Hi Dr Oz,

I am a 38 year woman with ME/CFS who was diagnosed with Diastiolic Heart Failure in Jan 2011. I am currently taking Minirin as I was informed their is no "direct treatment" for it when you have M.E And people with M.E tend to have low blood volumes).

I had severe cavitations in the left atrium which showed up on the echo-tilt I had done, so my Doc is reluctant to put me on a beta-blocker because of this. He feels because of the cavitations I could become much sicker if my heart is slowed down too much and I can see the sense in that.

I am wondering if you have any suggestions for treatments. I know alot of cardiologists don't even know what an echo-tilt is (Dr Paul Cheney has written a lot about it) and a lot of cardioligists don't test ME/CFS patients for Diastiolic Heart Failure/Dysfunction using an echo-tilt which is the way according to Dr Cheney they will find DHF in ME/CFS patients so I understand if you haven't heard of an echo being done at the same time as a tilt-table test but this what they did to test me and it's my docotor's protocol as well as other docotor's like Dr Paul Cheney.

I was 16 months bedridden when I was undiagnosed because I was so faint on standing (I have vasovagal syncope with it), and the Minirin has helped, it took about 3 months to kick in, but it has enabled me to be vertical more, be less faint, and be able to drive more again.

I feel though I have become a bit tolerant to Minirin lately which my CFS/ME doc warned me can happen, and so my orthosatic intolernace symptoms have not been as good as what they were. I have increased the dose and will see what happens.

Interestingly, after researching I also found low cardio output is connected to the flight or fight response (my BP resting is 98/63 and standing is 118/77, resting heart rate of 77, standing is 100).

Two years ago before I fell ill I jogged 4 kms a couple of times a week, had a professional job, active social life, could look after my daughter, now everything has changed. My heart rate and BP was perfect then. I can't believe this has happened. I find it scarey though how my body kicks into this fight-flight mode now because of the low cardio output, it happens more on standing. I fall to bits and either get upset, cry or get angry, it's so embarrassing.

So I am wondering if you have any treatment advice for me please re the Diastiolic Heart Failure and the also the fight or flight response which I know is attached to it because I never had it before and I would do anything to be rid of it, it affects my relationships with the people close to me. I know what it is and why it happens as I'm a psychologist but I have no control over it, especially when standing or sitting to long. I have no warning of when it will strike so it's not like I can do a calming thought mantra as I feel it coming, it is so sudden. It just bam hits me. That's why I feel it has such a biological basis to it with my heart struggling to work, and my boyfriend thinks I should be able to control it and it's a cop out. I am so sick of not being able to control it I am considering looking at anti-anxiety medication. I am also starting mediation, as I don't just rely on medications, but I don't believe I am just copping out, I feel I have no more control over it than he does his seizures. I want to fix it though. I don't believe it's the same as when people experience the fight or flight response without a medical condition propelling it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

*sorry not mediation, meditation

My husband has severe heart disease, 4 way bypass in 2003, collapsed arteries (the ones they used)so 11 stents added and semi-controlled A-Fib, angina. He has had cardio version 4 times until they decided to use Tikosyn to try and control. He is also on 11 drugs for blood pressure, cholesterol, etc and of course warfarin. This seemed to control, but he just spent a week in hospital with seemingly heart attack symptoms, A-Fib, etc.

They discovered he was bleeding internally into the colon and his red blood cell count went from 15 to 6 and the heart was being overworked trying to get oxygen. (being on warfarin wasn't helping of course) They said his blood work for the heart showed 'possible heart attack' with more heart damage. He had 3 areas in the colon sealed to stop the bleeding and the heart attack syptoms did subside tho he is presenting once again A-Fib tho not continueous. They do not know why these areas in the colon opened up and if I hadn't gotten him to the doctor when I did, they had no guarantee of being able to control since his blood oxgen was down so low. They figure his heart would have just given up.

Since it is now obvious that the tiksyn isn't working to control the heart (500mg twice day) would he be a candidate for a pacemaker? Would this help him? When he is in A-Fib, he is exhausted, pretty much can't function thru a normal day. He is on disability and has been and has been fighting heart problems for over 20 years. He is now 65 years old.

Thank you

I was recently told I had high blood pressure and at risk for diabetes. I began working out to control my weight(matial arts, running..)

The problem is during workouts my heart beats, I think, abnormally fast and I can't catch my breath, normally within minutes of working out. I cut the caffeine before workouts thinking with high blood that's the culprit. I have anxiety problems and wonders what would help.

I heard of coconut water. I am going out to buy some and hope that would help with my anxiety, among other things.

Can coconut water be unhealthy to some medical conditions?

First of all Dr. Oz i love your show. My question is i had an open gastric bypass surgery a little over a month ago. should i be feeling pain still? i mean its hard for me to bend and everything.

This isn't your specialty, but I didn't see one for gynecology. I am 64 & have pelvic floor prolapse. What is the best surgery for me, at a grade 3 prolapse? I had a hysterectomy in 2004, with mesh used for a bladder sling, plus cystocele & rectocele repair.

Thanks for any advice that you can give me.

Can exercise repair heart arrythmia's? And is it true cayenne pepper can stabilize your pulse rate?

Hi Dr Oz ~

I am a 41 year old woman, very healthy, good weight (135lb at 5'5") no past health issues, no medications, no kids, fairly low stress life.

I have low-ish blood pressure of 90/60. Sometime my heart will flutter and quickly beat for about 5 seconds. This occurs maybe once a month. Sometimes my heart will 'thud' hard one time then go back to normal. Sometimes I feel light-headed and dizzy when I stand up. Sometimes when I lay down I feel like I am floating on water with small waves going up and down. These things don't happen very often and don't seem to have any triggers.

I am wondering if all of these things are related to each other and if I should be concerned.

My boyfriends thinks I need to get checked for the heart things... but I have put it off because I don't want to feel foolish if it is nothing.

Thank you so much for your time and for all the help you give so many people!

Dr Oz i love your show! I have a question. Since starting my journey into the medical field I've become quite the hypochondriac, I have ended up in the ER before due to an extreme panic/anxiety attack, the doctor listened to my heart and said everything was fine said it was due to my anxiety/hypochondriasis. Ever since then, I've tried to keep my anxiety low by exercising and eating right, but lately I've been waking up in the middle of the night around the same time and ill notice my heart rate is up, not extremely high but i can feel it. Should i be worried?

Hi Dr. Oz,

Epidemiologists estimate that 20% of the U.S. adult population has sleep apnea in at least the mild form. Sleep apnea is known to have long term serious, even life threatening, consequences, many of them cardiovascular. Yet the vast majority of those with sleep apnea have never been diagnosed with it. Why is screening for sleep apnea not a routine part of every adult general physical exam?

My boyfriend an I have been together for two years now and more recently when we have sex or when he gets overly nervous or excited or, well when he has any extreme emotion he complains of serious heart pain lasting about ten minutes to twenty. He has a hard time breathing and his body goes numb during this time.

He is six feet tall weighing 250 and he doesn't smoke or drink. He's Got a clean bill of health except for this. What's going on?

Hi Dr. Oz,
My question isn't related to any cardiac issues but there was no one else listed with specific knowledge about this topic. I am 42 and have Turner's Syndrome. I also have a diagnosis of depression. I know that most women my age will be going through menopause in approximately the next 10 years. What adjustments do my doctor and I need to make? I have spoken with my doctor but she doesn't have a lot of knowledge and experience with individual's with Turners. I am currently on Orthocyclen for HRT. I was also wondering if you or anyone else on the panel knows about "bioidenticals." I have been considering switching to these and am scheduled to see a doctor who is trained concerning these.

I have seen you do many shows on woman's issues. Here is my issue. I have been married for 18 1/2 years and I deeply love my husband. I am 51 years old with Crohns Disease, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. I take Humira, Methotrexate, fosamax, folic acid, B-12 shots, 5000 IU Vit. D, probiotics, and calcium. I also take 5 mg ambian every night. When my husband and I make love I just dont feel anything down there. I am always dry and it takes a very long time for any type of small feeling. Is there anything in my meds or is it my age that is making me this way. I have yearly paps and I am also menapausal and take Evamist and prometrium.

would love your help on the skin disease H.S. and the best way to get rid of it and what are the best docs to see for this disease. i want it gone now!! i put bleach on my sore spots and have even thought of drinking bleach to get rid of it. so plz help us all in this awful hell!! i know there just has to be a cure and your the man for that answer. thanks for listening doctor oz. love your show also! my name is jody west :) here in the pacific northwest waiting for your help!!!! :)

A group of us have psuedotumor cerebri, or IIH. Our question is, do you know what long term effects on the brain can be caused by the increased intracranial pressure and if there is any possibility of a cure for us.

I also have a VP shunt and wondered if it is normal to experience sharp pains during coughing or laughing? If so, will it go away with time or is it something that just comes with having a shunt? There are several that are experiencing the same effects along with short term memory loss and loss of balance/coordination, and concentration. This is not secondary IIH and the disease has no known origin or any other condition that brought on the disease. Weightloss does not seem to help eleviate symptoms either.

Thank you for any response you could provide for us.