Worried?

[Creed3]

Hi Everyone!
I don't know if you all remember but I decided to change my pcp to an internist. Today was my first visit. He did a quick exam as well as drawing blood for my pt. Well, he listened to my heart and said that I have a loud murmur that he can hear in different places. I told him that my cardio told me that I had a murmur that was supposed to be there due to the st. jude valve. My new doc said that it is possible that mechanical valves leak. Now I am totally freaked out. It doesn't sound any different to me than it did last year. You can hear a murmur during the diostolic but not systolic (when the vavle closes). There is just the clicking when the valve closes. I called my cardio since I am very concerned about this. My cardio's nurse told me that he has listed that I have a diostolic murmur consistent with a mechanical aortic valve. She told me to try not to worry and that she will check with my cardio doc to see what might be going on. So here I am waiting and worrying. It could be nothing, just a new doctor being cautious and not knowing what the valve should sound like or there could be something going wrong. I have been feeling just fine until hearing this. Now I feel like I did when I first found out there was a problem. I'm probably letting my anxiety get out of control here, but I am just scared. I don't want to go through this trouble all over again. Things were finally getting to be pretty normal. Sorry, for going on and on here, but I just needed to vent and to see what you all thought.

Thanks & Take Care!
Gail

 

[inventory]

Gail
You're not being overly anxious, I would be concerned also.
But that is the way I am too.
Hopefully you will get a straigt answer from your cardio and everything will be alright. I am sure you will be just fine.
My prayers are always with you.
Al

 

[Christina L]

Gail,

Try to remember how good you feel right now and keep yourself busy until you can get in touch for your cardiologist. Most likely, this new doctor doesn't know what he is talking about - a lot don't you know.

You will be in my prayers and thoughts. I personally have a gut feeling this is nothing and you are doing fine.

Another cure for your anxiety - go have some comfort food, i.e. de-caf coffee with lots of cream, ice cream with fruit, mashed potatoes and gravy -whatever your "heart" desires. Always works for me! Go walk the dog if you have one, watch Oprah, anything low stress and happy.

From all I have read (and still am learning myself) you are projecting "what if's" onto the future which is not here yet, there really is no future at this moment. Let the future take care of itself in its own time. Right now, YOU enjoy every moment until you hear the GOOD news that your valve is A-ok.

Christina L.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Gail-

My guess is that it's a new doctor listening to your heart and lungs for the first time, and that he feels obligated to tell you what he hears. It will take a little while for your new doctor to become accustomed to the sounds in your body. The good thing is that your cardiologist has noted the murmur and seems to understand what it's about. But it's also good that he wll be checking you out.

Joe also has a murmur and has been told that he will always have it. He also has abnormal and diminished lung sounds from having had two lung surgeries. Any new doctor always notes these things. We know they're there and in time his doctors remember what they heard the last time.

I think it's wonderful that you have a very careful doctor.

I hope things check out AOK.

 

[M&M]

Hi Gail, New doctors are great - they are so observant. I like that. But it can be their 'first' time and so they actually are learning.

I just saw my new PCP last week (3rd time) in two years. My second visit since my MVR was diagnosed and just before I left I asked him to listen to my heart. Check out my valve. He siad - its fine I don't need to listen to it. I said: Well listen to it anyways. I thought to myself the reason being is I want you to get use to 'hearing' mine. So he listened and said: It sounds fine. I said: Good.. I bet your new doctor was being very attentive. Its hard NOT to be anxious. I always come away anxious when I get a new doctor - mostly because I don't have them 'broken' in yet.

I always remind myself - take a deep breath through my mouth and exhale from my mouth. Its very soothing.

Remember he said: Its POSSIBLE that mechanical valves leak. He didn't say your was. It sounds to me like he's just going to take extra special care of you and not take anything for granted - I think your lucky he's trying so hard to take nothing for granted and see to it that you are well taken care of... He's being cautious and that's better than 'not' listening to his patients.

I was once told that 'patients' and I know I MYSELF as well - read into every word the doc says. They say our 'senses' are heightened when we are at the docs office. Sometimes I read to much into it. Then I worry and I go home and tell my husband and he kind of sits me down and says now 'exactly' what did the doctor say? Usually after talking to him I realize I could have misinterpreted - but I don't think so !!!

The nurse did say: My cardio's nurse told me that he has listed that I have a diostolic murmur consistent with a mechanical aortic valve

Maybe he did that in case he's out of the office - so anyone else listening to your heart would be aware of it. I think its good when they write everything down - then when he's on vacation - all the bases are covered. I always get 'sick' when my doc is on vacation - ALWAYS - its unbelievable how often.


Take Care
Marilyn

 

[Creed3]

Update!

Update!

Hi Everyone!
I thought I would give everyone here an update! I heard from my cardio today and he said that it is most likely that my new pcp didn't know what my valve was to sound like since this was his first time hearing it. He told me to just come for my yearly appt on April 6th unless I am having any problems, which I am not. He did say that they would do an echo to make sure everything is working properly. Again, I want to thank everyone here for making me take a deep breath and look at the situation without freaking out. You all are great!

Take Care!
Gail

 

[catwoman]

Remember reading something somewhere in the last week (was it here???) that said that MOST valves leak a little. By most, that means those "healthy" folks walking around with nary a care in the world about VR. By leak, it means that it's probably "normal."

Anyone ever see anything like this?

 

[Nancy]

Marsha-

I have read the same thing.

Gail-

I thinks it terrific that you have a doctor that tells you what he feels and what he hears. That's good medicine, plus he will keep his own watch on things and won't necessarily take everything that someone else says as "the facts". That is wonderful. It's like a "checks and balances" system. That way things don't fall through the cracks.

 

[bethanne]

the good news is....

your new doctor is being honest about what he is hearing whether he understands it or not. How did he leave the appointment? Did he suggest you check it out with your cardio?
Timing is good since you are scheduled for a check-up soon with your cardiologist. Be sure to get back to your new doctor with the results. It is good you are building this relationship with him so y'all are more prepared down the path. I have my cardio send copies of reports to my pcp so we can refer to it if needed (for the times I am visiting my pcp for other health issues).

I am fairly new to the forum so I may be saying something you already know... I am glad you have a doctor that is zealous. I am sure after his visit with you he will be doing a little more research on his own to be more prepared for your next visit.

Good for you for taking this step.

 

[Creed3]

I do have to admit that my new pcp is really on the ball. He may have scared me the other day, but he is really keeping an eye on things. He told me he wants to talk to my cardio about a couple of things. My inr is kept between 2.0 and 3.0. My new pcp would like to see it between 2.5 and 3.5. Yesterday's pt came back 2.1. My pcp also told me that he would like to see my toprol xl increased from 50 mg xl. I guess that is also something he will talk over with my cardio. That is something that my former family doc would have never done. I don't know if he had ever talked to my cardio regarding anything.

Take Care Everyone!
Gail

 

[epstns]

Gail,

I'm all for those careful doctors. Without one, I would not have even sought a cardio evaluation, and would probably have cruised right into trouble (or worse) before ever finding about my valve problem. This doc sounds like a keeper -- he will probably be even more effective for you once he is used to your "normal" and usual valve sounds.

Good catch!

 

[inventory]

Great news gail
I knew everything would work out for you.
Sounds like you found a good Doctor.
Al