How can this happen????????

[ocean12]

I've been through absolute agony in the last month or two. Basically my PCP found a carotid bruit really loud on my right neck during a regular physical. She immediately sent me for a doppler, -came back clear. Then my cardiologist wanted to re-assess my mitral valve prolapse / regurgitation that I've had all my life. (I am a 40 year old female). I've always had mild MVP/MR. The echo that he did on me a month ago showed SEVERE Mitral regurgitiation with moderate prolapse. He then said based on the comparison made with 2004, I would need a MITRAL VALVE REPAIR within a couple of months. Yesterday I had a TEE and it only showed mild - maybe mild moderate. Now I don't need surgery. I even had the name of the surgeon that I was giong to be referred to.

HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN? I am soooo confused. The first echo (transthoracic) clearly showed the backflow being severe and the doctor immediately thought there was concern based on the images. I even saw the echo with my own eyes.

Has anyone had this happen to them? Should I get another opinion?? I went from unbelievable agony over the last couple of weeks with all of my appointments and news to complete disbelief. What should I do?

[ocean12]

I do get winded with stairs which is somethig new this past year.  When I get winded, my heart pounds like crazy until I catch my breath.

Have you ever heard of a regular echo showing something totally different than a transesophageal echo?  That's what I am totally baffled about? The regular echo showed severe regurgitation and the transesophegeal showed mild - moderate.  

Has anyone else heard of something this crazy and baffling?

[Encephalomalcia]

What kind of symptoms are you having?  When a valve is bad enough for repair, the person usually is severely out of breath.  Are you extremely out of breath?  Can you climb stairs without stopping or do you need to stop to catch your breath half way up?  I know several people who had bad valves and they got worse very fast within a few months.  I also know people who have had bad valves get better on their own.  You may want to get a second opinion to see how the next echocardiogram turns out.