lets engage in idle speculation regarding my heart murmur

[mattkime]

about a year and a half ago I was in a bike accident. when i went to the doctor for my leg but he was very seriously concerned about my heart murmur. i think i've had it all my life, just didn't grow out of it as expected.

i get plenty of exercise so i know my heart is in better condition than it is for most americans. and that would be enough reason for me to avoid the doctor except for stories of perfectly fit people dropping dead from some unknown heart condition. rare but possible.

here my expectation -

test and test and test and test and test. Doctor: "You heart does this and it should do that." Me: "What does that mean? What do we have to do?" Doctor: "Nothing and nothing. But you should have an expensive battery of tests every six months"

What do you think will happen?

[dreed2]

My doctor diagnosed me with a heart murmur last summer (I'm 55 years old, in great health, and this was the first I ever heard of having anything like this). He sent me for tests and everything turned out fine. Still riding my exercise bike every day with no problems.

Don't worry, but go for the tests just to be sure everything is A-OK.

[Manlove]

"What do you think will happen?"

You will eventually die.
As will I.

We'll most likely have many happy years and some crappy ones, but either of us could drop dead tomorrow. Except that I won't, because I gave up smoking 2 weeks ago!

[dochocson]

Single test, echocardiogram. It will show

1) Some mild valve stenosis or regurgitation which will not require and further evaluation. Rarely, a person with an audible murmur will have a normal echo.

or

2) More severe valvular disease which over time may put undue stress on the heart. Monitoring and intervention may be based on symptoms ("Hey, doc, I'm getting more short of breath when I exercise") or may require periodic echocardiograms (for some valve problems, intervention is based on change in flow across the valve).

[AlphaDog]

Well, you have two choices. You can sit around and worry about it and let the worry consume valuable minutes, or you can listen to the doctor and go on about the business of life. By the time my heart murmur was diagnosed at age 63, it was way too late. My days are numbered - literally, although we don't quite know what that number is, except that it's not too many. I've been told to arrange for Hospice services and to get all of my affairs in order. I have. But I absolutely refuse to sit around and worry about what day I'm going to die. You and I are both going to die, and one or both of us might die of a heart problem. Or we might get struck by lightening or hit by a car.

[Gutenberg]

They just need to find out whether your heart murmur abnormal and whether you have a valve problem. If you don't have a valve problem then they won't need to see you again. But you should have it checked because some adult heart murmurs are due to a valve problem or a congenital heart defect. You will probably have an echocardiogram, which is completely painless and not terribly expensive, and they--and you--will have an answer.

[dreed2]

I had an echocardiogram and, despite a few bruises because the girl was pushing too hard because she was nervous and was in training, it wasn't that bad. At least it turned out that everything was fine, so it was worth it. It's sort of like having an ultrasound.

[Janit]

How is your insurance coverage? If it's good enough, it may be worth a few tests in case the information is useful. If you get laid off and lose the insurance, you won't have that option.

[Carnos Jax]

>By the time my heart murmur was diagnosed at age 63, it was way too late.

sigh

[haikuman]

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Heart+Murmurs&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Have the proper tests and evaluations, keep copies of all reports, get a a 2nd opinion... finally
send me 2iPhones and a new top of the line 27" iMac for this consultation *(:>*

Be well, be you and be the ball *(:>*