowering your sodium to under 2000 mg/day and fluids to under 2 liters.

I'm not a medical professional but that sure looks like PH Group 2 to me. My initial Wedge (PCWP) pressure number was only 14 but with the fluid challenge it went up to 28. I have both left and right heart failure plus the PH. My numbers had been improving just with the dietary changes plus the furosemide, jardiance and eliquis. They just recently started climbing back up. I now am on nighttime O2 assist as well.

I'm betting your wedge pressure today was 14 or 15 and your surgeon didn't do a fluid challenge not knowing your cardiac history, assuming you have one. Can I ask which PH clinic you are going to?

I suggest you speak with your new cardiologist and/or your new PH specialist to see about your getting a cardioMEMs implanted. If you have heart failure and have been ever in a hospital related to that, you would qualify. The cardioMEMs is a teeny tiny device implanted into the pulmonary artery that gives daily readouts of your pH pressures and relays them to your team. I got mine in December, 2023 and love having it. It was very useful when I came down with Covid last year. and it's also been very useful now as my pressure numbers have been spiking. https://www.cardiovascular.abbott/us/en/hcp/pro...

I am anxious to see your numbers from today.

About the CardioMEMS HF System | Abbott

https://www.cardiovascular.abbott/us/en/hcp/products/heart-failure/pulmonary-pressure-monitors/cardiomems/about.html