Re: MVP?

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on January 21, 1999 at 11:32:27:

In Reply to: MVP? posted by CeCe on January 19, 1999 at 10:41:05:






Six years ago I had an echo and was told I have MVP and one other leaking valve (don't know which one). I also have undifferentiated collegen vasular disease and take a baby asprin daily for anticardiolipin.  Lately I have been short of breath, have a sort of gasping cough with exertion and when lying down, dizziness and occ. extreme dizziness with vision "jumps".  I was having the dizziness problems a few months ago also and my former rheumatoligist (we moved) said if I kept having this he was going to send me back to the cardioligist.  I have told my new dr's this but they brush it off.  I have been to an ENT and they did not find a cause for the dizziness and have refered me to physical therapy for balance therapy. Could I be on the right path or coud these problems be related to the heart valves?  



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CeCe,
Yes you are potentially on the right track CeCe, and your leaky valves may have worsened such that you have these new symptoms,
and so it would be a good idea to see a cardiologist with a full history, physical exam and new echocardiogram to assess the valves.
Maybe you could give your former rheumatologist a call and s/he can provide a cardiologists' name in the new area for you to see.
Your symptoms and heart should be evaluated in the near future. Balance therapy is
very unlikely to treat a cough that occurs with exertion and lying down which sounds much more related to the heart.
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. Good luck.
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.