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Over the last 18months or so I have been ‘feeling’ my heart, a sort of light dull pain. My heart also has been missing beats and sometimes just not feeling right, sometimes once a day, sometimes once a week. Anyway, I thought I’d check it out and the doctor informed that I had a strong whoosing murmur. (She was very sceptical at first and told me I had a virus). ECG, bloods and X-ray have shown nothing untoward and I’m currently waiting for echo tests.
She has told me to keep on riding (I go once a week) but not to push and ride within myself. I was thinking that If that’s the case I may as well get an eBike? What do you lot think? Have any of you got a murmur? Does it affect you?
Im average fitness/weight/height with resting hr of approx 45.
Cheers
Not me, but I know folk who have had mummurs since childhood. They compete and regularly do well in endurance sports. I don't know if there is a difference to getting one later in life though.
I have a whooshing murmur, had it since I was a kid, apparently I'm more or less just poorly calibrated and could do with a bit of spray lube or something so the doctor's advice was, forget about it, and only bring it up again if I ever have a coronary or something. As far as I can tell it makes no difference at all to my riding, but then how would I know? Perhaps I'd be nailing podiums without it... In fact I bet I would.
But you only get one heart so I'd not **** about with it in any way, til you've had all the doctor's responses and that
North, do you have any ‘feeling’ from your heart? I don’t get any pain as such but can often feel a very slight stiffness (can’t really describe it). The doc told me that this sometimes happen when you grow older. I’m 40.
I've got one, had it since I was, well, forever really. Used to go to GOSH when I was kid to be checked up on. Never been an issue for me, in fact I had forgotten I had one until I read your post.
Edmund Hilary had one, didn't seem to bother him either.
I have a Bicuspid aortic heart valve, first diagnosed at the age of 15 back in the late 80's (despite having two surgical procedures as kid where it wasn't noticed) when i went for my adult motocross racing licence, it's never affected me in any way possible apart from the fact i have to be careful of getting a blood infection or certain viruses as they can attack the valve. Like you i have a whooshing noise when listening to it on the ultrasound or stethoscope.
Raced motocross for years, raced mtb's for years, used to regularly hit 220bpm 10 odd years ago on the bike and i've never gave it a second thought - the docs haven't checked it out for over 20 years so i guess it's nowt to worry about and my endurance wasn't effected in the slightest (used to race 24hr solo on the ss no problem). Obviously my condition may be different from yours but heart murmurs are quite common so don't fret till you have all the tests done.
Much like the posters above, diagnosed as a kid. It’s never been a problem. Always been into sports, ran a lot through my teens, 20’s and 30’s. Now ride and race a lot and do ok. I don’t think i’ve ever felt anything unusual though I guess i’d not know otherwise.
Interesting reading, I get something similar, have been investigated for ectopic beats which I get regularly but they didn't seem to pick up anything else, though I'm not sure if they looked for anything else. Been getting the ectopic beats when riding recently and it's a horrible feeling, quite painful and can see them in my vision too. They didn't say to stop riding but if I ever get through the waiting list to my local GP I might go and ask them again though they'll probably just tell me to stop drinking coffee again.
been worrying about similar issues just had the results of an ECG and told it' normal if a bit slow.
what bloods did you ask for?
I'm told it is anxiety causing breathlessness and chest pain. now getting really cold feet...
My ECG was normal but slow, but that’s what was expected with 45bpm. Apparently it is the echo test that is the one that gives the most accurate description of what’s ‘going on’
"North, do you have any ‘feeling’ from your heart?"
That is an extremely insensitive question, but since you ask, no- I am a burned out husk.
Oh OK, it's a thread about heart conditions, maybe a serious answer's more appropriate. I'd say no, not in usual conditions. But I've a bit of a history of stress/anxiety and I'm pretty aware of it when I'm on edge, I get really kind of aware of my heartbeat and I can definitely hear/feel the "skoosh".
of course only the doc can advise properly but its more thanlikely you have had it all your life. It shouldn't change anything
I've had very similar sensations for donkeys years (am 38, prob noticeably had sensations for 20+ years). Never stopped me training quite intensively over many of those years including lots of racing (bike, running, swimming).
Obviously take doctor's advice, but nothing too much to worry about from my experience.
I have a Bicuspid aortic heart valve, first diagnosed at the age of 15 back in the late 80’s (despite having two surgical procedures as kid where it wasn’t noticed) when i went for my adult motocross racing licence, it’s never affected me in any way possible apart from the fact i have to be careful of getting a blood infection or certain viruses as they can attack the valve. Like you i have a whooshing noise when listening to it on the ultrasound or stethoscope.
Me too. Diagnosed when I was 25. Never stopped me doing anything including various Cyclosportives including a couple of Marmottes. Used to take penicillin before any dental procedures to avoid infecting it but these days that's not even advised.
To the OP. Don't stress about it but make sure you have a consultation with a proper cardiologist and don't accept a diagnosis from your GP.
I've also got a bicuspid aortic heart valve which was diagnosed when I was a child. Although it's never stopped me doing anything in the past (I'm 51 now) in recent years it's started failing and I've been on a ebike for the last couple of years. I'm now due to have it replaced with a mechanical valve along with my aortic root sometime in the next 3 to 6 months.
I had a bicuspid aortic heart valve which was diagnosed when I was a child.
Had it replaced 35+ years ago and have cycled round Britain, toured all over Europe, worked in the US, can beat my 11-yr old uphill and downhill 🙂
I am not fast but I am not slow.
Haven't got an ebike but have just built up a new steel hardtail.
Alphabet - the biggest pisser about a mechanical valve is the anticoagulants. Thigh and knee pads are now must-haves on all MTB rides for me. Feel free to drop me a message if you want more information. Good luck!
StirlingCrispin: Thanks for the offer, I may well contact you nearer the time. I'm hoping it'll be nearer the 6 months mark as I'll be able to recuperate in the garden for a few weeks. I'm not an urgent case and other than not being allowed to ride, exercise much or lift anything heavy I'm fine. I've been riding with elbow and knee pads for years so no change there. It's good to know that you've had it done so long ago and have been able to live such an active life. That's exactly what I'm hoping for. In fact I'm hoping to be able to sell my ebike and go back to a regular bike once I'm fully recovered.
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Leaky heart valve here, 53. Still racing (badly) and doing endurance stuff regularly. Likely I'd had it a long time but only found out after a battery of tests after a 'bit of a funny do'. Took me a few months to a) get a diagnosis and b) learn to let go and stop being over-cautious. Still, quite fun to see your heart pumping on the screen.
"She has told me to keep on riding (I go once a week) but not to push and ride within myself."
Remember docs are just people and prone to the same platitudes as the rest of us. It's hard to know if you're dealing with someone who really understands sport or someone who simply felt you needed reassurance. Listen carefully to doc advice, read forums, apply pinch of salt, make mind up.
Or do you just fancy a new bike? 🙂
OP, I wouldn't get an electric bike yet. I've had valve problems since birth and like Stirling Crispin now have a mechanical valve (fitted 4 years ago). I'm of the opinion that cycling has helped me cope with heart problems and the doctors have always advised me to do moderate exercise, but nothing competitive. If you want to know more about Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) and exercise, watch the webinar at https://www.achaheart.org/your-heart/living-with-chd/webinars/
Feel free to get in touch Alphabet for some top tips on how to get through open heart surgery. Several useful groups on Facebook including: Warfarin & Support pre and post heart valve surgery; and Somerville Foundation.
Cheers guys. As always, Plenty of useful tips/reassurance on here. I’ll give an update on what the cardiologist says after my echo (which could be a long long way off).
Weather looks good tomorrow afternoon so I’ll be out riding within myself/pushing! It’s all about the downs now anyway...
Occupational health checks a few years ago referred me to GP for hypertensive blood pressure.
I was given the basic checks and got referred for an ECG. One 12 lead ECG later I was called back in because I was bradycardic and had a 3rd heart sound, both indicators of heart failure.
Shitting myself, I got any for a scan and follow up, where upon the decided I had and 'athletic heart', because, uh, I exercise!
Point is, physiological adaptations for exercise can trick the medical profession into thinking you're very ill when you're not. Apparently, being bradycardic and having a third heart sound is also a key indicator for heart disease in middle age. They took one look at my age and decided I was very poorly, when I'm not.
The perfect metronomic heart is a fallacy. We all have funny noises and frequencies. Try not to worry about it untill it's confirmed you have to.
Your fine. I’ve mountain biked for last 18 years with pacemaker. If your doc says your fine, your fine. Your maybe less fit hence the chest issues. Life’s too short for self diagnosing. What’s certain if you don’t keep fit you will have issues.
natrix: Thank you, will do.