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Discussion

Heart Murmur Question

I have had a heart murmur all my life. Its an aortic murmur, my aorta valve only has one flap. Well I had always been told I shouldn't have a problem with it, take prophylatic antibiotics prior to dentistry etc... Well I went to the doctor today and when she listened she said my murmur sounded louder to her..... Does that necessarily mean its getting worse??? She is sending me for an echo later this month, earliest I could get in is the 23rd. Its got me kinda worried.... Also are most cardiac defects genetic?? Do I have a chance of giving this problem to a baby???

Thanks for any help?

Also, do you have any idea what the basic charge usually is for a Sleep Study??

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I wouldn't be too concerned about your murmur sounding 'louder' to the Doc....as long as you're asymptomatic and in good health. An echo is a very good idea however (especially if you've not had one recently),as it'll give you a baseline and will show where you 'stand' in terms of the severity of your valvular insufficiency and such. Certainly, a 'loud' murmur can indicate a more significant insufficiency than a less obvious one.

As far as congenital structural abnormalities being inherited (meaning septal defects (ASD,PFO,etc.), ) i'm fairly certain there's a genetic component involved in alot of cases. (i've personally taken care of a handful of such patients who had siblings or other family members w/similar problems)

When speaking of 'leaky valves' (the benign variety), I'm not certain. They're fairly common and i don't know if they're passed along genetically??(good question for your doc...my gut feeling is no, you shouldn't fret about this...)).

That being said, a 'leaky' AV d/t a missing 'flap' isnt the 'common' variety of benign murmur. Again, good question for your doc. ...(now i'm curious...i'll be asking a doc as well!)

PS: As far as sleep studies, last i heard they're somewhere between $70.00 and $70,000.00 . ..(I'm not sure where exactly). :)

PS: As far as sleep studies, last i heard they're somewhere between $70.00 and $70,000.00 . ..(I'm not sure where exactly). :)

:uhoh21: Yikes! Did you mean $7, 000???

I really don't know much about murmurs caused by valves, but my daughter has a VSD and the smaller it gets the "louder" the murmur, this was explained to me as : its like a whistle the smaller the hole the easier it is to make a noise.

I was also told, during my last pregnancy that the chance of having another child with this same defect was less than 3%,

I would definately have an echo done, and are you followed by a cardiologist? I would think that you should have routine check-ups with a cardiologist also. Sorry i can't be more help.

  • Author

Thanks everyone..

If it has gotten worse, what would we do??? My dr. didn't even want to discuss anything like that till she saw the results from the echo. I'm hoping she just has a really bad memory :) But still its a small lil worry in the back of my head that will be there until next Friday..

  • Admin

Sometimes it depends on how you're feeling. If your heart works efficiently as a pump, even with the anomaly, the echo will show that. If you're more easily fatigued and/or SOB than a year ago, you might just need to be followed more closely. There's often a fine line to walk when deciding on the "best" time for surgery: well enuf to go thru a major surgery, yet symptomatic enuf to warrant the surgery.

Have the echo then bring all your questions to your Cardiologist. Hope you continue to be well. -- D

A second opinion might not be such a bad idea. I was told when I was a young child that I had a HM, but I don't anymore.

  • Author
A second opinion might not be such a bad idea. I was told when I was a young child that I had a HM, but I don't anymore.

I don't think a second opinion is needed at this stage. I know I have the murmur, I have heard it myself with the doppler.... Plus I trust this doctor very much.

I'm hoping that it is nothing.... But it is all the what ifs that scare me... But I'm sure worrying about it from now until the 12th isn't gonna do any good... :uhoh21:

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