Rubbing sound heart murmur. AVR at CCF two years ago, and have for the

[garyr]

last week been getting PACs or PVCs can't tell which, and an occasional hesitation, like the heart stops, for a second then beats with bit more force.

Does MSG the food additive have an effect on the electrical acitivity of the heart? I ate 6 crispy strips from Kentucky fried chicken and at least 6-8 oz, of salt cured salmon immediately prior to this onset as well as drinking my normal caffeine and some alcohol.

I know all these are bad but the 'rubbing sound' is new, and just a week ago everything seemed relatively normal in the mitral valve steth exam I did on myself to check my AV once a month.

The murmur is Rub-thump, Rub-thump, Rub-thump thruout the right ride laying on the right side, and at the apex. I have a constant Woosh-Dub, very loud on the Aortic valve at 2-3-4 intercostal space after AVR but have been told not to worry about it.

There seems to be a connection between this new rubbing sound and the onset of freuent PACs and PVCs and stopped 'beats'.

Obviously with a two year old bovine valve I will see my cardiologist ASAP but the rubbing sound really worries me and when I call him I want to be fairly calm about aksing for an immediate appointement.

Can MSG and more than usual salt intake cause all this?

I ama white male 59. With lifelong valvular involvement and Dr. Isada at CCF is my cardiologist there, the surgery performed by Dr Cosgrove.

Should I cease all physical exercise till examined?

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear gary,
I am not aware of an association between MSG and PVCs although there may be others out there who have noticed a connection in their personal experience.  MSG and salt does increase blood pressure and in general you should limit your intake of these products to less than 6 gm a day.

I am not sure what you are hearing in regard to the 'rub'.  When a cardiologist describes a rub it means there is an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart called a pericarditis.  This rub is more like the sound of walking in freshly fallen snow.  Persons with pericarditis usually feel sick with a fever and chest pain that is worse with breathing.  

I do agree with a trip to your cardiologist but I'm not sure what he/she will find if anything.  In the meantime I would probably hold off on the exercise and any strenuous activity.

[jazzyj]

I DO NOT ENVY YOUR SITUATION ONE BIT, I WISH THER WAS SOMETHING I COULD DO OR SAY TO HELP YOU.  I REALLY NEED TO GET IN CONTACT WITH SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE PAC/PVC FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE POSTED HERE BEFORE AND READ ALMOST EVERY POST, HELPS A GREAT DEAL HOWEVER I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO SOME OF YOU SUFFERING FROM PAC/PVC ALL DAY EVERY DAY. PLEASE LEAVE A POST WITH AN E-MAIL ADDRESS TO CONTACT YOU I AM A W/M/27 WHO HAD AN ATRIUM SEPTUM DEFECT REPAIRED @ 15YRS, NEED HELP THANKS

[chrisr]

Like yourself I had AVR (St.Jude) about 2 yrs ago. But I also had triple bypass and repaired ascending aorta for an aneurysm. Unfortunately I have heard every single heart beat from day one (clicking sound for only 2-4 weeks postop). Overtime i have tried to live with this and can only sleep with earphones and relaxing music. About 6 months ago I have been getting PACs/PVCs about 2-3 times/week and all at 4-5am at night. This is usually preceded by fast hard beats which slow and then proceed to PACs/PVCs. During my last ER visit the cardiologist diagnosed normal Sinus rhythn but with Sinus arrhythmia whatever that means?? I also noticed a severe episode after a Kentucky fried chicken dinner. My events however seem to occur mostly when I sleep on my back. But they are extremely annoying and cause mw anxiety and sleep loss. I have had several EKGs and Echos but except for slight tricuspid/pulmpnary valve regurgitation all seems fine with the new AOV. How do you examine yourself for your heart/valve sounds? Does it take some training? I would highly appreciate comments from you or anyone else with this or similar symptoms and any references to a cariologist with experience in this area
Thanks,
ChrisR

[garyr]

There are several websites, using RealPlayer or .wav files that provide a variety of sounds that reproduce the normal heart beat and then compare it to a prolapsed mitral valve, aortic and other valve leaks or other heart related problems.


http://www.dundee.ac.uk/medicine/Cardiology/prub.htm

This is one site.


If want others, you can go to a search engine and type in Heart murmur sounds and get a fairly good list.

You'd then need a good stethoscope and train youself to use it properly to hear your own heart sounds, but there are good tutorials under "Auscultation" in a search engine, like Google, to help.

[garyr]

..now wearing a holter monitor for the next 24 hours, Echo scheduled for May 14, and phyisical exam by cardiologist on Friday this week is scheduled.

GP said this morning there are no other symptoms but the murmur which is 'clean' sounding, in that there is a low 'rub'-dub, rub-dub, rub-dub,  the rub having that 'snow crunch' sound you mentioned though.

I've heard the Rubbing sound of a Pericarditis and this is not at all like it.

No PVCs or PACs showed on the ECG this morning, (hence, the 24 hour monitor) but I had at least a dozen of them which the machine failed to pick up. I don't understand that at all.

I am very concerned that the machine is either faulty or I'm going nuts.

The GP heard the murmur on auscultation this morning. Since it's been a year that I have had my last Echo at CCF, he scheduled my annual one for May 14, the soonest it can be done.

Maybe the Mitral valve (which had a +1-2 leak historically) will demonstrate better information in that test.  I'll be anxious to hear what my Cardiologist says on Friday, meanwhile no more Treadmill and Cross trainer I guess.

Thank for your prompt response.