Hello Pam, to answer your query...The 'thumping' which BTW was not in sync with my heartbeat went away when I had a quadruple bypass. I asked my surgeon for his analysis and just shrug his head. I believe it was a message from my body that something was not right. Blood vessels need a clean pathway to allow blood flow to every part of your body. I am NOT saying nor advise anything except to keep an open mind and get a complete check on cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. I had this profound thumping exactly two months before getting a 'mild' heart attack and EKG determined and confirmed the inevitable. I am enroute to my two year anniversary this June and I am STILL smoke free...which was the contributing factor along with high count blood of white blood cells. I wish you well and success in resolving your issue. Take care and great luck Pam.