Mitral Valve Prolapse and Palpitations

[Brian-Koukol]

    
      Re: Re: Re: Mitral Valve Prolapse and Palpitations
    


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Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on November 24, 1998 at 11:13:03:

In Reply to: Re: Re: Mitral Valve Prolapse and Palpitations posted by Mike  on November 24, 1998 at 10:54:48:

: I am not a doctor, just a mitral valve patient giving an opinion.  First off all the things you both mentioned are very normal with Mitral Valve Prolapse.
  There are some things that will cause you to feel heart palpatations.   Stress, caffiene(sp?)...like coffee, tea, dark colored soda pops, chocolate.  Also, like you said if your having gas (because of stress or what you just ate) Also, many decongestants will cause palpatations...some real bad.
  From what I understand palpatations themselves are not bad.   However there are two things you should do:  First off if your palpatations become real bad...more like a fast racing heartbeat, then you need to see a doctor because that can be a-fib.   Also it is so important to keep up with your cardiologist for your annual or bi-annual Echo tests.   The Echo test gives the doctor the ability to see your mitral valve prolapse and then grade it...for example:
  Grade 1+  Minor
        2+  moderate
        3+  moderate/severe
        4+  severe
  If a patient gets into the 3+ range and has symptoms (not feeling well) or gets into the 4+ range, then sugery becomes an option.   Keep in mind only a few mitral valve prolapse patients ever need surgery.   Most people with mitral valve prolapse never need surgery.   Just make sure to keep up with those cardiologist appointments!
  As for the left side and leaning over question.   The term the medical folks use for that is "cardiac awareness".
  What I've been told: what causes that is the left side of our hearts working harder to compensate for the mitral valve leak.  It can also cause the left side of the heart to get bigger.   We don't want our hearts to get too big and again the doctors can see that on the Echo test.
  In my personal case I have the exact same symptoms as you two, except my mitral valve prolapse grade is now 4+.  I have chosen to have the surgery done now so that my left side of my heart won't get too big.   Dr. Cosgrove at the Cleveland Clinc is scheduled to repair my valve on Monday Nov. 30th.  I am very positive about this and all the people at the Clinic have been great!  I highly recomend that if either of you ever need your valve repaired or replaced to keep the Clinic in mind.   Again keep in mind that only a very small percentage of mitral valve prolapse patients ever need surgery!
  Good luck to you both!
  Mike    
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Dear Mike,
Thank you for your insightful comments.  Best wishes for your upcoming surgery.

I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.