i had open heart surgery 5 weeks ago mechanical valve aoertic valve . dr. said he heard a faint murmur but couldbe mechanical valve . anyone relate to this.
I had tissue aortic valve a year ago. I have what's called an "aortic flow murmur" which is one of the "normal" murmurs, or "innocent" murmurs. However, it confused several doctors doing their MRCP exam where I was a patient ! Five doctors out of seven thought I had a "pan systolic murmur" which they put down to a mitral valve problem ! Only two doctors got it right - ie that it is a normal aortic flow mumur. That doesn't mean to say that a person who has had AVR can't have an abnormal mumur. Surely if there is any question that yours might be from a problem you would be having an echo ?
My cardiologist explained that mechanical valves by design will have have a minor murmur. He went on to tell me if a doc ever tells me he hears a LOUD murmur to get my butt in his office ASAP because I have a valve problem.
I'm not sure about mechanical valves, but with my tissue aortic valve, they (several cardio's and surgeon) all have told me that I have a minor murmur, and that this is common with prosthetic valves. As long as it remains consistent, no worry. That is why I stay with the same doctors - they actually keep notes on what my murmur sounds like so that they can verify that nothing has changed. Of course, the annual echo helps, too.