alarmingly loud heart beat.

[survivorsguilt]

Ever since my aorta and valve were replaced one year ago my heart beat has often been excessively strong, bang bang bang. obviously it means it’s beating, which is good to know,🤪but it’s quite distressing because I don’t know why it does it and my cardiologist can’t give me an explanation. I tried to work out a pattern and believe that even my thoughts can set itoff so wonder if it’s an anxiety issue. It doesn’t happen during exercise and It wasn’t like it before surgery. I do have AF and a loop recorder.Does anyone else have this problem? I have never asked a question on here before, so thanks in advance for support.

[Wildmeadow]

Hi Survivorsguilt!

I had aortic valve replacement 4 years ago- I also remember talking to my cardiologist about a similar problem- it was diagnosed as anxiety- post surgery I was very focussed on everything heart related. I could especially hear the ‘loudness’ at night. I found it helpful to listen to music or audiobooks/podcasts to divert my focus.

I hope this helps.

[survivorsguilt in reply to Wildmeadow]

Thank you so much. I had the entire Aorta and valve replaced when I was 85, 86 now. I recovered incredibly quickly even though I also had a stroke and pneumonia so I find it hard to believe it will last, especially as no one has been able to give me a definitive reason for the banging. I keep my brain active and am in the process of starting a new heart charity so hope that will help to ward off anxiety. Thank you again for giving me assurance.

[PadThaiNoodles]

Mine can be pretty loud too. (Mechanical aortic valve and repaired mitral valve. My aortic root was OK.)

Anxiety produces adrenaline, so it's not surprising that would change it. I think the position I'm lying in at night also plays a part. (And someone else even mentioned that theirs is louder when their mouth is open.)

But yeah, I think it's pretty common. A couple of folks reported it decreasing with time (I'm only 7 weeks post-op so I've no personal experience there yet).

[survivorsguilt]

thank you I don’t wish it on anyone but it’s good to know it isn’t only me. if anything mine is getting worse, not better as time passes. Perhaps it is worrying me more. Now that I know it’s common I hope it will settle down.

[Redfloyd]

I'm 6 weeks post op after a tissue aortic valve replacement, if I lie on my left side I can hear my heartbeat,not all the time, no trigger that I can think off. Having noise in the background doesn't make any difference, I just lie on my back ot right side.