Need Help - Hearing my heart beat is...

[temp69]

...disconcerting. Have mechanical valve and often it feels like that's all I can hear. It's not that it's so loud in the room, it's just that I'm so AWARE of it. Anyone else with a mechanical experience this? Having trouble sleeping, having to have a fan on to mask the sound. If I put my ear to the pillow I hear my heart beating. Not fast, just...beating. so weird.

Any thoughts anyone?

 

[sue943]

When I have either of my ears on the pillow the sound of heart is very noisy, if I sleep on my back I hear nothing.

 

[Nancy]

Joe has this machine for sleeping with his two mechanicals

http://www.epinions.com/content_87743303300

I actually picked one up on eBay

 

[Cooker]

What was that you said???? I could not hear you over this hammering valve

Cooker

 

[belajob]

I do not "hear" the valve but when I am tired or laying on one side, I can feel the beating. It is a little discerning sometimes- I hate the thought of something "mechnical" in my body but the alternative wasn't too good.

 

[Andrea12]

noisy valve

noisy valve

I am very thin and can hear my valve constanty. I try to have the right attitude about it, It would be pretty scary if we suddenly didn't hear it right?? It is keeping us alive after all. It seems to be becoming white noise for me. Try not to focus on it.

 

[Karlynn]

I can hear mine occasionally. But I've lived with it for so long it doesn't bother me. It's also more noticable in the year right after surgery - which may be your case too.

 

[Jackie]

When I first got home from the hospital I had my arm around my Grandson, he said "Grammy I can hear you heart beat" he checks every time he comes to visit. I hear it when I have my right ear on my pillow, so guess what side I sleep on?

Jackie

 

[geebee]

I can hear mine occasionally or maybe it's just that I could hear it all the time (if I listen) but only notice it occasionally. I have gotten used to it and it is like an old friend visiting when I do notice it.

I think it all gets less with time.

 

[Granbonny]

Temp

Temp

Being less than 4 months post-Op..that is normal..to hear it..Takes a long time for your body to heal..I think you will notice it less..as the months go by..The fan at night is good, you will still be able to hear it in a bathroom, ect...I never hear mine anymore during the day..At night, yes, sometimes..if I am awaken from my Hubby's snoring. and turn over..Maybe, I need to bring the floor fan back out. I,m 4 years and 7 months post-op..Bonnie

 

[Marguerite53]

I'm at 6 months out with a tissue valve and quite honestly, it was only just recently that I could not hear and sense the change in the beating of my heart. Very loud and noticeable. It really did soften, though. Or I got used to it. Yes, even a tissue valve!

My daughter is in sports and on their away tournaments, when bunched together in motel rooms (with snorers) or trying to catch a nap inbetween matches, they just plug themselves into their iPods and drift off to sleep. If it can drown out a screaming gymnasium, I'll bet it could help you, too. Careful about the volume, though.....don't want to damage the ear drums. The ear pieces are not that comfortable, so it may get you off your ear while you're sleeping....possibly a double bonus....training yourself off the sideways lying which intensifies the sound.

Good luck. Acceptance will help you, too.

Marguerite

 

[lilbit]

...disconcerting. Have mechanical valve and often it feels like that's all I can hear. It's not that it's so loud in the room, it's just that I'm so AWARE of it. Anyone else with a mechanical experience this? Having trouble sleeping, having to have a fan on to mask the sound. If I put my ear to the pillow I hear my heart beating. Not fast, just...beating. so weird.

Any thoughts anyone?

I have the same valve you do the On-X and mine is very loud. My Dr. asked if I wanted sleeping pills in which I declined. I just try not to think about it. I try to find the ticking if I do not hear it which is rare but occasionally. My heart also thumps pretty hard. I can feel it when I put my hand on my chest. I sometimes get the ticking in my teeth and that is not a pleasant feeling. All things I guess I will have to get used to and I am sure with time it will get better. Dr. Laks did tell me that the ticking is louder at first because the valve is new and with time it should be not as loud...

PS I can hear it right now loud and clear it feels like the ticking is in my brain

 

[belajob]

gosh- i have an on-x and NEVER hear it. It makes no sense to me that some hear and some don't. I can feel "heart beats' when I am tired or laying on one side- sometimes. I was having some 'symptoms" and had to go to the ER. The doctor there insisted I see my cardiologist the next day as some of my blood work indicated a problem. My cardiologist ordered an echocardiogram- I was told my valve was leaking but I was no immediate danger. Long story short, I contacted the company that made this valve- they requested I have a test which consisted of a tube being inserted down my throat- I have no recollection of the procedure- but I was told my valve was OK - confirmed by the cardiologist and the company, as we sent them a copy of the test. I was told my LDH levels were high- but I was not able to get an understanding of this from the cardiologist or my regular doctor. I did have numerous emails with the nurse with the ON-X valve- I still am confused as to why they did not include me in their study. What do you think?

 

[belajob]

hey-please don't take this the wrong way- you appear to have trouble adjusting to your replacement. Trust me- I UNDERSTAND!! You probablly were very independent and very active prior to your surgery. I feel OVERWHELMED at times knowing this valve is in me and cannot help thinking- what if it doesn't work? I do not have ansewers but I have to be positive. My diagnosis happened so fast and I was told I did not have alot of time - I basically had to deal with two doctors with whom I had no established relationship. The cardiologist was " on call" when I had my tread mill/echo- he called me at home on a Friday nite to tell me I needed open heart surgery; should not continue with tennIs ( my team had won at the local level and were to compete at "state". I had to miss that- they played on Fri/Sat/ Sun- I had my surgery on the following Tuesday) I was given very general information- I was told I needed to decide on a tissue valve or mechnical valve. I was at a loss. I did alot of research- talked to God and tried to make the best decision I could. I have stated before- open heart surgery is routine to the doctor but not to the patient. My advise would be to talk to your doctor- if you don't feel comfortable, perhaps you need to change doctors.

 

[belajob]

I have the same valve you do the On-X and mine is very loud. My Dr. asked if I wanted sleeping pills in which I declined. I just try not to think about it. I try to find the ticking if I do not hear it which is rare but occasionally. My heart also thumps pretty hard. I can feel it when I put my hand on my chest. I sometimes get the ticking in my teeth and that is not a pleasant feeling. All things I guess I will have to get used to and I am sure with time it will get better. Dr. Laks did tell me that the ticking is louder at first because the valve is new and with time it should be not as loud...

PS I can hear it right now loud and clear it feels like the ticking is in my brain

hey- just a thought- why decline sleeping pills? I have major problems sleeping- my surgeon prescribed halicum- worked great but oh my goodness the research was not good. I also used Ambien (sP) but changed to Lunesta- 1 mg - works pretty good. Rest is so important to recovery and dealing with all we have to handle in any given day. Hopefully, 1 mg will not hurt me.

 

[Gnusgal]

I am 4 years post op and still hear my heart ticking away most of the time (occasionally other noise drowns it out). The only time it really annoys me is when I'm having a hard time getting to sleep and when I have a headache. I've learned to use the ticking when I'm trying to get to sleep by counting the beats like sheep. It keeps my mind focused on something else instad of the anoyance. As for when I have a headache, I have yet to find a way of coping with that, unfortunately .

I have a feeling that you'll get more used to it the longer you have it. I won't say you'll stop hearing it, but hopefully it won't bother you so much. I have to tell a story about when I was a kid... I had a shunt put in when I was 5 years old. It made it so that I could hear my heart swishing in my ears. I went to stay at my grandmother's house and ended up getting out of bed to tell her "I can't sleep. My heart's too loud!" (what was a grandmother to do?).

Fifteen years later I had OHS and they took the shunt down. I THEN had the problem of my heart being too quiet! It was disconcerting to not be able to listen for my heart when I wanted to know how it was doing. Five years later, I'd adapted to my quiet heart and I got a mechanical valve! I'm back to noise (much noisier than before) and wonder how I will feel when I get a new heart and can't hear it anymore... It will probably be disconcerting again. We get used to things after awhile. It's the newness of the change that throws us off.

Good luck to you,

 

[temp69]

THANKS for the comments. it's helpful to hear that others experience the same thing so we know we're ALL CRAZY. I mean, it's normal, and I will I'm sure over time get used to it. I'm also deaf in my left ear, which no doubt affects things. anyhoooooo thanks for your responeses!!!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I have the same valve you do the On-X and mine is very loud. <SNIP> Dr. Laks did tell me that the ticking is louder at first because the valve is new and with time it should be not as loud...

PS I can hear it right now loud and clear it feels like the ticking is in my brain

Question re: On-X vs. St. Jude

Is the On-X valve inherently LOUDER than a St. Jude Mechanical?

I have a St. Jude Aortic Valve and am contemplating asking for an On-X valve when I have my Mitral Valve replaced since the On-X is less likely to produce clots and clots are more prone to develop at the Mitral Valve.

'AL Capshaw'