Three years ago this summer I was eating lunch with my family when I realized my heart was pounding so hard I could all but hear it. Within a week I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. What I have is called "palpitations" and, even with medication, mine are still so strong I feel like I hear them.

Our veterinarian has had heart valve surgery and I remember him saying he woke up one morning and he could hear his heart, that it sounded like a flat tire. My husband has had valve replacement surgery but never had that symptom.

Last week my cardiologist changed my blood pressure/pulse medicine to Toprol XL and it has helped with the palpitations but they're still noticeable. The general concensus seems to be that my thyroid problem is causing all the heart symptoms and I'm probably going to have my thyroid surgically removed in September - I have nodules that are growing, etc.

A simple blood test might indicate a thyroid issue, Rose76. I've been told that heart symptoms are very often the way thyroid problems are initially diagnosed.

Please keep us posted. I hope you don't have to worry about this until December.