Thump, tick

[xtremlee]

Ok I was listening to my heart with a thethascope and it was going thump tick thump tick then I got to hear it when it was what I called skipping it went like this. Thump tick, thump tick, Thump Thump Tick, is that a premature beat or a skip?
Also I noticed that sometimes I was having a hard time hearing the big Thump as the heart contracts is this because my heart is working effeciantly or because it is weak?
I know I sound paranoid but I hate to go back to the Dr for something stupid.
Thanks Lee

 

[Harpoon]

Chances are, what you heard was normal, though only a doctor who was listening to your heart could tell you for sure really.


We all "skip beats" once in a while. It's very normal and even heart healthy people do it. What's abnormal is when a lot of beats are getting skipped or it persists for some length of time.

Any other part of the heart sound is going to need a doctor to diagnose really. I've been learning about heart rhythm in my EMT class, but even then we're only supposed to be able to identify (NOT diagnose) extreme heart rhythm problems and usually that's with an ECG and/or defibulator...

 

[xtremlee]

Harp
Do you take any potassium?
or does the spiro. and flour. cancel each other out with potassium?

 

[Harpoon]

In theory, the spironolactone is supposed to help me retain some of the potassium that I lose from the furosemide.

I'm also losing potassium (and other electrolytes) thanks to the digoxin I'm on...

I'm not on a suppliment as per doctors orders yet, but I do try and consume a lot of foods that are high in potassium, potatoes (baked usually or mashed) bananas, orange juice, V8's (low sodium variety which can also be heated and doctored up a bit to make something akin to tomato soup) and the like.

I also started taking a multi-vitamin that does NOT contain Vitamin K and I often "salt" certain foods like eggs and potatos with potassium chloride, a salt substitute...

Eggs and potatos are the only things I've ever put table salt on, before I tossed the salt shaker in the trash that is. =)

 

[azpam]

watch the V8 juice when on coumadin. hidden vit.k and can decrease the INR. it is healthy but you might have to add a little coumadin to offset the V8.

 

[Harpoon]

I do and it doesn't, at least not for me.

I don't consume V8 liberally anyways.


On the subject (sort of) Ovaltine has a lot of vK in it too and I drink that a lot, usually with 1% or skim milk these days.