I told Kathy, my nurse practitioner that it was a functional heart murmur she was hearing from her stethoscope. My doctor in Illinois didn't like the sound of my heart several years ago either and had me take a test. I think that was also an echo cardiogram. They concluded that it was a benign functional murmur.
Still, one Illinois dentist forced me to take antibiotics before every cleaning and dental work for several years no matter what I tried to tell her. Art refused to go to her because ... alas... he's got a functional murmur too and didn't want to take antibiotics unnecessarily.
When I retired and switched dentists, my new dentist said I shouldn't have been told to take the antibiotics.
I went to get my echo cardiogram today. The technician explained everything to us and then attached probes to my chest.
He had someone training under him and they both put me at ease.
I thought it was pretty neat to see that they had this large photo of a ginger flower on the ceiling for patients to look at.
The technician asked me a bunch of questions while he moved the probe around my chest while asking me to breathe, hold my breath and slowly exhale.
He then asked if I was getting a lot of exercise. Before I could answer (I WAS going to be honest), Art started laughing. I confessed to the technician that I was at the computer a lot lately, but I was truly going to do better.
He looked at my heart and said this isn't a sedentary heart.
So I told him I am doing zumba and we do try to walk for exercise and we do have 21 steps to the 2nd floor that I go up and down daily.
He said that would explain it. Phew!
He didn't have the prognosis for the test, but said Kathy would tell me how it looked after a cardiologist looked at it.
It was all an interesting experience. The technician even printed a photo of my heart for me to use on my blog, but these photos that Art took turned out better so I decided to post these instead.
It's too bad that Art and I both have noisy hearts. We've passed these raucous hearts on to Tif and Jon and now our granddaughter has it too. Perhaps we should have married partners with quieter hearts.
Oh well... I guess it's not the noise it makes, but what it feels that's important.
Still, one Illinois dentist forced me to take antibiotics before every cleaning and dental work for several years no matter what I tried to tell her. Art refused to go to her because ... alas... he's got a functional murmur too and didn't want to take antibiotics unnecessarily.
When I retired and switched dentists, my new dentist said I shouldn't have been told to take the antibiotics.
I went to get my echo cardiogram today. The technician explained everything to us and then attached probes to my chest.
He had someone training under him and they both put me at ease.
I thought it was pretty neat to see that they had this large photo of a ginger flower on the ceiling for patients to look at.
The technician asked me a bunch of questions while he moved the probe around my chest while asking me to breathe, hold my breath and slowly exhale.
He then asked if I was getting a lot of exercise. Before I could answer (I WAS going to be honest), Art started laughing. I confessed to the technician that I was at the computer a lot lately, but I was truly going to do better.
He looked at my heart and said this isn't a sedentary heart.
So I told him I am doing zumba and we do try to walk for exercise and we do have 21 steps to the 2nd floor that I go up and down daily.
He said that would explain it. Phew!
He didn't have the prognosis for the test, but said Kathy would tell me how it looked after a cardiologist looked at it.
It was all an interesting experience. The technician even printed a photo of my heart for me to use on my blog, but these photos that Art took turned out better so I decided to post these instead.
It's too bad that Art and I both have noisy hearts. We've passed these raucous hearts on to Tif and Jon and now our granddaughter has it too. Perhaps we should have married partners with quieter hearts.
Oh well... I guess it's not the noise it makes, but what it feels that's important.
Yes, I have a functional heart murmur, also. I was told it would be an important factor during surgery. During my hospitalization in April, I was placed in the cardiac ward because of tachycardia (rapid heart beat). Electrodes were placed on my chest. The nurse kept asking me if I was anxious about something. "Nope," I said.
ReplyDeleteThat's very informative to me because I have a few issues to investigate too. I think I will wait until after the end of the year and concentrate on my exercise and my carrot diet.
ReplyDeleteYou should've told the dr. how you are the 'heart' of bloggers!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know for sure what's going on. I like that the doctor could tell that you are active, listening to your heart. Guess my doctor could tell that, too. Noisy heart? You do make me laugh sometimes, so I guess it's contagious. :-)
ReplyDeleteYour hearts may be loud, but they seem to be working just right.
ReplyDeleteHi Kay, I know about those dicky hearts. I had a heart attack in the late 1990s and a stroke 3 years later because I did not want to take all the meds the doc prescribed. Good to have an examine periodically I think. My kids are at risk of heart attacks from both sides. Nevertheless, we keep on keeping on, that's all you can do. Take care and walk those stairs. Dianne
ReplyDeleteI guess I have a quiet heart...maybe too quiet. Again, your blog always makes me chuckle. Take care.
ReplyDeleteL.
I also have a benign heart murmur and never had to take anti biotics. Good that you had your test done.
ReplyDeleteso happy you have exercised even when you don't think you are...lol. Good old stairs come in handy for something! We can always exercise more and eat more healthy. I say that to myself too....
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are keeping fit even without knowing it and your heart reflects it. Hopefully this will mean a good prognosis. One thing that's certain is you have a big heart :-)
ReplyDeleteYou have a very good heart, my friend. You are very good-hearted. I'll never forget you returning to the airport, after you thought you were rid of us, to bring Dick his glasses (sunglasses?).
ReplyDeleteThanks again, and keep exercising on those stairs. Just ignore Art when he laughs.
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
Oh, you are so right. And, I was thinking that you had the best heart around. :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteAnd I know what it is and how it feels.
Something similar here , no not noisy but irregular heart beat.
I like to look at the doctor's face and see how they struggle :should I tell him or not?"
Long back (about 35 years ago) a Dr whom I trusted told me the whole story and said "yours is a special case, but as long as you have no problem you just forget it. I know of people who have crossed 85 with the same problem and lived a normal life"
This reminds me that I have to go in for a stress test and pulmonary function tests...argg..my life is one big series of doc visits, tests and medication...
ReplyDeleteThere is much we could say about your heart: kind, generous, giving, loving, supportive. I did not know it also made a lot of noise.
ReplyDeleteTake care of that heart. Keep getting it checked. I have tachycardia, palpitations, and skipped beats. I am constantly monitored and am on medication. Sometimes all that activity that isn't like it should be makes me crazy anxious. I try to live with it.
Well, whatever you have it sure doesn't seem to slow you down!
ReplyDeleteWell, another parallel. I have noisy heart too. Always have. A year and a half ago I had an echo cardiogram too. I will be due for another this spring. With the baseline of the first one, we'll see if there has been progression of the narrowing of the aortic valve.
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked in the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital, we did Echocardiograms all the time. It is an interesting test to see. Watching the heart in action is amazing.
ReplyDeleteYou have a very active lifestyle Kay and also you all follow a healthy diet thanks to your mom who is an excellent cook ... so you don't need to worry much.
ReplyDeletegreat post, brought to a great conclusion; and way to go Art on the camera!
ReplyDeleteMedical Term: "Artifact" which is something different that is not functionally a problem.
Your family is a whole museum!
Stay well, Kay
Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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