I had a mitral valve replacement (St. Jude's) in June, 1998. The damage was due to Rheumatic Fever in 1976. When I get tired (from lack of sleep, not exertion), my heart beats very irregularly. Some beats are louder than others, and there is not an even tempo. I am on Coumadin and Atenolol (for ongoing tachycardia and moderately high blood pressure), which I take in the morning. Is this normal? Should I be taking the Atenolol later in the day? I still get a-fib occasionally, but this is different.
By the way, I love the click! I am always assured that my valve is working. My murmur was very loud (Grade V-VI/VI) so I could hear it all the time also. I do get strange looks in elevators, where it seems extremely loud.