Does a heart murmur mean I have to stop training for the mararthon?

[2notenuff]

Hello

My dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer this summer and so I decided to make a mad decision to start running (extreme beginner) and run for Beating Bowel Cancer charity at the next London Marathon.

Four weeks ago I started training and and could just about run for a few mins, I can now run 35 minutes without stopping and was delighted with my progress.

Except during my last few runs I kept getting a pain across the top of my stomach and I the next day I was shattered and kept having dizzy spells. Also as I am running my toes keep tingling.

I decided to go to my doctors yesterday because my father also has heart problems.

Doctor told me I have a heart murmur and she wants to send me for a scan and ecg. She said I should hear back withing 2 weeks and only to do short runs in the mean time.

Now I am feeling really deflated, do I just run for 10 or 20 mins. Obviously my life is more important than the marathon but I am so focused it on it and my funding has got off to a great start.

Has anyone else experienced this - what will happen, why has this happened?

I read up on heart murmurs and it said most are innocent nad from birth so why was it not picked up before. I am 29. Also it says if developed in adulthood then it is most likely caused by infection, disease or age. I cant see how any of tha relates to me.

Also the next day after one or my runs my ears suddenly went blocked and I felt really dizzy and odd, I went for a nap and slept 1.5 hours. Not like me. I am not sure if it is the stress of my father being ill or related to my heart. Now I am scared to go running incase I have a weak heart. I dont want to just stop until I have the tests because that could take weeks and I would be back to square one.

Am I being silly and over the top?

The next two weeks are going to be hard for me.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thank you

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I'm not an expert in this but I think if I was in your position I probably would stop running for the time being. Would you be able to stop until you have been seen by the cardiologists? Especially as running seems to be making you feel ill.

I dont think that you are being silly or over the top. Hopefully this will all be nothing, but your GP obviously felt that it needed further investigation, and so no harm in playing it safe until you know why you have developed this murmur.

i have had a heart murmur (dx when i was small) forever - they did tell me i'd grow out of it, but i never have. in your case, it sounds more as if it has been triggered by a virus or stress - maybe a bit more 'angina' like? it does sound as though you need to relax and take it easy to get all the tests done before you put yourself under any more stress.
fwiw, i've also run the marathon - as long as you are back in training by the new year you will be absolutely fine - just do lots of gentle walking in the interim, no heart pounding stuff. maybe a little swimming to keep all your muscles in use? really don't be tempted to push it - it is just not worth it and if for some reason (a viral infection etc) your body is a little weaker than normal then you may be making the situation worse. you have plenty of time before the marathon. there is no reason not to relax for a few weeks, and it would probably do you good.
i've also had a similar 'scare' in the summer - with almost blackouts etc - but it was put down to a virus and vertigo and i am fine now. i found taking it easy (just like the doc ordered until all the test results were back - they thought i was having a series of mini-strokes) for a month was the best possible thing - i felt better afterwards than i had for a long time!
try not to worry. relax!

(my mum was dx with breast cancer this summer too - sometimes i think our bodies just tell us to take it easy for a while lol)
and i didn't get a marathon place
never mind, i'll try again next year

Romy7 - thank you, made me feel better.

I just feel guilty relaxing because so many people have already sponsored me and i dont want to let them down. people ask me every day "how's your training going?" what will i say?

i feel so guilty to have got a place to run and i want to do it so bad...

but you are right, i have lots of time to train so i should take it easy for now.

my life is quite stressful right so that is the only thing I can think of that can contribute to this but surely stress alone cant cause heart murmurs?

sorry to hear you didnt get a a place this year.

what year did you run it?

i bet that was an amazing feeling.

were you a long time runner before you did it or did you train to run the marathon.

i just hope i get to do it.

what was your time?

As a parent of someone with a heart murmer (he has a complex defect) I would advise that you wait too see what the cardi has to say before doing any serious hard core training. The British Heart Foundation have cardiac liason nurses that are available to discuss things with you if you wanted to speak to someone who speaks rather less technically than the consultants I really hope it turns out to be something easily sorted for you

xx

2notenuff - sorry to hear that your training has been interrupted. Well done for even starting.

I think it's sensible to wait until you've had your tests but tis true that many murmurs are completely innocent.

Have you been unwell at all recently? Training whilst you're unwell can put an added strain on your heart. This happened to a friend of mine who is a very good expereinced athlete and has run many marathons. Also could you be anaemic at all? The dizzy/tiredness thing could be down to that rather or to stress. Do you have a good diet and do you drink enough?

Re your feet - I get pins and needles when I run for more than 40 minutes- simply because I sometimes tie my trainers too tight

Hope all turns out well and you can get back to your training. There's a Runner's thread in the Health section - come and say hello!

Has your dad got heart valve problems? It could be that you have an inherited defect.
If I were you, I would stop running, and wait until you get a diagnosis. The chest pain and dizziness are very likely to be related to the valve problem, and are your bodys way of telling you to slow down.
I don't know anything about marathons, but from what the other posters have said, you'll be able to pick up your training again once you've been given the all clear. Hope you hear from the hospital soon, and that the next couple of weeks go quickly for you

i was an on/off runner, but didn't start training seriously until after christmas. intended to run 10 minute mile pace the whole way, and finished in 4 hours 13 - not going to win any races, but i'd like to have another go and see if i can get to about 3.45... it was pre-children, and i have a burning desire to prove i can do it again, particularly as my dad pointed out that i was getting on a bit and it probably wouldn't be a good idea... i'm 37 ffs, not 97!
i found that the stress was enough to compound what the doc suspected to be a 'silent' virus (ie no visible symptoms) and i ended up with vertigo as a result - which doesn't sound too bad in itself... except i nearly blacked out whilst i was driving and kept staggering off balance. a month of walking and relaxing and i felt much better. you've got loads of time - all of your sponsors will understand that your health is important and wouldn't want you to put yourself in danger by pushing too hard, particularly if you have been advised not to. you can always say you've been for a health check before you start training to the max, and they have advised you to hold off until your test results are back - purely as a precautionary measure.
hope it's all fine and just 'one of those things' - good luck with the rest of your training, but NOT YET lol!
it was great though - i loved listening to the different bands along the route and the final stretch up the mall. you'll love it, but do as you're told for now!

Thank you everyone for your great advice!

I think I will just stop for now until I have the tests.

My father has problems with his heart right now, with one of his valves, he is getting a "stent"? on Monday.

He was told a few years back that he has a leakly valve probably due to rheumatic fever in childhood.

I too much of a scardy pants to risk my health.

Fingers crossed though it is a harmless murmur or even better not there at all. I also read on the net that some people just have noisier hearts.

Romy7 -i cant imagine how that must feel running down that mall, i just hope i get to experience it. well done, i think your timing was great, i dont think i could ever run in that time.

hope your dad's stent op goes ok - fil had a triple bypass two years ago and is back digging his allotment and working full time
these things are sent to try us!