Heart Murmur

[li10up]

Some of you will remember recently about all the test I've had done due to chest pain I was experiencing. I've had a nuclear stress test and an MRI of my heart. After the stress test they said I had anterior ischemia but then after the MRI they said no, I was fine. Well, I just went to the doc to see about all this heartburn I've been having. I saw a new doc since my primary physician moved to a different hospital (I wasn't too happy with him anyhow). So he listens to my heart and then goes back and listens a second and third time. He tells me I have a heart murmur. Shouldn't the MRI have picked that up? Anyhow he wants me to have an echo cardiogram done. Anyone have any input on the difference between an MRI and an echo? I thought the MRI should have been definitive???

[RoadRaven]

Hi there, li

I don't have the answers to your questions... Just wanted to say I read your post and am thinking of you... Most excellent new doctor... keep new doc on - new doc deserves a chocolate fish.

I have cardiac arrhythmia (I guess its genetic - my dad and nana have/had it) so I do know a little about the heart dancing to its own beat. My thoughts are with you.

[Crankin]

An MRI won't detect a heart murmur. The echo shows how your heart beats, in real time. I have one, I didn't find out until I was in my early twenties. It hasn't affected anything I do, but there are many kinds of heart murmurs. The echo is not a big deal and gives them the correct information.

[LBTC]

I've had two doctors say that I have a heart murmur, and neither ordered any other tests - probably because I didn't have any other related symptoms. I don't believe it's been a factor in any other health issues I've had, and it hasn't prevented me from doing anything. Oh, and both of my sisters have them too.

Let us know what there results of the echo are, and how the new doc works for you.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[KnottedYet]

I have a heart murmur, mine's meaningless.

The MRI is kind of like a snapshot, the echo is kind of like a functional video. They can learn things from the echo they couldn't get from the MRI and vice versa.

How's the goober in your lung? What's your D-dimer like these days?

[Popoki_Nui]

The MRI is kind of like a snapshot, the echo is kind of like a functional video. They can learn things from the echo they couldn't get from the MRI and vice versa.

+1. I recently had an echo done; my doc thought he heard a murmur and I was previously diagnosed with a wonky aortic valve, and I have benign PVC's/arrythmias.
The echo is rather relaxing ( I fell sleep during mine). They may even let you watch the screen.
The cardiologist will be able to get a real-time look at the action of your heart, its valves, and so on.
The technology is pretty good; it turns out I don't have a wonky aortic valve after all. The diagnosis was made using the best technology available several years ago; now it's so much more accurate and revealing.
Good luck. Keeping you in my thoughts.
~Sherry.

[indysteel]

J- I don't know much about the subject. I just wanted to send some positive thoughts your way.....

new doc deserves a chocolate fish.

And to comment that this just made me laugh out loud! Thanks, RR.

Keep us posted!

[IFjane]

li - I, too, have a heart murmur and have never had anything else done about it. I also have cardiac arrhythmia. The doctors are not concerned about either. I hope yours is as meaningless as mine. {{{{HUGS}}}}