Thumping along at 10 months

[sensei Ade]

Folks,
I've just hit the 10 month mark following my AVR operation last November to have an On-X valve implanted. I'm now off the beta blockers and am on a small dose of 2.5mg of ramipril to control my blood pressure. I generally feel well within myself, but the only annoying thing I have remaining is that my heart beat constantly feels like a slight heart thump rather than a heart beat. I've done the tests with the holter device (ambling ecg) and my results are normal. I'm also hearing that this could just be due to the heart still remodelling itslef to the new valve. My surgeon hasn't expressed any concerns about this, nor has the heart rhythm specialist I went to see a few months back.

Just wanted to know if any of you out there have experienced this also. I think I just have to work through this. Any feedback would be most welcome just for a bit of reassurance.

Thanks all

Sensei

 

[Cooker]

I still have a hear thumping from time to time and I'm 5.5 years post-op ... It gets better or I am just use to it ... whichever it is it does become a non issue for most.

 

[CanoeBob]

I'm also 10 mths since surgery and have puzzled myself as to why the beat is so strong at times-like right now, stress level up, emotions peaked and adrenaline secreated. Same stuff when I exescise, and it is a ka-thump as you said. For me I work on this may be normal for now, it's consistant but slowly slowly changing. Since a beat is there, whatever form it takes, its a good thing-I'm alive! Bob

 

[Mentu]

Sensei, I am happy to hear you are doing well. Not only are you not alone in being aware of a stronger heart beat but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the type of valve one received. I have a tissue valve and have experienced a similar sensation sense the my first day of awareness after the AVR. My surgeon told me this is largely a matter of perception. As he explained, those of us with problem valves usually didn't come by them suddenly but, rather, the valves degraded over decades. During that time, we have become less and less aware of our heart beat. I know that throughout my adult life, finding my own pulse was always difficult.

Then suddenly, here we are with blood coursing through our hearts and out through this whopping big valve opening as it hasn't done in a long time. This and a combination of other things leaves our hearts beating more normally and it takes some getting used to. He went on to explain that as time passes, our heats do adjust themselves to the new more relaxed environment where they don't have to struggle to push blood through the small hole. As this is happening, familiarity reduces our awareness of this new "normal" heartbeat. At two years, I don't notice it as much but if I pay attention, I can still feel it. Oh, and finding my pulse! I can find the pulse in my wrist as soon as I touch the skin. It will be interesting to hear how many others share the same experience.

Larry

 

[hook]

I had mitral regurg, and I feel the same thing after I got a mechanical replacement over a year ago. It often feels like a heat thud, as if the valve slamming shot makes the sensation.

 

[normofthenorth]

My experience fits right in with the others here, except that I also have "diagnosed" PACs, which cause my HR to drop into the 50s (or 40s or even high 30s!!) when I really relax. When that happens, each pulse is BIG, which is probably a Good Thing, considering how few there are! My Cardio and Wiki agree on the main course of treatment for PACs -- "reassurance" -- which has at least helped me get to sleep when I'm experiencing this slow drumbeat.

I don't know -- and sometimes wonder -- if my two formerly-gimpy valves (AV & MV) are getting a break because of the low HR, or getting a shakedown workout because of the high per-beat volume.

 

[Bina]

Many of us continue to "thump" and it does get easier.

 

[Ray Norsworthy]

Sounds like you're doing great. I've only been out of the hospital since Sunday, but sometimes it feels like there's a dwarf behind my rib cage pounding it with a hammer.

 

[LL_beanie]

I'm so glad someone else mentioned this too. What valve did you get where you feel the thumping?

My first OHS, I got a St. Jude mechanical valve - in the pulmonic position. I could hear it clicking and heart beating, but it didn't stand out.

The docs replaced it with an Ox-X valve 2 years ago, and I feel exactly how you described. It's like this hard, rough thumping, that never goes away. It feels like having an industrial inside my chest. It's like this force that never happened before.

 

[sensei Ade]

Hi Larry, thnx very much for your feedback here. It really helps. Kind regards, Sensei

Sensei, I am happy to hear you are doing well. Not only are you not alone in being aware of a stronger heart beat but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the type of valve one received. I have a tissue valve and have experienced a similar sensation sense the my first day of awareness after the AVR. My surgeon told me this is largely a matter of perception. As he explained, those of us with problem valves usually didn't come by them suddenly but, rather, the valves degraded over decades. During that time, we have become less and less aware of our heart beat. I know that throughout my adult life, finding my own pulse was always difficult.

Then suddenly, here we are with blood coursing through our hearts and out through this whopping big valve opening as it hasn't done in a long time. This and a combination of other things leaves our hearts beating more normally and it takes some getting used to. He went on to explain that as time passes, our heats do adjust themselves to the new more relaxed environment where they don't have to struggle to push blood through the small hole. As this is happening, familiarity reduces our awareness of this new "normal" heartbeat. At two years, I don't notice it as much but if I pay attention, I can still feel it. Oh, and finding my pulse! I can find the pulse in my wrist as soon as I touch the skin. It will be interesting to hear how many others share the same experience.

Larry

 

[ElectLive]

At two years, I don't notice it as much but if I pay attention, I can still feel it. Oh, and finding my pulse! I can find the pulse in my wrist as soon as I touch the skin. It will be interesting to hear how many others share the same experience.

With a tissue valve, I couldn't sleep on my left side for 4 or 5 months due to excess thumping, but can only notice it now (around the 1 year mark) if I'm really paying attention. I hadn't even thought about comparing a pulse check, but just did so, and wow, it is amazing how much stronger it is now.