This is part of " Iam So Scared" post from earlier...

Those of you that answered me about enlarged heart...thank you so much!!!!
Thought I would share what I found out... ( if you dont know what Im talking about...see my post earlier today)
I did call the dr as was suggested here.... they just got back to me. I think it was like, the secretary or something that called me. Obviously not someone familiar with medical issues...but she was passing on an obviously written message from the cardiologist-( and I quote--) " you have a mild murmur. We will talk more after your stress test on the 26th." If it was anything of major concern, she wouldve hurried up the whole issue.
Now, I have to investigate what a "murmur" is......do I need to be scared about that!?!?!??!

[upbeat633]

Well, when I was 18 I was told I had a murmur. Turns out it was pvcs. I don't know why they called it a murmur. I hope you can take comfort in that message that said "mild murmur" and "if it was anything of major concern..............

I just had an echo and it said mild thickening of mitral valve with minimal to mild regurg., and mild thickening of aortic valve with minimal to mild regurg., but they don't seem too worried about anything.

I think the diagnositc evaluations are so much more sensitive today that it picks up variants which are considered "normal" because they are so common and don't pose any danger.

[Momto3]

Hi again!

I'm so glad you went ahead and called the doctor's office.  Otherwise, you would have been up watching reruns all night (at least, that's what I would have done...lol).

I would not worry at all about a "mild murmur."  A murmur is heard when one of the hearts' valves is not closing properly and some of the blood leaks backwards.  I've had a murmur for at least 30 years, and it's at least "moderate."  At one point, the doctors were certain it had downgraded to "severe" but tests proved otherwise.  Murmurs can range from innocent to severe, with variants in between.  Depending on the type of leak (regurgitation) and the valve, the doctor may suggest follow up echocardiograms.  But, if he feels it doesn't warrant followup, you won't have to have rechecks.

[Ihatepalps2]

Wow...its like you really know me!!  :-)
Yes, I wouldve been up all night....as it is..I still have that feeling in the pit of my stomach...
but its less than it was earlier today.
Thanks for explaining murmurs to me....I had no clue what they were. Odd, tho, I have a physical every year....and have been at the Dr with this darn flu alot in the past 3 weeks---how could somebody NOT hear the murmur??

[Momto3]

hahahaha!  Yep, I know all about late night/early morning sitcoms : )

Any chance you had a fever when the murmur was heard?  Sometimes, when we're dehydrated, the murmurs are more audible.  When my daughter was very young, she had a terrible case of the stomach flu and dehydrated within hours.  I could hear a murmur from across the room!!  That scared the @$#% outta me!  Doctor said that when we are low on body fluids, the murmurs can be loud enough to hear without a stethoscope.  Holy cow!!  Anyway, since that time she has had a number of echocardiograms and sometimes the murmur is audible and other times it's quiet.  I'm sure some of it has to do with the sensitivity of the equipment.  Also, children can "outgrow" murmurs.  About 10 years ago, her murmur was quite evident.  Last year, not a problem.  Go figure.

Get your tennis shoes cleaned up.  You want to look good when you're running on the treadmill. : )

Good luck with the stress test!!  Keep us posted!

connie
  

[dolfnlvr]

Hey there!!!
     As Connie stated murmurs can range from innocent to severe, but you should know that 85% of the population has some sort of murmur at some stage of their life.  Thing is that unless you undergo testing for something, these go COMPLETELY UNNOTICED and therefore are never "diagnosed."  While some murmurs can be serious (obviously not yours) most are completely benign and even transient (come and go--as Connie said, they are audible or NOT depending on who is listening and with what equipment).  So, I wouldn't worry at all.  Also, the doctor passed off a note to his receptionist to call you...this means that he/she saw nothing of immediate concern.  If it was a big deal they'd call you personally, or have you schedule an earlier appointment.  

I think you are going to find that everything is fine.  These things used to be considered serious, but with new and improved, more sensitive equipment...doctors are finding that most of these "murmurs" are not remarkable and are actually so common as to barely be noted.

Have a good day....from what you've said everything is looking pretty good!!!