"Artifact" in my heart, does anyone else have experience of such?

[Mörkret]

Probably some time around 2010 I went through a lot of medical examinations because of heart pains and other medical problems. The doctors found in an ultrasound (if I remember correctly) an "artifact" in my heart, which they interpreted as destroyed veins caused by i.v. drug use. At some point I injected lots of morphine in pill form. The doctors said they've never seen anything like that artifact before. I still have occasional heart pains and cardiac arrhythmia. I quit doing drugs in 2011. The artifact worries me. I don't see or dream of a bright future ahead but I have children and would like to live as long as they need me.

 

[Mörkret]

I would appreciate any comments. I feel like a total loser, haven done that (and other serious things) to my body.

 

[weekend addiction]

^I have a used to self-mutilate so I know what you feel like. And I'm still drinking too much I know my liver isn't what it used to be. So I know what you feel like. Drugs can cause problems long-term its not unique to you. Now maybe we are all losers but atleast there are a lot of us.

 

[Mörkret]

I know long-term health problems caused by drugs are in no way unique for me. This particular problem I started this thread about is just so strange. Never heard of that happening to anyone else. I used to self-mutilate too, for 10+ years. The scars don't bother me, and neither do the permanent needle marks all over my body. All I want is my body to function. In how bad shape your liver is in? Is it going to shorten your life-span? My fear is that I will not live to see my children grow up to adults.

 

[Mörkret]

Does anyone know, if there is a more suitable forum or thread for this or a place to find information about such cases? I would really, really appreciate any input.

 

[Carl Landrover]

There have been a few cases where people have had weird fragments in their body that showed up after they claimed to have been abducted by UFOs.


I'm not kidding. I kind of doubt that's what it is, but that was the first thing that popped into my mind.

 

[Mörkret]

I don't think I would have been abducted by UFOs. Someone I know who is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia thinks it's put there by some conspiracy. I'm prone to believe those several doctors at an university hospital who were of the opinion that it's probably calcified veins.

 

[UpInFlames]

Artificats as found in EKGs or EEGs, are usually considered to be "harmless oddities", though it can take a lot of tests to prove the things are harmless.

I have an electrical abnormality in my heart that occasionally causes a run of pre-ventricular contractions, a sort of shudder, and a return to normal function. Took 5 days in the hospital to determine that it's harmless.

The only reason it got found out is that my heart decided to flip out during a physical exam, and my doctor, who was listening to my heart, nearly swallowed her stethescope. The only thing I have learned aggravates it is too much caffeine. I would assume other stimulants are to be avoided as well.

Go into a cardiologist, get examined, and ask to be put on a Holter monitor for a couple of days. The Holter will record your heart's function while you go about your usual activities of living. I'm betting though, that it is an artifact and entirely harmless.

 

[Mörkret]

Go into a cardiologist, get examined, and ask to be put on a Holter monitor for a couple of days. The Holter will record your heart's function while you go about your usual activities of living. I'm betting though, that it is an artifact and entirely harmless.

Thank you for your answer, UpInFlames! I was put on a Holter monitor at some point during the time my heart was examined but I do not remember the results. The cardiologist was of the opinion that the thing with my heart certainly is no harmless oddity. (I have a harmless oddity too, my heart sometimes skips a beat; my son has the same.) She or the other doctors could not think of another reason for the artifact than calcified veins. I believe that doctors speak of "artifacts" in a way that might differ from how one would normally use that word as a part of their professional language. I actively wanted to forget all about the cardiologist's finding and just continue shooting up drugs. I'm sorry for being so unclear in my writing. My memories from that time depend almost completely from what my ex-husband has told me. I probably should go into a cardiologist again - and at least order the results from my medical examinations for myself.

 

[UpInFlames]

If your then-cardiologist was talking about calcifications of coronary arteries, yes, that's a big deal and you may need to be medicated. You definitely should be followed by a cardiologist.

I would really recommend against shooting dope (or any other drug). The rush puts a strain on the heart, and there is always the risk of infection traveling to the heart, which is very dangerous to one with a normal heart and even more dangerous to you if you do have heart abnormalities.

In reality, you'd do best to go off of everything so your medical team can get a baseline. The only problem with that is that WD jacks up blood pressure which strains the heart. You might do a lot better to detox inpatient where you can be medically monitored and be medicated as needed.

If you go through WD on your own, try to get a RX for Clonidine. It is a blood pressure med used for a variety of things off label. One of those things is treating some of the nastiness associated with WD. It also takes some strain off the heart. The only thing to remember with Clonidine and other BP meds is that you cannot abruptly stop taking them; you have to taper off. Abruptly quitting can throw you into a hypertensive crisis where your BP goes through the roof and your heart does strange things.

 

[LucidSDreamr]

Thanks for your story, I konw that IV use is probably destroying my body and wish I could stop. Maybe this story will help me for a few weeks to avoid doing it.