Is HEAVILLY POUNDING heart an emergency?

[Enudely]

Hi everyone!
I was hoping someone had something so say about my current situation here... I have an insufficient aortic valve (from bacterial endocarditus contracted at the dentist a few years ago). Lately, my heart has been POUNDING (so hard, that if I put my fingers just under my left breast, I can feel it pulsing through my ribs.)
This happened before, and my cardio told me to stop all caffeine and alcohol, then he said "lets HOPE that's what to problem is."
Anyway, I just recently enrolled in Kaiser health insurance (before this I was paying out of pocket!) and I have an appointment to meet my new Cardiologist next week. The only thing is... I've been having these intense hearbeats for three days now (AND I don't feel good) and I wonder.... should I wait for my appointment or call and try to see him sooner?
Anyway, we'll see if anyone has any advice on such a short notice! Thanks

 

[fyrfytr]

Hi Elena,
If it were me I would go to the ER and they can contact your Cardiologist. You just never know what is going on and this way they can get you taken care of. Don't wait for your appointment.
I hope everything turns out OK for you. Keep up posted.

Dave
__________________________
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical

 

[Karlynn]

Yes, do what Dave suggested. You are much better off safe than sorry!

Good luck!
Karlynn

 

[bvdr]

Yes or No. It depends on why and how fast. I believe one of the symptoms of aortic insufficiency is what is called hyperdynamic . Simply speaking it is the very strong awareness of your heart beat. It can feel so strong (and I guess it really is) that it can cause the head to bob up and down at times. You will have to have it checked to see if that is the case. If it is very fast or as you said you just don't feel good then get it checked right away.

Let us know what happens alright? Dave is right about the ER contacting your cardiologist. With an ER referral the cardiologist will make time to see you very promptly.

 

[Creed3]

I completely agree with everyone else. Please get it checked out ASAP. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Let us know how things go.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[Nancy]

I agree with everyone else. It's always better to play it safe, especially if this is something new, and you don't feel well in addition to the heart thing.

Let us know what happens.

 

[hensylee]

The experts have spoken. Better go.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Does anyone know if there is a correlation between Low Blood Volume (i.e. Low Fluid Levels in the body) and Pounding Heart Beats? Balancing fluid levels can be a 'challenge'.

FWIW, a pounding heart beat is another form of arrhythmia. Will these show up on an EKG? or just by looking at Blood Pressure?

'AL'

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi elena!
sorry to hear that you are dealing with this right before you are scheduled to see your cardio..
still, everyone else is right... please get it checked out immediately, just to be sure. and, you're also not feeling well.
nothing to lose by being cautious.
please let us know how you are doing.
all the best, sylvia

take a look:
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=686&highlight=magnesium

 

[Enudely]

thanks

thanks

somehow I knew you were all going to say that!
Well, my cold went away and I am feeling better, I can take a deep breath no problem, AND, I don't have 100 dollars for the emergency room. so I think I am going to wait until Tuesday
Whatever that one woman described, I DEFINITELY have that!! Not the head bobbing, but I am SO aware of my heart beat at all times, it's crazy.. I can feel it pulsing through my body.
I can still feel my heart pounding through my ribs but my brother pointed out that I am thin.. also I'm been kind of stressed out lately... Ov course, now I'm nervous about my appointment!
Does anyone know.... is shortness of breath the only sign that you need surgury... might they recomend it with an absence of s.o.b? I always have a little bit of anxiety just not knowing when I will need the surgury...

 

[Gerry Dorrian]

I thought it was normal

I thought it was normal

Elena,
I have AVR in June. Until then if it was quiet, I had always been able to hear my heart. Even when I was a child. I thought it was normal. Now I don't hear it and believe it or not it seems a little weird not to hear my heart.
In the months before the surgery I had an extremely broad pulse. My blood pressure was measured at 150/50. I didn't get to the head bobbing stage but my neck looked like a frog's and my throat made a clucking sound from opening and closing with my pulse.
I understand that this is not uncommon for people with AV insufficiency. Still, I wouldn't wait too long before I spoke to a cardiologist. The risk is that you have an aneurysm. And while the chance that this will happen may not be very high you want to avoid this at all costs.

Gerry

 

[Enudely]

Hi.
That's funny, I have been able to hear my heart pounding in my ears at night while I sleep. It has seemed really strange to me, and yes, it feels like my heart is pounding much harder than it used to these days.
Is this a sign that I might need the surgury sooner?

 

[Rebecca]

Hi, Elena,

I also have av insufficiency. Have you checked your blood pressure? Before I was on blood pressure medicine my top number was always 140 to 174. When my blood pressure was high I could always feel my heart beating and sometimes it would wake me up at night. In the year 2001 I had to change doctors because of insurance. At that time was the first time that I felt like I had heart disease. I went to one of the top cardiologist in Atlanta that you see listed in the magazine for Atlanta top doctors. He had me going to consultation with a surgeon for a Ross. I went for my second opinion to the cardiologist that I now see. He told me all my symptoms could be cause from the high blood pressure. Now that blood pressure is back into the normal range I feel fine. All of my many echoes still say that it?s not time for surgery. I have paid to see my old {first) cardiologist and he agrees that it?s not time for surgery. Elena make a list of all of your symptoms that you are experiencing and take it with you to your cardiologist appointment.

Rebecca

 

[Gerry Dorrian]

Let the tests determine

Let the tests determine

Elana,
I agree with Rebecca. Let the doctors call this one. They have the tools to determine when is the time for surgery. I was not being monitored very long before surgery so no one tried to adjust my blood pressure. The cardiologist might be able to prescribe something that will treat your symptoms but the real determing factors for surgery will be that actual performance of your heart. All the cardiologists have a standard set of recommendations that are followed based on the results of the tests (EKG, Echo, etc)they run. If it's time for surgery, they will know.

Gerry

 

[Enudely]

Hi.
actually, Rebecca, I have the opposite problem! my blood pressure is REALLY low (average 95/40). My cardiologist, however, has me on Ace- Inhibitors (usually used to treat Hypertension!) to try and take the pressure off my heart. We had to switch drugs when the first one (Lotensin) brought my B.P down to 90/23!!! Scary stuff!! I do check it regularly and it's been pretty normal lately, (around 100/45)
I definitely need to bring in a list to the doctor because I find that I always freeze up when I am in there and forget everything! I'm also going to bring my fiance. We really want to have kids and need to speak to the Doc. about that......

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Elena said:

"My cardiologist, however, has me on Ace- Inhibitors (usually used to treat Hypertension!) to try and take the pressure off my heart. "

Hello Elena,

This is one area that IMHO requires careful monitoring. Cardiologists are prone to recommend ACE inhibitors to reduce internal blood pressures and postpone surgery.

The (VERY significant DOWN SIDE) to this philosophy is that your heart compensates for a closing valve by pumping harder. Once it begins to ENLARGE or THICKEN, then you are approaching PERMANENT HEART MUSCLE DAMAGE. Again, IMHO, this is the time to go directly to surgery to prevent further damage to your heart muscle. There seems to be a distinct difference of opinion between Cardiologists and Surgeons on this topic. Personally, I would also consult a surgeon about when to have your surgery, the sooner the better.

Why do I have such a strong opinion on this topic? I believe I made it to surgery 'just in time'. There have been several similar reports recently where young athletic members showed enlarged hearts following their surgery with admonitions to NOT engage in strenuous activity after their surgeries. They have all questioned if this complication could have been avoided by proceeding sooner rather than later.

'AL'

 

[Enudely]

Hi Al
thanks for the warning. I just got on Kaiser, I wonder if I can see a surgeon under my plan. Do you think that this heavy pounding I've been having is an indication that my heart muscle has enlarged? I'm really nervous about when this surgury is going to have to happen. I'm going to ask the cardiologist to give me my "numbers", so I have an idea of the size of my heart and all that..
Well, when I went to the cardiologist in February, he said "WHOA, there's been quite a bit of enlargement and freaked out basically (he's very insensitive, hopefully the Kaiser one will be better!!) and made me go back for another echo in three months (the worst three months of my life!)> So in May, when I had the second echo, nothing had changed... phew!
So he said to come have another one in six months.... (hence my appointment next week)... we're trying to figure out how fast my heart is enlarging (I think). I feel a little weird, though, even though I HATED my old cardiologist, it seems weird to be switching right at this critical time. I guess the new Doc will be fully informed of my records and all that so It shouldn't make a difference.... anyway, I'm blabbering now.
Im going to see what the Kaiser Doc says, then probably go to this really grealy Cardiologist in San Fransisco that I saw once (paying out of pocket ...see what HE says, and I wil try to find a surgeon to talk to also...
Thanks again for your response!
-elena:

 

[bvdr]

Hi Elena,

Make sure when you get your numbers you get a copy of the whole report. I hope your appointment goes well and you like your new doc.

 

[Enudely]

Thanks... will do
I've never done that before. Seems logical to try and stay informed about my own heart!
I'll let you all know what happens next week and thank you so much!!
-elena