Mitral regurgitation and ventricular hypertrophy - moderate?

[tappi]

After recent symptoms and the discovery of family history, I had an echo that revealed ventricular hypertrophy and mitral regurgitation. One area of the report stated mild, while another stated moderate for regurgitation. When my family physician was explaining the report, she described it as the same amount as a shot glass, which she added did not seem mild nor moderate. I went on a cholesterol med and am to do bloodwork after a month. However, I am having increased bouts with my heart punding so hard I feel as though I may pass out. I awake like this in the night and feel it several times a week just sitting at my desk. Should I be more aggressive about clear answers? I do not understand what level of disease I actually have!

[kenkeith]

I had an enlarged left ventricle (hypertrophy) caused by coronary artery blockages.  The enlargement caused moderate to severe MVR by affecting the valve opening.  Often the MVR can be corrected by reversing remodeling (enlarged LV), it appears that didn't happen in my situation...LV is normal size and functioning properly.

For a frame of reference, mild MVR is not considered medically significant.  Moderate should be watched, and severe may require surgical intervention.  Mild and moderate may not present any symptoms, and sometimes severe does not cause  symptoms, but if there are symptoms it usually is shortness of breath with very little exertion.
I can't relate to "shot glass", it really is not very informative.

I was able to watch the monitor during my first echo, and the tech talked me through the whole procedure.  MVR is an ESTIMATE based on the highth of (my word "squirt") and the direction of the squirt indicates the location.  Heart **palpitations are not a symptom of MVR.  MVR when severe can cause chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath because there is a decrease of blood pumped into circulation with each heartbeat.  

**Palpitations are unpleasant sensations of irregular and/or forceful beating of the heart. Some persons with palpitations have no heart disease or abnormal heart rhythms and the reasons for their palpitations are unknown. In others, palpitations result from abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).