Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Vibrating and Gurgling in Chest?

Hi,

I have a history of Lyme Disease and PVC's. I've been told that my PVC's are benign by my Cardiologist.

Lately I've been having a gurgling and vibrating sensation in my chest, near my heart. It seems to happen with my heartbeat, especially when I'm laying on my left side.

Does anyone get this? What does it sound like?

I had an EKG and Chest X-Ray not long ago. I don't know if that would have shown anything or not, as far as the gurgling and vibrating.

Please let me know your opinions.

Thanks so much!
18 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I have this same strange sensation.   This seems like an old thread -- has there been any updated information?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also have the same problem when I lay on my left side. Im only 16 and im reading these comments. Im glad I'm not the only one having this, but I was panicked about a heart attack or me dying soon, I thought that it was going to be a fatal and critical surprise attack soon and could cause damage to my whole body. Does anyone know what this is about? I hope im fine.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Try to relax about this.  If your high school or junior college offers human anatomy, take it and you will learn what's going on.  It will make you a better medical consumer, in general.

When you lie on your left side, the tip of the heart is a bit closer to your ribs than when you're on your right side.  Bone conducts sound, and--being a sensitive person--you're picking up the sound of your normally-beating heart.  Since you don't know how a heart actually sounds, it seems weird to hear or sense it at all, but that's all there is to it.

Avatar universal
I am laying here on my back as I write this. I have experienced gurgling sounds and I came on the Internet to see what it was, and I found this blog. I have heard it standing upright as well, but right now it comes and goes as I lay on my back. I can hear it without a stethoscope it's loud. Some years ago my doctor told me I have Mitral Valve disorder which is a disorder of the flaps of the heart where they don't close properly. I too am taking medication to reduce my high blood pressure. I don't think there is a correlation because I wasn't always good at taking it. I will try and record the sound with my phone and on my next visit will play it for the doctor.
Helpful - 0
4623948 tn?1357370885
Im 24 and about four and a half years ago i developed panic disorder having full blown panic attacks every single day from a traumatic things happening to me.  Anyway, around that time i had also started taking Zyprexa for bipolar disorder which helped in many ways but i started having bad side effects.  I had severe muscle spasms and my heart would gurgle every so often.  It would normally happen when laying on my side and my fiance could feel it if he touched my chest.  Itd only last a few seconds then sometimes happen again right after.  Also had the palpitations and fluttering like my heart was skipping and sometimes slowed almost to a stop.  When having a panic attack it would race for the most part.  I went to the ER and i told them about a gurgling/swishing feeling and they looked at me like i was nuts, ran tests, and everything came back normal.  All i know is i had started taking lower mgs of my zyrexa over time till i was hardly on any and i havent had it happen since.  It could be possible muscle spasms of the heart, our heart is a muscle.  I thought heart valve because that medication causes high cholesterol but it didnt show up on tests plus it wasnt consistent.  Any thoughts let me know thanks    
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Try laying on your left side durin the tests? I can only get mine to do it when i lay on my left side
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just woke up to mine doing it and t freaked the crap out of me and now I can't go back to sleep. I've been havin a lot of chest pains lately also which contributed to me freaking out. But yeah your not alone robin and oh I guess I should point out I'm only 15 (almost 16)and it's doing this.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm 60yrs old and take blood pressure pills for irregular heart (caused by bad drug, darvacet) Last night, I felt my heart gurgling, and it did seem like my heart was hungry. I believe it may be broken right now since I lost my grandson and my mother in the last 4 mos.  Anyway, I am glad to hear it may not be serious.....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i also have this gurgeling/vibration sensation near or with my heart. it has been causing tons of anxiety. ive had ekg, ultrasound, stress test, halter moniter but of course it never happens during any tests. i dont have any other problems other then it causing me tons of anxiety. (ive had panic attacks/generalized anxiety my whole life.) ive listened to my heart with a stethescope and it sounds like gurgling almost like stomach sounds when its occuring, i dont hear any difference in my actual beat. i do have a very minor murmur but nothing to worry about i was told. im just glad to hear other people have this too. ive been consumed with worry over it. my cardiologist is sending me a moniter to record any strange feelings. i will get it in the mail soon. i guess you press it to your chest when you feel the sensation and it records it. i just want some instant answers because its worrying me!!!! im only 30 and i feel like its silly to worry however these feelings are real. im on zoloft 150mg and prenatel vitamens for nursing everyday.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I'm16 and I had this last night. I was terrified as I thought I was going to have a heart attack or something. This then lead to me having a panic attack and freaking out about it.
Avatar universal
Interesting - I've never heard that its possible to hear your own heart gurgling (without a stethoscope) and would be skeptical without a Dr. or study saying its possible - when I've discussed this type of sensation with the Dr they always say gastric and I think the gurgling I feel is always gastric (it's irregular and manipulable with movement, Maalox etc).  Lying on the left side does trigger PVCs in some people and can certainly enhance your heartbeat awareness (I know it does for me).  Might also be worth considering that when you lie on your left side the fluids in your stomach follow gravity which means they'll be positoned to the left of your midline in the upper abdomen directly under the left side of your heart (roughly), and when those fluids gurgle they'll be doing so against the left side and left top of your stomach.  Those sensations refer quite easily through the upper abdomen and lower chest.  You could try lying on your right side and see if the sensations change somewhat (though it's easier to have acid reflux when lying on your right side...FUN!).    The vibration stuff I have occasionally too but I ignore as best as I can (could be muscular, could be other).  I guess in the end who knows with a lot of this stuff.  Gotta love RNRita - read some of her other posts, might make you laugh a little - I know thats the only thing that helps me sometimes.

The normal echo and ekg are definitely a positive - they'd have picked up heart valve issues on the echo (echos really are very good for that) - I know it's hard to take solace in clean testing when you still have symptoms but it seems you're on the right track.  Lyme and PVCs are a tough hand to be dealt.  Hang in there.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Regular as in every heartbeat or every-other heartbeat. Irregular as in unpredictable.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

I do have high blood pressure. I definitely noticed both the  PVC's and my "hungry heart" sensation after starting the medication and my doctor said that the gurgling was a possible a side effect and that it was much beter to have the medication and cope with the side effects than stop taking the meds and not have the gurgling but then have all the complications with having untreated blood pressure. I know it's a weird sensation and it too still spooks me but try you're best to embrace that it's part of who you are and the way your body works. You, like myself, have been told that we're structurally OK so we have to beleive in those that know best!! Forgot to mention yesterday but I have another little tip that helps my "hungry heart" and I know it sounds crazy but it really does help. Eat a slice of bread and a glass of milk. Try it - I hope it works for you!!
Helpful - 0
221122 tn?1323011265
Well, I never got the gurgling, but I've had vibration standing, sitting, lying, and doing cartwheels.....Okay, well I can't actually do cartwheels anymore, but I thought I'd throw it in.  I think if we took all the weird sensations we get from these things, we would look at the list and laugh.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much for your responses!

bobad ~ I'm not sure what you mean by regular or irregular, and how do I check? They just seem to come on out of the blue, especially when I am laying on my left side. I think I even feel it near my ribs sometimes, but I'm not sure it's the same thing. The valve thing scares me, especially after having a normal Echo in January. Can things change that much in 6 months?

PRADA001 ~ That makes me feel better that I'm not the only one experiencing this! My blood pressure is always low to normal...do you have high blood pressure? Or were you taking the blood pressure medicine for the PVC's?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Robin - don't worry - I too have the gurgling in or around my heart, can't make out which it is. The way I explained it to my Cardiologist is that it sounds as if my hearts hungry!! I've had all of the regular heart tests done and I've been diagnosed with benign PVC's which are no fun at all but they found nothing wrong with my heart in terms of valves, structure, etc. Anway, please be assured that you're not alone with this funny sensation. Just to let you know as well, mine started when I started taking blood pressure medication and I find that they come and go now and what a coincidence, they are back right now as I type you this message!! Hope this helps and best of luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
That's unusual!

An echo will normally catch sound and vibration long before you can sense them.

It's possible that you have a valve acting up irregularly. It could be blood pressure related, and triggers at a certain BP. Perhaps log your BP when the sound occurs and when it does not occur and you can make a correlation.

The key here is regular. When the sound and vibration occur, are they regular and cyclical? If so (and not caused by your breathing) then they are almost surely heart valve-related. If the sounds are irregular, they may be more related to breathing or to the digestive system. Once in a while, the arteries can also make a slight vibration, but that would also be easy to detect with ultrasound long before you can sense it.

Best of luck, and do keep us posted on your unusual situation!.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also wanted to mention that I had a normal Echo in Janaury.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was at the doctor the other day, and he listened to my heart, but the gurgling and vibrating wasn't happening then. Do you think he still would have been able to tell if there was a valve problem?

Thanks for your response!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If the gurgling-vibrating is regular, it very well may be related to the heart. Have someone take a listen with a stethoscope. If it's related to the heart valves, they can tell you immediately. Good luck. I hope it's from drinking Diet Coke and Mentos. :)
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Heart Rhythm Community

Top Arrhythmias Answerers
1807132 tn?1318743597
Chicago, IL
1423357 tn?1511085442
Central, MA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
Salt in food can hurt your heart.
Get answers to your top questions about this common — but scary — symptom
How to know when chest pain may be a sign of something else
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.