Why am I so loud?

[lynn]

Am I normal?? Geez, I'm over 3 months out of surgery and my heart is still so LOUD! Last nite I was sitting next to hubby and we were talking and he says "I can hear your heart pounding!" I told him he should hear it inside my head

It gets worse when I lay down (still on sleeping pills for that) I have to lay with my head straight, if I turn it on either side on the pillow it gets even louder. If I take a deep breath it gets really loud, like my lungs are squeezing my heart.

This is so damn annoying!!! And, this is a tissue valve...not mechanical.

 

[michellep]

Mine is bad when I sleep on my side. My upper body vibrates. But I don't hear it in my neck or head anymore.
That was some cow!

 

[lynn]

Michelle!!!! How is school???

Ya, maybe that's it....I'll blame it on the heifer

 

[Susan BAV]

Mine beats hard and fast but not as bad as the first several months after AVR. It disturbed me when I would lay down to sleep at night. I can still hear it if I'm alone in the house, in the master bath when I'm putting on my makeup and I always think, "Who is pounding nails outside?!" It's my ticker, TALKING!

 

[MarkG]

Lynn,

I just talked to my Cardio yesterday about the same thing. He said since I had radiation to my chest many years ago, my heart is stiffer so the diastolic pressure is greater. Overtime this may get quieter. Also since surgery is an assault on your heart, it is talking back to you. So since you are a breast cancer survivor I assume you have radiation heart syndrome as well. So that may be it.

Mark

 

[lynn]

Mark....nope, didn't have radiation but my buddy on here pm'd me and said maybe mine is so loud because the sound is bouncing off my implants

 

[Ozmercy]

Still loud

Still loud

I am 7 months post surgery and I still have trouble with my heart being loud. I did get used to it for awhile but lately it has been bugging me again. I try and just ignore it and have times where I can't sleep and times where it doesn't bother me at all. It seems to me that I am worse when I have indigestion. That's wierd huh? Well hang in there, there was a thread about this a couple of months ago that showed most everyone has trouble with the sound. The mechanicals are even worse with the clicking.

 

[linda d.]

Is there anyone who noticed the heart pounding getting better over time and how long did it take?

 

[SteveHWms]

Ticking but no pounding

Ticking but no pounding

My mechanical valve ticks like a Timex, but I have only heard pounding when I take a deep breath.

 

[Mb]

Just curious....of the people who "pound", how much lasix are you on? Could you be "dry"?

Marybeth

 

[Lisa in Katy]

I didn't realize that the tissue valves make noise. I thought that was one of the advantages over the mechanical. As a mechanical person of almost 9 years, I can tell you that the noise got less noticeable. It's been so long that I don't remember how long it took. I still can hear it if I pay attention. Other times are when I'm facing a mirror or window, sitting leaning forward over a hard surface (desk or table) or sleeping (lying down) in certain positions. I usually just move when I notice it and it goes away. Perhaps this will work with the tissue valves as well.

 

[Cooker]

I was a year on 2-21-07 and it does get better or I just don't notice it. Same thing as far as I'm concerned. I hardly ever notice it now.

Cooker

 

[CathyK.]

I am 5 weeks out and have a bovine valve and can not feel any pounding or hear anything.

 

[lynn]

Lucky Wonder if mine is also due to my HR running at around 95

 

[Bina]

I am 17 mths post op.....no ticking, but I hear pounding/ thumping in certain positions; like leaning over the sink.
After dinner my heart seems to work harder to get the digestion going...I eat very basic meals, low fat, no salt.

 

[TammyM]

I am coming up on 20 months and I still tick away. It usually doesn't bother me anymore... it's almost comforting. I feel like I finally have rhythm. Sometimes, it is louder than others because my family will comment on it - or even an occasional stranger. All the kids at church can't wait to tell visiting kids to come listen to my heart!!! I remember in the beginning thinking I would NEVER get used to it --- but I have.

 

[Swill]

Tick tock croc...

Tick tock croc...

I still tick. at first I would listen to my iPod with headphones to drown the click out, but now I don't need to. At first people could hear it over the phone, but now they have to get real close.

It has been a blessing of sorts. It is a great ice-breaker, and I get the best hugs because of it. I tell a pretty lady to put her head right there, hold on tight, and listen...

Cheers!

Swill

 

[aussigal]

Wonder if mine is also due to my HR running at around 95

That may well have something to do with it. 95 bpm is possibly a little fast...mine was pounding away at 200 bpm when I went into A-fib and everyone in the room could hear it.

I imagine you are on a Beta-Blocker, then it would be just a simple case of upping your doseage...I suggest you chat with the Doc about this. Beta Blockers reduce the forceful-thumping of our hearts so I guess it could reduce the disturbance for you. I also think thin-framed gals feel the thumping alot more than curvier women.

 

[Traveler]

I didn't realize that the tissue valves make noise. I thought that was one of the advantages over the mechanical. As a mechanical person of almost 9 years, I can tell you that the noise got less noticeable. It's been so long that I don't remember how long it took. I still can hear it if I pay attention. Other times are when I'm facing a mirror or window, sitting leaning forward over a hard surface (desk or table) or sleeping (lying down) in certain positions. I usually just move when I notice it and it goes away. Perhaps this will work with the tissue valves as well.

I'm not sure it is a tissue valve thing. i had a repair not a preplacement of my aortic valve and replacement of an aneurysm and my heart has seemed like it was pounding very hard, particularly when I am laying down. I've wondered if I just notice it more now because I am more concerned or if it really is more noticeable. But I can't figure out why it would be.

 

[Ross]

Beautiful body accoustics syndrome?