Mitral valve is myxomatous

I recently had an echo for a heart murmur and palpatations.  The echo said I have mild mitral valve and tricuspid regurgitation.  Does this mean I have MVP?  More importantly it says the mitral valve is myxomatous.  What exactly does this mean? Do I have a myxoma on my mitral vavle?  Is it common to call MVP myxomatous mitral valve without having a tumor?  I have been having SOB and cough with phlegm.  I am awaiting a call back from my doctor and will see her in 6 days.  

[ChatterAlly]

I think that the term "myxomatous" is actually a process where the thickening and weakening of the valves occurs.  With mtral valve and tricuspid valve regurg you have a backward flow of blood. The valves become rigid and do not open and close properly.  My doctor described it to me like pouring out a cup of coffee, but only allowing half of the cup to empty.  The rest flows backward, as it would go back into the cup.  I was diagnosed with MVP in  my mid 20s and it was sporadic.  I haven't had a problem with it in about 30 years now.  I was told then that my MVP was benign and more a nuisance than anything else.  The doctors were right. When I did a search on this subject I came across this:

In many cases, the myxomatous degeneration is limited to the mitral valve and follows a benign course.  Myxomatous degeneration is, in fact, the most common cause of pure mitral valve insufficiency.


Take care, Ally