Heart Murmur found......

Colleen

Colleen

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
My husband, who's 80, is scheduled for a Laminectomy on June 21. Last Wednesday, he had his pre-op and they found he has a heart murmur and we're waiting for an Echocardiogram to be scheduled.

I've Googled and read a lot about heart murmurs and they say they're harmless. There are some articles about the mitral valve that could be "faulty" and a friend of mine said her father, who was in his 80's at the time, had to have a valve replacement done before he could have some other kind of surgery.

I guess what I'm concerned about is how tired my husband is and he sleeps a LOT. He also seems confused at times and not quite in the moment. He keeps asking me questions about things we've already gone over. But then at other times, he's very alert and seems like his "old" self. All this is very disturbing to me and I'm not sure what's going on with him. He's always been a physically strong person and worked hard his whole life but he seems to be "shrinking".

Has anyone gone through any of this with a spouse or parent? Can you give me some advice as to what I should be doing? I feel so helpless. Am I just over-reacting?
 

I've also read that heart murmurs are harmless. Many years ago, when doctors found them, they thought they needed "Treatment" but they later realized they were normal & many people have them & they should be left alone.
As for being tired & sleeping a lot, my dad also slept a lot when he was in his 80's. I think it's part "of gettin' old."
 
If the cause of the murmur is causing reduced blood flow, the tiredness and brain-fogginess is probably related to it. Reduced blood flow would mean his body and organs are getting less oxygen than they need to function optimally.

You need to find out the cause of the murmur. I imagine his doctor will order tests and/or imaging to find the cause. If it is a problem that's reducing blood flow and oxygenation, they can fix it.
 

Colleen said:
My husband, who's 80, is scheduled for a Laminectomy on June 21. Last Wednesday, he had his pre-op and they found he has a heart murmur and we're waiting for an Echocardiogram to be scheduled.

I've Googled and read a lot about heart murmurs and they say they're harmless. There are some articles about the mitral valve that could be "faulty" and a friend of mine said her father, who was in his 80's at the time, had to have a valve replacement done before he could have some other kind of surgery.

I guess what I'm concerned about is how tired my husband is and he sleeps a LOT. He also seems confused at times and not quite in the moment. He keeps asking me questions about things we've already gone over. But then at other times, he's very alert and seems like his "old" self. All this is very disturbing to me and I'm not sure what's going on with him. He's always been a physically strong person and worked hard his whole life but he seems to be "shrinking".

Has anyone gone through any of this with a spouse or parent? Can you give me some advice as to what I should be doing? I feel so helpless. Am I just over-reacting?
Click to expand...
I had a heart murmur all my life and it was never a problem. I don't know if they are connected but in my early 60s I had a mitral valve repair..all went well and I am fine now though I was disappointed not to have an OBE during surgery :D

Prayers and good wishes for you and your husband!
 
Colleen said:
I guess what I'm concerned about is how tired my husband is and he sleeps a LOT. He also seems confused at times and not quite in the moment. He keeps asking me questions about things we've already gone over. But then at other times, he's very alert and seems like his "old" self.
Click to expand...

He might be dehydrated when confused, due to less blood volume and circulation to the brain.
Make sure he has regular meals and plenty of water, especially in the mornings and the afternoons.
There's nothing that he's going through that can't be taken care of better at home, including some exercise.

If he's had any medications, than that could be the cause of it too.
I would not have a surgery, because they're only after the $$$ and don't care what happens to him.

A friend of mine who is 80 sleeps a lot, more than 8 hours a night, plus a nap or two of more than an hour every day.
Sometimes she sleeps all day! Sleep is good. Plus good healthy food intake, water, and plenty of exercise are important.
 
John cycling said:
He might be dehydrated when confused, due to less blood volume and circulation to the brain.
Make sure he has regular meals and plenty of water, especially in the mornings and the afternoons.
There's nothing that he's going through that can't be taken care of better at home, including some exercise.

If he's had any medications, than that could be the cause of it too.
I would not have a surgery, because they're only after the $$$ and don't care what happens to him.

A friend of mine who is 80 sleeps a lot, more than 8 hours a night, plus a nap or two of more than an hour every day.
Sometimes she sleeps all day! Sleep is good. Plus good healthy food intake, water, and plenty of exercise are important.
Click to expand...
Bingo. When you see a doctor, dentist, or Veterinarian today, you'll always get some type of "Treatment" whether you need it or not. We need to keep in mind that everyone is trying to make up for lost income during the past 2 years.
A woman I chat with during my daily walk took her dog to the Vet recently because he was coughing & sneezing. The Vet charged $1,500.00 to remove a Foxtail from his nose. It took 10 seconds. AND he tried to convince the woman to keep her dog overnight for "Observation;" another $800.00.
 
Colleen said:
My husband, who's 80, is scheduled for a Laminectomy on June 21. Last Wednesday, he had his pre-op and they found he has a heart murmur and we're waiting for an Echocardiogram to be scheduled.

I've Googled and read a lot about heart murmurs and they say they're harmless. There are some articles about the mitral valve that could be "faulty" and a friend of mine said her father, who was in his 80's at the time, had to have a valve replacement done before he could have some other kind of surgery.

I guess what I'm concerned about is how tired my husband is and he sleeps a LOT. He also seems confused at times and not quite in the moment. He keeps asking me questions about things we've already gone over. But then at other times, he's very alert and seems like his "old" self. All this is very disturbing to me and I'm not sure what's going on with him. He's always been a physically strong person and worked hard his whole life but he seems to be "shrinking".

Has anyone gone through any of this with a spouse or parent? Can you give me some advice as to what I should be doing? I feel so helpless. Am I just over-reacting?
Click to expand...
I've known about my heart murmur for about 50 years. It wasn't much of anything until recently. My mitral valve is leaking and my cardiologist does tests. At some point it will get to where I'll probably either have to have something done with it or maybe it will just burst when I'm on the dance floor. I'm not trying to be flippant. Besides having this checked out before surgery (which I'm sure will be done), you might want to get a medical workup for the rest of his problems. The first thing I'd do is look at the side effects of any medication. Also, there's always the possibility of the onset of dementia at 80 years old. I think you really should get a handle on what's causing all of these symptoms and remember that some doctors will jump to conclusions with patients at that age; I suggest a gerontologist.
 
Interesting thread.

I have a heart murmur also, that I was born with ..78 years ago.
Doctors only ever mentioned it when I was pregnant with my kids years ago. I've never had it checked out otherwise.
 
My Mom had a heart murmur for most of her life. It didn't seem to cause her any problems, and she stayed in fairly good health pretty much all the way to her 90's, when she passed.
 
My late mother called me a few years ago and said, "I went to the doctor today. He told me that my heart was leaking blood and that it had been leaking all my life!"

"WHAAAAT??????"

"Well, that's what he said."

I immediately called the doctor's office (Mom had signed for permission for me to get all info) and talked to the nurse. I told her what Mom had said. She laughed and said, "The doctor told her that she had a slight mitral valve regurgitation (a murmur) and that it could possibly have been congenital, which means she could have had it all her life without adverse results.

I was diagnosed with regurge in two valves in my 50's with no problems.
 
The Echo is a test that is not difficult to have done, and will give excellent info,
to let you know if there is anything concerning about the murmur, or if it is of the harmless type.

Sorry it is such a confusing and difficult time for you, Colleen.
 

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