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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
slight changes
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
slight changes
by uptowngirl, Mar 07, 2005 12:00AM
Good morning. Thank you for taking this question.
Quick background: female, age 40 MVP, followed for 15 years, slight changes the last 5 years. Good weight, don't smoke, cholesterol @ 111.
I had a recent annual check with my cardio re: my mitral valve. My Dr. said I had some slight changes per my echo results, which to my understanding were increase in prolapse (but not in the amount of MR), The sound of the murmur also sounded alittle different. He would now like to follow me every 6 months with echos and has switched me to a different beta blocker. He also said to avoid "weight bearing" exercise.
My question is: Does this sound reasonable? and does "weight bearing" exercise include gardening and landscaping? My Dr. said "use your own judgement".
I feel quite well and have always been active. (As a side note, the new beta blocker has made me feel like a million bucks!).
Thank you
Respectfully,
Uptowngirl
Quick background: female, age 40 MVP, followed for 15 years, slight changes the last 5 years. Good weight, don't smoke, cholesterol @ 111.
I had a recent annual check with my cardio re: my mitral valve. My Dr. said I had some slight changes per my echo results, which to my understanding were increase in prolapse (but not in the amount of MR), The sound of the murmur also sounded alittle different. He would now like to follow me every 6 months with echos and has switched me to a different beta blocker. He also said to avoid "weight bearing" exercise.
My question is: Does this sound reasonable? and does "weight bearing" exercise include gardening and landscaping? My Dr. said "use your own judgement".
I feel quite well and have always been active. (As a side note, the new beta blocker has made me feel like a million bucks!).
Thank you
Respectfully,
Uptowngirl
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-MJM, Mar 07, 2005 12:00AM
Hi Uptowngirl,
Good question and great cholesterol.
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is defined by your mitral valve protruding behind an imaginary straight line on your parasternal long axis view of your echo. The degree of prolapse varies from patient to patient and the key two key variables are the amount of MR and how is your LV function (ejection fraction or EF). I imagine your EF is normal or you would have mentioned it. If you have no MR and very importantly NO SYMPTOMS, you are unlikely to need surgery in the near future and echos, in general, do not need to be every 6 months. One caveat, however, is a picture is worth a $1000. If there is something else concerning on your echo like extremely redundundant leaflets or markedly increased prolapse, your doctors approach may be reasonable. I do not mean to second guess their judgement, your doctor has the images is best to make this decisions.
What beta blocker did they switch you to?
Weight baring exercise is very subjective. In general, I use this term to refer to 20 lbs or more. Gardening should be fine. Just don't lift heavy bags of mulch or soil without consulting your doc.
I hope this helps and good luck.
Good question and great cholesterol.
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is defined by your mitral valve protruding behind an imaginary straight line on your parasternal long axis view of your echo. The degree of prolapse varies from patient to patient and the key two key variables are the amount of MR and how is your LV function (ejection fraction or EF). I imagine your EF is normal or you would have mentioned it. If you have no MR and very importantly NO SYMPTOMS, you are unlikely to need surgery in the near future and echos, in general, do not need to be every 6 months. One caveat, however, is a picture is worth a $1000. If there is something else concerning on your echo like extremely redundundant leaflets or markedly increased prolapse, your doctors approach may be reasonable. I do not mean to second guess their judgement, your doctor has the images is best to make this decisions.
What beta blocker did they switch you to?
Weight baring exercise is very subjective. In general, I use this term to refer to 20 lbs or more. Gardening should be fine. Just don't lift heavy bags of mulch or soil without consulting your doc.
I hope this helps and good luck.
Thank you all for the excellent info.and additional clarity.
The new beta blocker I have been taking is Carvedilol. It seems to make my heart feel like it beats stronger, that's why I like it. I think it is fairly new? Nearly zero side effects, just alittle fatigue for me.
The Dr. said (per the echo report) that my "mitral leaflets are moderately redundant". Three years ago, they were "mildly redundant". EF was 55%, not sure about the LV function but assumming it was fine since he didn't mention it.
Anyway thanks again.
Regards,
Uptown