random and bizarre question..when listening to your own heartbeat

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

You know, when you listen to your own heartbeat with a stethescope, does it sound like you have a murmur when you really don't? Is that a weird acoustic thing that happens when you listen to yourself? *LOL*

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have never noticed any extra sounds when listening to my own heart beat.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I've never heard a murmur on myself when listening. Also remember that some heart murmers are not so bad and also can be intermittent. My husband has an intermittent murmer from MVP. The murmur is present and more perceptible when he is physically worn out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

When I first started fainting a few years ago, I didn't have a murmur and I think I had a stress test maybe?

Anyway, I'm putting a call into a doctor tomorrow because I was needing to see one because of increased syncope or near syncope and fatigue. It just happened that I had a run for a couple hours of PVCs, so I thought I'd take a listen to them, just for fun, to know what they sound like, YK? Then I realized I have a pretty loud murmur that I know wasn't there before. But I could just be anemic or my thyroid could be outta whack. I just wanted to kind of poll, before I made a fool out of myself, whether self auscultation frequently mimicked a murmur. *L*

Thanks for the feedback, I'll perhaps cause a good laugh at the doctor's office ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sometimes when I feel around near the glands in my neck, I swear that one side is swollen. Then five minutes later, I feel one-sided swelling again, but this time it's the opposite side that's bigger.

Sometimes I think we just think about things too hard, especially as young new nurses. You might mention the murmur thing to your doctor the next time you go and see if he can put your mind at ease.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac.
You know, when you listen to your own heartbeat with a stethescope, does it sound like you have a murmur when you really don't? Is that a weird acoustic thing that happens when you listen to yourself? *LOL*

I thought so too, until I found out I had a murmur!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

Well, just as an update, my mother in law is a nurse and was over today, so I had her listen, just to see if I was crazy. I apparently do not have the murmur when standing up, only when lying down, and when I transition from standing to laying, I gain S4 she thinks.

I've got a call into my cardiologist, just to be on the safe side. :) Thanks for the feedback!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I listened to my own heart one stressful day and found my heart was skipping beats and was irregular. I did this several times before I told my physician.

Turned out I had PAC's (pre-atrial contractions) and it was proably due to the stress of nursing school...and the coffee LOL!!!!!! I cut down my coffee (no more stopping for a triple cafe mocha :( ), and tried relaxation techniques.

Thank goodness I found it...I had a couple near fainting spells with this, and lots of migraines and hadn't a clue to why...with those simple life changes...I haven't had a probelm with it in years!!!!

If you are concerned like I was (like taking my pulse all the time..LOL!), talk to your PCP about it...sure helped me!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.

Wow, I have never really listened closely to my heart before.....off to get my stethoscope!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment