Phew – that is some mouthful and the diagnosis my cardiologist handed me in December and reenforced it in February. It was honestly such a challenge to even remember it, but the sound of it made it sounds extremely scary.
Left Ventricular Bundle Branch Block – aka LVBBB
For the sake of having to write the long version multiple times, it shall now be known as LVBBB … sounds like some secret organization 🙂
It was a pretty serious diagnosis and would have implications on my mental health as well as my opportunities to make a full; recovery. It just put it all into perspective that my heart really was not ticking as well as I had thought.
And, it was also a piece of news that they had not told me in October when this all happened.
Back then it was “just” heart failure. I suppose that they needed more tests to provide me with a more detailed diagnosis, hence they did not share LVBBB with me. It now makes more sense why my electro cardiologist had conversations about pacemaker and ICD procedures.
The LVBBB was one of the additional side effects of my cardiomyopathy and such devices will help the heart regulate and manage the electrical patterns in my heart.
That said, I’m too young to get a pacemaker / ICD inserted.
So, what is left ventricle bundle branch block?
Left ventricle bundle branch block is a blockage of electrical impulses to the heart’s left ventricle. The left ventricle is the lower-left portion of the heart.
Apparently, it is not too uncommon to have LVBBB, but it is often caused by and accompanied by other heart-related issues such as cardiomyopathy.
Your cardiologist can diagnose LVBBB by using an electrocardiogram (EKG). As we know from my previous posts, this is a painless procedure and one which you would have experienced already if you are dealing with heart issues.
They place some stickers strategically around your chest, connect these patches with wires to a larger machine. The machine can sense the electrical impulses of your heart and trace your heart’s rhythm.
The LVBBB does indeed sound scary, but rest assured it is not super dangerous and can be treated easily with either mediation or pacemaker.
I hope this article helped your understanding of another medical term.
Always talk to your cardiologist about symptoms you are feeling, and always ask them to explain certain diagnosis a little better if you are in doubt. The more you ask the clearer it becomes, and it will help manage your anxiety levels.