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General health

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Flip

Original poster

Just been told I have a heart murmer - but worried.

22 replies

2notenuff · 17/10/2008 13:20

Basically just want to know if anyone else has one and what happens?

Had a quick look on the web and its says that most are harmless. Most of the info I read relates to babies and children.

I have had ECG's in the past and my chest has been listened to countless times so why wasnt it picked up then if I'd had it my whole life.

I read that murmurs in adults is usally caused by disease, infection or aging.

I've had none of them.

Its so annoying and I am really into fitness but went to the gp because I was getting chest pain and dizziness.

I'm feeling a bit scared and just want some advice.

Gp said I should hear back within two weeks for scan and ecg.

OP posts:

Original poster

2notenuff · 17/10/2008 13:24

bump would love to hear any feedback on it before i have to go out soon

thanks x

OP posts:

Elk · 17/10/2008 13:34

I have had a heart murmur from birth. My ECG is normal but I have a hole between the two vetricles (sp?). The only way it has affected me is that I need ab cover for operations/dental work etc.

I hope you get reassuring news after the scan. (Last time I had a scan I was 5 months pregnant with an enormous bump and they had a rather difficult time getting a good look at my heart).

Original poster

2notenuff · 17/10/2008 13:47

was yours spotted when you were born then?

thanks
x

OP posts:

jabberwocky · 17/10/2008 13:49

I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse in my early twenties. It really never bothers me, I just have to make sure I have antibiotics before dental work or surgery.

geogteach · 17/10/2008 14:03

I developed one when pregnant with DD was told it was related to being anaemic. Was fine again once DD was born and no longer anaemic but at the time had to stop work early due to breathlessness.

Original poster

2notenuff · 17/10/2008 15:35

hello again

are you all able to exercise fine then?

i wonder how long i have had it.

i have two children and had great pregnancies - never out of breath!

OP posts:

Original poster

2notenuff · 17/10/2008 15:56

bump

OP posts:

Scotia · 17/10/2008 16:11

I've had a heart murmur my whole life, discovered when I was 5yo. One doctor told me it had gone (as an adult) and another (few years after) said it was still there, s I guess it can be missed. I've never had any problems because of it, and don't need the abs for dental treatment or anything else. Hope that helps a bit.

TheFallenMadonna · 17/10/2008 16:15

I had one identified when I was pregnant. It's apparently pretty common for them to be identifed for the fisrt time in pregnancy due to the extra work done by the heart. Or something. Has never caused me any problems before or since TBH.

Bink · 17/10/2008 16:24

I've got a fluttery heart too ("benign arrhythmia") - was picked up when I was being a grad student in the States & college was so intensely intense about screening everyone for everything. (Incidentally, they also found, and cured, the archetypal silent nasty [chlamydia], for which I cannot be more grateful.)

The heart thing was something I'd always been aware of - the effect is that the beats go out of phase, so you get a loooooong pause after one beat & then it goes BEATBEAT very suddenly as it catches up with itself. But I hadn't known it was a 'problem'. And it isn't (hence the "benign"). It can be a bother if I have something to worry about when I'm trying to go to sleep - that makes it flutter. Oh, and it does get affected by some sorts of herbal tea - I avoid ginseng.

Anyway apparently - for my thing anyway - exercise/fitness is actually recommended, as if you give your heart a workout the natural effect is to regularise the beat. See what advice you get.

flourybaps · 17/10/2008 16:33

Hiya, me too was diagnosed with mitral valve heart murmur and slight reguritation when I was born, never had any problems from it.

Have had to have few ECG's and Echo's (ultrasound) over the years but never had anything come of them.
Was advised to just carry on as normal, which I have done, sometimes I have a few palpitations but have got used to them and they dont worry me. I find if I keep well hydrated I get them less (dont know if thats coincidence or not but it works for me!

Have to have AB cover for dental treatment as there is an increased risk of SABE (sub acute bacterial endocarditis)this is a small risk though and a one off dose of ab's an hour before visit to dentist covers you.

IHope all goes well at docs for you, heart murmurs are really very common and not usually anything to worry about.

Elk · 17/10/2008 16:41

I have no problems with exercising.I used to go to the gym twcie a week and I also love skiing. I have given birth twice and that's not exactly easy on the heart!

zebedee1 · 17/10/2008 16:46

I was diagnosed with a heart murmur after a nasty virus about 10 years ago. Of course I crapped myself with worry but the Dr said it's quite common. he said there was no treatment and to just carry on as normal, including exercise, just to go back to dr if you feel dizzy, breathless or unwell.
I've never had any problems (it has probably gone as I had DS last year and noone ever mentioned a heart murmur).
try not to worry.

flourybaps · 17/10/2008 17:01

just to add i have no probs with excercising (apart from not doing enough) and the hardest work i have ever done was giving birth to my dd and I can asure you I didnt give my heart murmur a moments thought!

watsthestory · 17/10/2008 17:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

2notenuff · 17/10/2008 17:39

Funny you mention fluttery feelings.

I get this alot.

I'm actually training for the marathon so that is why i am worried.

OP posts:

watsthestory · 17/10/2008 17:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

stanosauruswrecks · 17/10/2008 18:09

Has the GP mentioned wich valve he thinks is affected? If you find that the dizziness and chest pain are coming on with exertion, then I would lay off the exercise until you have had an ECHO and had the condition explained to you.

SubRosa · 17/10/2008 19:23

2notenuff, I'd lay off the marathon training, until you've been checked out. I'm not an expert, but I found running makes my palpitations worse. (I've a dodgy mitral valve and arrhythmia, but it causes me no problems).

flourybaps · 17/10/2008 19:27

I agree im sure you will be fine but I'd just get checked out before you did anything too much, seen as though this is a newly diagnoised problem for you.

WorzselMummage · 17/10/2008 19:31

I have a Diastolic Heart Mumur whatever that means ! It was picked up when i was 16 and was investigated by a Guys Cardiologist at the time and was told it would never cause me any bother and it never has, i dont need antibiotics or anything like that.

Original poster

2notenuff · 18/10/2008 10:53

Thanks - just started another thread with more detail.

I really dont know what to do now, I was going to just go for a short run today just to keep my fitness up.

Running just for 10 mins should be ok?

Since yesterday I am really aware of my heart now and its flutters, now I dont know if i am being paranoid.

bit scared to run now at all but i know i should.

OP posts:

Flip