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The MRI report states that your "left atrium and right atrium are within normal limits in size", as opposed to the 'moderate' left atrium dilatation reported on your recent echo.
The MRI report also states that your LV was moderately dilated, but importantly, with preserved ejection fraction. Whereas curiously, your recent echo stated mild LV dilatation, with mildly impaired ejection fraction.
Again, for peace of mind, I would start with another MRI asap and take it from there.
Yes, my echos and MRIs have been substantially different. For example, in February of 2016 I had an echo showing 40% ejection fraction and 62mm LVEDD. In March of 2016 I had an MRI showing 55% ejection fraction and "mildly dilated right and left ventricle""left and right atrium normal in size".
So the discrepant echo vs MRI results have added to my confusion and frustration. Echos are much more common, much cheaper, and much simpler to perform. I do not know which is technically more accurate. Both, however, show LV enlargement
LVEDD on 5 MRIs: 267ml, 272ml, 241ml, 269ml, 285ml
RVEDD on 5 MRIs: N/A, 264ml, 255ml, 300ml, 331ml
EF on 5 MRIs: 50.7%, 49/49%, 55/54%, 47.8/40%, 59/56%
So as you can see, the last MRI had the best EF to date. This was after GotGame had told me to take Valsartan, so I assumed the notable increase was due to that. However, as you can also see, my volumes were the largest in the last MRI and therefore large volume + higher EF = massive stroke volumes (168/185ml).
Study Shows CoQ10 and Selenium Supplements Work with Lasting Effect
A double-blind placebo controlled study called Kisel-10 was initiated in 2003, giving SelenoPrecise (selenium) and Bio-Quinone Gold (CoQ10) to elderly citizens for four years with great health benefits. Now a 12-year follow-up analysis shows that those health benefits continue.www.pharmanord.com
Krill seems to be better for lipids from my experiences but high dose fish oil has more omega 3's and that's what the heart and brain really need. Krill provides very little omega 3's. 3.5g and up omega 3s is where fish oil really shines. More seems to be better. Carlson, Viva, and Nordic Naturals are good fish oil brands.
I'd double that dose and Swanson seems to be solid.
The paper you linked only showed CoQ10 + Selenium vs placebo....this doesn't demonstrate any reason why selenium + CoQ10 is beneficial over simply CoQ10 alone, or better yet Ubiquinol alone. Selenium is also not very difficult to get in the diet and/or a multivitamin. Looking at my blood work, normal selenium is noted to be 120-300. All four times I've tested it my levels have been 170-200.
This is the fish oil I take: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MXG1G2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 2 pills per day
Along with this ubiquinol https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073VK5TP4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 average of 1.5 pills per day
Just posted a link about the benefits of combining coq10 and selenium together up above.
I don't feel comfortable contradicting GotGame as he has helped me a lot over the years too, and I still plan to bug him at some point again about it, but I would be worried if you can't restore natural testosterone levels. We know that a T deficiency increases the risk of heart attacks. It's not hard to find evidence on that one. Anecdotally, many people on TRT seem to be fine getting their women pregnant. Dante's fertility protocol seems to be quite successful from what I hear (can't speak from personal experience though).
I hear you on the supplements. It adds up and it's discouraging to not see the improvements you are hoping for. I haven't seen echocardiogram improvements either yet, but I don't want to come off in case they are keeping things from getting worse. The studies on many of them seem pretty good though so there is zero negative risk of taking some of them.
I am more and more convinced eliminating grains is a huge help the more I listen to podcasts about gut health. Hormones are also huge. Have you checked your DHEA levels? A deficiency in that is very much bad for the heart. Thyroid (free T3) is too (as we have talked about before). I feel like you have a blind spot somewhere that you might never have been tested for. Tested for SIBO? A good functional medicine doctor would be your best bet at this point. Conventional cardiologists understand how to read heart tests but most of them can't tell you how to ultimately be healthier.
I have inflammatory bowel disease(IBD....NOT the same as IBS). So certainly gut issues, no cure. I do what I can for it.
DHEA is usually low normal
I just finished a serious diet, so I'm sure thyroid levels were low. The diet is over so those will be naturally rising. I tried to get my levels tested but the lab fucked up the test so I have to redo them which I did this morning but I've been done dieting for a week now and eating a lot more, so it won't show how low they got. Regardless, thousands of people diet and have temporarily lower thyroid levels and it certainly isn't causing dilated cardiomyopathy. My FT3 levels are usually pretty normal.
I appreciate the input
here is a question for you...........did you ever have your heart checked BEFORE you started cycling. see what i'm getting at here.
I know what you're getting at and no I did not. All I can tell you is they ran genetic tests on me and I have no predispositions to cardiomyopathy. My brother had an echo that was completely normal. My father had an echo that was completely normal. I'd be very surprised if this was not in response to something I've taken (whether it be the AAS or excessive thyroid at one point).
Pumped and GotGame my earlier reference to why you (Pumped) were using Arimidex with TRT. I know the standards have changed but on some panels 45 to 50 is considered in range for estradiol. What I'm getting at is, estrogen has cardiovascular protective properties. Is there a chance that using an AI when you're in range or barely out of range had a negative effect on your heart/cardiovascular system?
I don't think the anastrazole is responsible for any of this, no...even on it I keep my estrogen at a very normal level of 15-20. I also didn't start taking anastrazole with my TRT until 2017, well after this issue was present. Having said that, I don't think higher levels of say 30-50 are necessarily a big problem and I would like to drop it as it's just one more thing to keep track of.
I agree with @nothuman , the findings do not warrant dropping TRT...
I'd add injectable carnitine and syntheselen to the mix, in addition to the arjuna and fish oil etc...
At this point I don't want to be injecting anything else into my body, especially something from a bodybuilding website lol. I do take fish oil though and would be open to Arjuna again.