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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
22 Years Old with Possible MVP
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22 Years Old with Possible MVP
by warrenfr, Dec 09, 1999 12:00AM
I am a 22-year-old male who has suffered from a variety of symptoms for the last 8-10 years of my life. I have visited a cardiologist for the first time two days ago and he suspects MVP. I have been scheduled for a color echo, a kidney U/S, and an event loop monitor during the next month. The wait is my biggest enemy. I need some answers to remain informed and sane. Here are the symptoms/findings: occasional "skipping" heart beat (severity is proportional to stress levels), "clicking" sound found during cardiologist visit, bouts of fatigue after busy day and little food intake, awareness of heart beat, high sensitivity to anxiety, worrisome by nature, recent but currently absent jaw discomfort (lasted about two weeks), dramatic decrease in quality of vision over the last two years, and minor chest/arm discomfort in certain situations.
I have been in and out of doctor's offices my whole life for these symptoms. My heart has been listened to by dozens of doctors from family physicians to ER doctors. I had an echocardiogram at age 13, numerous EKG's, and 2 holter monitors since then.
1. Is it really possible that only a cardiologist could recognize the clicking sound or is it something that could just occur at some point in time. The latter seems unlikely since I have been suffering from these symptoms for such a long time.
2. Does a definitive MVP diagnosis always show up in an EKG or only in the case of higher levels of regurgitation?
3. In the last two years I have undergone 20-30 dental procedures. With the threat of an MVP diagnosis looming, should I be concerned about getting immediate antibiotic treatment? A related question: Assuming I did contract bacterial endocarditis during those visits, how long is the degeneration process of the valve due to the bacteria? Could I currently be at severe risk or, on a more morbid note, should I not even be around?
4. Does MVP always eventually require some surgical procedure? If I am 22 with MVP now, will I most certainly require a procedure at some point in life? Related question: Is life expectancy of MVP patients less than or equal to that of those without the condition?
5. Does the fact that I may have MVP at 22 mean I should expect to live a shorter life? I am reading some postings from 72-year-olds who are just being diagnosed. Curious.
I would truly appreciate answers to each of these questions. I realize the posting is long but I felt that completeness would give you better ammunition. Thank you very much. I hope to hear from you soon.
Fred
I have been in and out of doctor's offices my whole life for these symptoms. My heart has been listened to by dozens of doctors from family physicians to ER doctors. I had an echocardiogram at age 13, numerous EKG's, and 2 holter monitors since then.
1. Is it really possible that only a cardiologist could recognize the clicking sound or is it something that could just occur at some point in time. The latter seems unlikely since I have been suffering from these symptoms for such a long time.
2. Does a definitive MVP diagnosis always show up in an EKG or only in the case of higher levels of regurgitation?
3. In the last two years I have undergone 20-30 dental procedures. With the threat of an MVP diagnosis looming, should I be concerned about getting immediate antibiotic treatment? A related question: Assuming I did contract bacterial endocarditis during those visits, how long is the degeneration process of the valve due to the bacteria? Could I currently be at severe risk or, on a more morbid note, should I not even be around?
4. Does MVP always eventually require some surgical procedure? If I am 22 with MVP now, will I most certainly require a procedure at some point in life? Related question: Is life expectancy of MVP patients less than or equal to that of those without the condition?
5. Does the fact that I may have MVP at 22 mean I should expect to live a shorter life? I am reading some postings from 72-year-olds who are just being diagnosed. Curious.
I would truly appreciate answers to each of these questions. I realize the posting is long but I felt that completeness would give you better ammunition. Thank you very much. I hope to hear from you soon.
Fred
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD JMF, Dec 09, 1999 12:00AM
Is it really possible that only a cardiologist could recognize the clicking sound or is it something that could just occur at some point in time. The latter seems unlikely since I have been suffering from these symptoms for such a long time.
As the filling of your heart changes from day to day, it is possible to have different qualities to clicks and murmurs. Clicks however are often difficult to distinguish by physicians who do not routinely perform heart exams.
2. Does a definitive MVP diagnosis always show up in an EKG or only in the case of higher levels of regurgitation?
EKG does not routinely diagnose MVP.
3. In the last two years I have undergone 20-30 dental procedures. With the threat of an MVP diagnosis looming, should I be concerned about getting immediate antibiotic treatment? A related question: Assuming I did contract bacterial endocarditis during those visits, how long is the degeneration process of the valve due to the bacteria? Could I currently be at severe risk or, on a more morbid note, should I not even be around?
It would be important to have your valve fully evaluated by echocardiogram and it is likely that if you have MVP and a murmur that antibiotics should be recommended. An echo should help to determine if you have any evidence of endocarditis.
4. Does MVP always eventually require some surgical procedure? If I am 22 with MVP now, will I most certainly require a procedure at some point in life? Related question: Is life expectancy of MVP patients less than or equal to that of those without the condition?
MVP may or may not progress. Surgery is an option when the valve is very regurgitant or when you heart function is impaired. Your life expectancy will depend on the severity of the MVP and regurgitation.
5. Does the fact that I may have MVP at 22 mean I should expect to live a shorter life? I am reading some postings from 72-year-olds who are just being diagnosed. Curious.
Please see comment 4. It all depends on your disease severity.
Once you have your echo results we can re discuss some of these issues in a more specific manner.
As the filling of your heart changes from day to day, it is possible to have different qualities to clicks and murmurs. Clicks however are often difficult to distinguish by physicians who do not routinely perform heart exams.
2. Does a definitive MVP diagnosis always show up in an EKG or only in the case of higher levels of regurgitation?
EKG does not routinely diagnose MVP.
3. In the last two years I have undergone 20-30 dental procedures. With the threat of an MVP diagnosis looming, should I be concerned about getting immediate antibiotic treatment? A related question: Assuming I did contract bacterial endocarditis during those visits, how long is the degeneration process of the valve due to the bacteria? Could I currently be at severe risk or, on a more morbid note, should I not even be around?
It would be important to have your valve fully evaluated by echocardiogram and it is likely that if you have MVP and a murmur that antibiotics should be recommended. An echo should help to determine if you have any evidence of endocarditis.
4. Does MVP always eventually require some surgical procedure? If I am 22 with MVP now, will I most certainly require a procedure at some point in life? Related question: Is life expectancy of MVP patients less than or equal to that of those without the condition?
MVP may or may not progress. Surgery is an option when the valve is very regurgitant or when you heart function is impaired. Your life expectancy will depend on the severity of the MVP and regurgitation.
5. Does the fact that I may have MVP at 22 mean I should expect to live a shorter life? I am reading some postings from 72-year-olds who are just being diagnosed. Curious.
Please see comment 4. It all depends on your disease severity.
Once you have your echo results we can re discuss some of these issues in a more specific manner.
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I was diagnosed with MVP around the age of 22, I am 38 now. From my understanding you are borned with it. Some people with mvp never have symptoms and unlucky ones do. As far as I know my mvp has not gotten worst over the years. Now my symptoms come and go. I have noticed that stress will definitely make them worst especially the fluttering(this is the worst symptom my mvp produces). If you are diagnosed with mvp here is a good book you should get to read, I got it and it help me alot, Confronting Mitra Valve Prolaspe by Lyn Frederickson and there are other books out there that I hear is good also to read. Here is a site you can go to that has alot of info and lots of links. www.mvpsupport.com
Most cases of mvp does not get worst over time. The condition itself is benign, but the syptoms (symptoms) it can produce it what effects a person life and to me that what doctors need to look into more. Three things that are a must for mvpers, cut down on the sugar intake in your diet, Drink lots and lots of water(can't tell you how important it is to drink that water) exercise(check with your doctor first and excerise moderately) There are two types of medication that they usually put you on for mvp if you need to be on a medicine(alot of mvpers don't have to take medication, I take calcium channel blocker, they gave it to me because my heart beats way to fast due to the mvp) and that is the Beta Blockers and the Calcium Channel Blockers. If a person has asthma they are usually put on the Calcium Channel Blockers.
Hope this little bit of info helps, Take Care and God Bless.
Thank you very much for your comments. Very helpful. Question(s): Have you been given a definitive answer regarding the severity of your physical MVP? Do you have a regurgitation problem? If so, how severe? Has anyone mentioned the thought of surgury now or in the future? Do you get annual echos to check for degeneration of the MV?
Sorry for the barrage of questions. I am just very curious (more anxious) regarding the physical/structural aspects of the condition. I look forward to requesting medication/counseling to handle the anxiety that I am unfortunate enough to experience as a result of this condition. It really has an impact of quality of life. Have you experienced any reduction in your symptoms with an increase in water intake? What type of exercise program do you have?
I actually found that site on my own 2 nights ago. VERY informative! I spect a good hour sifting through the wealth of information.
Thank you again, Donna. I would appreciate any discussion that you have time to provide. This site and it's users are a real blessing. Hope to hear from you soon.
Fred
thank you for your comments.
I have had three echo cardiograms done, and they always showed mitra vavle prolaspe, the last one I had done I ask for a copy of it. I never was told the what my regurgitation was until the last echo and I only found out what it was by asking. My last echo showed that I had very mild mvp with a trace of regurgitation, since each time I was told to take antibotics before dental or any surgery I presumed that mine has always showed a trace. I didn't know to ask questions about what my test showed until I got online and did research about mvp. I didn't even know how often was I suppose to go for an echo until I corresponded with other mvpers. I ask my doctor how often should I go for an echo and they recommend three to five years. I think that would be ideal for me since mine is mild and only a trace. No one has ever mention that surgery is a possiblity in my future. I guess the more severity of the Mitra Valve regurgitation the more often you will need an echo. Mvpers swear by the water! I found that it has helped. Info saids that people with mvp have low blood volume and by drinking water you increase your blood volume, in having low blood volume, it can cause dizziness, more palpitation, tachycardia, fatigue. I can't stress enough how important water is for you to drink if you have mvp. And Sugar, alot of people can control alot of that fluttering by cutting down or elimating sugar competely from their diet. Now exercise that was the third important thing I listed, the other two I follow the third one I am lazy about it, and I know that I need to get in good habit of doing a thirty mintute cadio workout a day, I have such problems with shortness of breathe that it is hard for me, but someone recommend to break the workout into 10 mintute segments three times a day. People with mvp do not suppose to do any Heavy weight lifting. I know a girl online that I talk to whose mvp is worst than mine does a 3 mile power walk daily. Like I said before always check with your doctor before you start any exercise program! Although my mvp is mild my syptoms (symptoms) are not and I have noticed that stress will make my anxiety, flutterings worst. They do come and go in severity! Here is my symptoms:
fluttering(palpitations, I hate this symptom worst of all) anxiety/panic attacks, fast heartrate(which I take verapamil to control that) Fatigue(I easily tire but being out of shape doesn't help that either!) Shortness of breathe, These are what I have listed under the major symptoms, I have quite a few that are listed under the minor too, but too numerous to mention.
Pointer for you, when you go for your echo cardio gram do not drink alot the day before or the day you have it, if you are well hydrated it can interfere with the results of the test.
When I first was diagnosed I was told by my doctor that my symptoms could come and go thru my life so far he has been right, he was a general practioner and knew what he was talking about:) He also told me that being overweight could cause the symptoms to be worst too, I agree with that too. I have lost over fifty pounds in the last year or so and I can tell it has help. Please keep us informed on your test results. I wish you the best and if you have anymore question feel free to ask, you are lucky that at the age of 22 that you have the opportunity at your fingertips to found out information about mvp and how you can help yourself:) When I was 22 I was just told what it was, that it wouldn't kill me, take those antibotics, put on medicine and that was it, I can't tell you all that I experienced and now I know that all that I went thru with was mvp related. And just knowing that you are not alone is a confidence booster in itself. On Tuesdays and Thursday, Karie has a chat open to every mpver, it is listed at the mvpsupport site that I listed in my above posting, come and join us, it is at yahoo. Take Care, Stay Postitive, Keep that stress low, And God Bless You.
MVP with associated regurgitation will impact on the heart and may cause congestive heart failure. HOwever, if you have isolated MVP without a regurgitant murmur or evidence of a leaky valve, this does not affect your survival.
Thank You.
As you would expect as one moves from trivial to severe there is an increase in the risk of the development of heart failure.
If a leakage is trivial, it is generally just that trivial and of little clinical significance. HOwever, if is it more severe, it is of more concern and will more often lead to a valve repair or replacement.