WHAT IS THE PROGNOSIS FOR YOUNG ADULT WITH CARDIAC MYOPATHY WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS?

It depends on several factors.
1. Some cardiomyopathies are reversible. For example, those due to substance abuse can get better if the patient changes his lifestyle. Viral and peripartum cardiomyopathy sometimes reverse (30 % of the time).
2. The degree of cardiac impairment or ejection fraction is important as well. Obviously, the more impaired the heart, the worse the prognosis.
3. Specialized management is of the utmost importance---not only should a cardiologist prescribe all of the best medications for the patient, he/she should be well-versed in implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and when to consider transplantation or an LV assist device. This isn't one for a primary care doc to manage.

The breathing problems you refer to may be a result of the cardiomyopathy. This is due to fluid in the lungs, oftentimes (i.e., pulmonary edema), and this aspect of the problem is usually relieved at least partially with diuretics. It can be controlled with diuretics on an outpatient basis, and the patient will have to watch sodium intake very stringently.

The size of your heart and the function of your heart is important along with your breathing problems...I would sit down with your doctor and have a long talk about your prognosis...I am not trying to be evasive but it is important to know specially how your heart is functioning and what types of medications you are on and how they make you better..I will say this much..to-days medication and tests and treatments help patients live much longer and have a better quality of life.

HI there- I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at the age of 32. At first the prognosis was not too good, but I discovered that this had a lot to do with the hmo i was with. 2 years later I was hospitalised with congestive heart failure. This hospitalization hooked me up with an actual cardiac specialist instead of some hmo ding-dong. I am being succesfully treated with meds and feel just fine- believe me, cardiomyopathy is not a death sentence..Try onl.ine support groups, they really can help. Now i can do anything i did before (maybe a little slower) I take several meds, including Lasix which helps to relieve fluid build-up around the heart lungs, (one of the joys of cardiomyopathy) and several others and it's like i'm not even sick now. Sure myopathy can be a bummer, but don't let it stop you, it doesn't need to

Only your cardiologist can tell you that. There are many variables, and the cardiologist will be watching all of them. Please, don't ask for a prognosis here, as the best you'll get is a wild guess.

Cardiomyopathy can be a minor annoyance or a death sentence, so make sure only to listen to the info relevant to your condition from someone who knows you.