MVP question

I had a spell a couple of years ago where I fainted 2 times. After a regular exam, I was sent to a cardiologist who had me take the usual tests. After the echo, halter and all that. He told me I had MVP. My regular physician said the same thing. He told me it was nothing to worry about and was pretty common. I felt relieved but it does not change the fact that I fainted. Anyway, that hasn't happened again since. I do get dizzy and light-headed when I stand up quickly sometimes. I also have had symptoms the past few years where I start gagging. I vomited one time as well. It sometimes gets worse when I am very nervous about things or very stressed out. Can all this be related? And what can be done? Thank you!

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Skyrocket,

Thanks for the post.

Most likely, the MVP and the feinting are unrelated.  If the MVP was leading to significant mitral regurgitation, then it is possible that the MVP was the cause of the feinting, but you should have been given further instructions and follow-up if this was the case.  Many young people -- you didn't provide your age -- experience "orthostatic hypotension" when standing quickly, having blood drawn, with coughing, or with gagging.  This "orthostatic hypotension" simply means low blood pressure with standing, and can be treated by being careful when standing.

I'm not sure why you would want to seek treatment for something that happened two years ago, the cure may be worse than the syndrome.

Good luck.

[Dr. Erik]

Did you have a stress test. If you haven't you should. Also, an Electrophysiology study would be good to rule out any arrhythmia.

[skyrocket]

Had an echo done last week which was normal, except for the MVP. All other tests came back normal as well, except for high total cholesterol (which was odd because specifically both were in range but under total it said high).