chest discomfort and MVP

[Liana Forman]

Hello,
I am 26 years old female, not pregnant, no overweight. Do not take in any medications.I was diagnosed with MVP in May 1999.  No medications was prescribed. Sometimes I have symptoms such as chest discomfort, fatigue, palpitations (not often).

But for a last few years after meals (regardless of type of food as I noticed) I do have sharp short (no longer than 1 min) pain in the left part of my chest. That usually happens 4-5 times a week/sometimes 2 times a month right after meal or within 30-60 min after it, or when I bend over. That scares me.

My question is:
Does MVP or any heart disease have such connection between eating and chest pain? Is that possible that my heart is enlarged and stomach presses it? (If so, would echocardiogram show heart enlargement?)

I appreciate your answer,
Thank You.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

There is no connection between MVP and eating and chest pain.  This is likely a stomach pain that you are having.

[Lauren]

I was diagnose with MVP about two months ago.  I was also having sharp chest pains, although I did not relate the pain to MVP because I didn't know I had it.  However, after my ECG the dr. told me that many people who have MVP complain of sharp or stabbing pain on the left side of their chest.  Since all of my tests were okay, except for the MVP, he said there is nothing to worry about.  If you have never had an ECG (or if it has been a really long time since your last one), it couldn't do anything but help you to get one. If nothing else, you could get reassurance that the pains are nothing to worry about.  Hope this helps! God Bless!

[allan]

I have known of my mvp for about 16 years and when you first find of having any heart disorder you get very anxious and with mvp that makes the condition worse, in regard to the symptoms. When I was first told of having mvp I was at a +2 regurgitation and now I am at a +4.  I can say that I have learned a lot over the years about mvp and some of them are things that I would have done different.  One of those things is I tried to stay away from meds and tried to control it on my own, which I feel could have raised my anxiety level, bp and therfore made my valve worsen.  I have learned that many people have mvp and there is a lot of things that go along with it and even though it sounds strange these things are very common to many with it.  I have found that many, not all have arthritis in the family, usually are very emotional, have allergies, perspire very easily, usually have yeast problems of different sorts, usually like to sleep with the temperture cold about 70-72 but like to be covered with many blankets and sleep in a fetal position.  Since yeast is involved and allergies many have problems eating fruit especially the ones that furment easily and like to eat bread products.  There is a lot more to it so not to make this to long I will keep that part short but  all these are my observations over the years and are not the same in all cases.  One thing for sure is to avoid caffeine, avoid eating late at night, keep your weight as low as posible, avoid stress, and as I mentioned above listen to your doctor, but also use your own mind to make all descisions.  I am 44, am awaiting a valve repair in the next few weeks, have never smoked, been in good health with exception to this but I think my many cause of the worsening condition is ANXIETY which I am being treated for with xanax.  I just had my angiogram done friday so I am now ready for the final step... I would like to thank the doctors and many of the people that have made their comments on this site and that have helped me make this decision.  I really feel that my quality of life will change after this even though I feel great with exception for slight loss of breath, but since afib has started I am taking my physicians words that I must move on and hopefully have a longer life with this repair..  Oh, one other thing which I would say and I am sure the physicians here will agree is that this condition is congenital, more so in female but usually worse in males and since it is congenital, have your children examined by a cardiologist to make sure there is no murmur, because if there is one, they should be premedicating before dental appointments and without knowing this it can be deadly.  Thanks again.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Thank you for your comments.