It’s going to be hard for you to find an exact answer however I do know from a friend he had to have a heart valve replacement due to staph bacteria infection. He almost died.

Of course the rheumatologist did what they always do - give him steroids assuming it was some sort of immune disease that could not be found - when he kept on getting worse as well as his immune blood cell counts that’s when they figured out they were feeding an infection By suppressing his immune system,with the drugs, That’s when they said oh sorry now you need a new heart valve.

Astroman - Early on, I went through the same thing with a doctor, who put me on prednisone (which made me crazy) and led to bigger problems. That was years before Lyme diagnosis. Sorry about your friend.

saraeli - Your point makes sense and has been experienced by many, whether they realized it or not. It's always a guessing game.

Today I broke down and went to the emergency room as my ankles have been swelling last couple of nights, along with SEVERE fatigue. I did just have a prostate procedure on Monday, but that wouldn't cause the ankles and feet. The fatigue could be form lack of sleep as it is hard to pee and is painful. With Lyme, kidneys and heart valve replacement all in play, though, something is going on.

Doctor did a lot of tests, including a serum BNP (brain natriuretic peptide), which indicates how well the heart is pumping blood throughout the body. If it is above 100, it is highly likely it indicates congestive heart failure. Combine that with the ankles/feet, leaking replacement valve in heart and that makes it a good possibility. But then I read it can be related to kidney disease. So, once again, we go to the guessing game and worry.

Thanks, saraeli. My result was 312. The doctor didn't mention it then I asked the nurse, who said I need to go to the cardiologist as soon as I can get appointment. Then I read kidney disfunction can also cause it, though not sure kidneys would cause same symptoms.

I was happy to see kidney numbers had not gone up, then I spot the BNP, which is a test I had never heard of before. It's the waiting that wears one down, along with another concern to think about.

And how is your situation?

The heart and kidneys are closely related. I figured that out late in the game with my dad. He had congestive heart failure and was put on Lasix. It wasn’t until several years later that I happened to see kidney disease on his chart or hospital discharge papers. My parents had never said anything about him having kidney disease. I am not sure if they were even told that directly.

Later, it became a problem, and I learned from the cardiologist there was a delicate balance between the heart and the kidneys. If the kidneys aren’t working well, it can cause fluid to build up, hence the congestive heart failure.

You should consult with both your cardiologist and a nephrologist about the situation.

Do you know exactly what’s wrong with your kidneys or why they are not right?
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I just googled and found this. Here’s a quote:
“Heart disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD)

The heart and the kidneys work closely together. When there is a problem with one, things can go wrong in the other. Heart disease can cause CKD, and CKD can also cause heart disease.

When you have heart disease, your heart may not pump blood in the right way. Your heart may become too full of blood. This causes pressure to build in the main vein connected to your kidneys, which may lead to a blockage and a reduced supply of oxygen rich blood to the kidneys. This can lead to kidney disease.

When the kidneys are not working well, your hormone system, which regulates blood pressure, has to work harder to increase blood supply to the kidneys. When this happens, your heart has to pump harder, which can lead to heart disease.”

This is website where I got this:
https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/complications/heart-disease/

Post Edited (WalkingbyFaith) : 11/21/2020 7:05:52 PM (GMT-7)

Dr Neil Spector (Gone in a Heartbeat) had heart issues due to Lyme disease.
https://www.lymedisease.org/members/lyme-times/2020-fall-features/neil-spector-remembered/

When I saw my cardiologist last summer for a new arrhythmia, she said that her whole practice was 75% new arrhythmias right now because of the stress from the pandemic! I thought this was a great example of how stress causes very real physical symptoms.

But I know what Running Wild is asking about is something else. Some areas of the body that are damaged by infection can heal, like our wonderfully neuroplastic brains, and our joints, and our guts. Does anyone know how well heart damage heals? What's the best way to support a heart after damage has already occurred?

Like everything else, it all gets mixed together with no direct answer. I am going to call the new cardiologist that will begin seeing, but the appointment is not until next week, and with Thanksgiving week, chances of them working someone in new are small.

It still amazes me how doctors just blow off or ignore something like this. The ER doctor said everything looked good, including chest X ray, and he heard no fluid in lungs. No fluid around heart. But then I look at results with most red and whites on CBC low again, then the high BNP not even mentioned. Now I wonder about X ray.

Garzie - with kidneys (once again) I cannot take creatine, but will look into Hawthron. Am also going to start CoQ 10.

Finally, my latest test from Biologix came back about 10 days ago showing Borrelia miyomoti (spelling?), which I mentioned. That puts much into play here. I appreciate everyone's comments.