Re: Is this normal?

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on December 17, 1998 at 14:00:10:

In Reply to: Is this normal? posted by olivia on December 14, 1998 at 14:35:00:






I am a 30 year old female.  I have MVP with regurgitation.  I do not smoke, drink or drink caffeine.  I have palpitations about 75% of the time, at rest etc.,  I also have shortness of breath.  One month ago I had a TIA  my blood pressure went to 177/107 and the paramedics said I had tachycardia.  SInce then I have been taking Atenolol, the other day I went to emerg and my blood pressure was 140/87 and my pulse went at times up to 144.  I could see from the monitor that my rythym was not regular and the nurse said my t waves were off, I mean the lines were jumping all over the place on the monitor, they said all was ok though,  I also take aspirin every day.  Sometimes I have a burning in my chest.  When I had my echo cardiogram I had no symptoms at all, now I have a lot of them.  SHould I have another echocardiogram?  Is this normal for me to have tachycardia and palpitations?  I never had high blood pressure all my life, then I had a drug reaction to vancomycin and maybe it's not related but since then I have had high bp.  I am in good health except I have cavernous angiomas of the brain and I don't know if they have to do with what's going on or not.
Thanks for any reply.






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Dear Olivia,
There are alot of things you speak of that would warrant another echocardiogram,
especially to look at the mitral valve more closely (this should be considered in the
potential causes of your TIA) and a stress test (can be done with the echo) to evalute
the shortness of breath.  MVP patients are prone to palpitations and arrhythmias, the palpitations
are of no major concern, however the arrhythmias are and need investigation (a heart beat of 144 per
minute warrants investigation such as a 24 hour holter monitor.)
The fact that you have had a TIA and that you have cavernous angiomas makes your case incredibly complicated
but not impossibe- just that it should involve the close interaction/communication of a cardilogist and neurologist
(the cardiologist should be a valve specialist too.) I hope that this information has been helpful, please write back if
you have any further questions.  If you would like and opinion by one of the valve cardiologists at the Cleveland Clinic
simply call 1-800-CCF-CARE  and ask for access plus to make an appointment at desk F15 with Dr. Griffin, Thomas, Asher, Mayer-Sabik,
or Garcia.  Good Luck and let me say that at the least your doctor should be told of your new symptoms as well as your question of
another echocardiogram.
Information provided in the heart forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only,
actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by your physician(s).