mild mitral regurgitation

my 5 year daughter has been diagnosed with mild mitral regurgitation.  She is very active and the only other complain is an umbilical hernia.  Well I am a bit worried since I wonder if it is going to get worse.  From experience can that occur?


This discussion is related to Echo results.

[Amethyst1974]

Hi there,

I am 35 years old and about 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with mild MVP with mild regurgitation. How they discovered it? I was (and i am still) experiencing PVC's an tachycardia. If it was not for this symptoms I would not know that I have it.
The cardiologist that made my echo told me that I was born with this condition. I am now on Beta Blockers for the palpitations.

My point is that I lived all this years with MVP without knowing it. Your daughter can live her whole life without symptoms. Some people wil have symptoms (like me) and others would not. MVP is not dangerous but you have to monitor it. I suggest that your daughter must be evaluated one a year (echocardiogram).

I suggest that you search the internet for more information.
I have a website for you http://www.wright.edu/nursing/practice/mvp/default.htm

I wish your daughter well and do not worry so much.

Amethyst

[lystrab]

Thanks very much for your information and advice.  I am concerned about your PVC and tachycardia.  When did you developed that?

[ptadvoc8]

It is my understanding, based on having the condition myself for over 50 years, that mild mitral valve regurgitation can be: 1.) common; 2.) benign (not serious) and 3.) come and go. When I was a baby, the doctor noted it the sound of a murmur, then I did not seem to have it for years and years. Then, I had the first of many EchoCardiograms and I can tell you that on some of those tests, I was noted to have Mitral Valve Prolapse, then I was found NOT to have this at all. On a couple of subsequent Echos it was noted I had "mild mitral valve regurgitation" and on other Echos done in the last few years, no regurgitation was noted. On my last one (just a few months ago), they noted it again. The tech who did my last Echo test said results can vary by age, position you are lying in when the test is done, the equipment used, the technician doing the test and the doctor reading it. She said if they have serious concerns or questions about the results, they order a repeat test immediately or order a more comprehensive type of test.

I am in my 50's and I do also have WPW (a form of Arrhythmia) with PSVT and tachycardia, but I know many people (including my sister) who have been noted to have mild mitral regurgitation who have NO other problems with their hearts and do not have PSVT or frequent PVCs. Even though my sister has never had any heart problems, except for the mild mitral valve regurgitation, she does get an Echo test done every few years per her doctor's recommendation -- and over all these years of tests she has never gotten any worse, nor had any other heart problems.

If you are uncomfortable with the information you have received from your daughter's doctor, call and let them know you are worried and have more questions, or ask for a referral to a really good pediatric cardiologist who will do a full assessment of your daughter, answer your questions and help you feel comfortable with your daughter's condition. It is unlikely that there is anything serious to worry about at this point since the doctors probably would have ordered more tests if they were concerned. But, it is not pleasant for you or your daughter to be worrying, so if you feel you it would help, do try to get more information and support from your medical providers by telling them exactly what you are concerned about with your daughter. With good information and support, you will hopefully be able to relax and enjoy the magic of your 5 year old!

[Amethyst1974]

Hi there,

I began experiencing PVC since my twenties maybe once a year. On november 2004 I got my first panic attack. In 2006 I got high blood pressure (bp). I became mild depresive for this. In 2007 I began experiencing PVC once a month and around september 2007 I got tachycardia but at that time I was also having marital problems. My husband rushed me to the ER with a pulse of 122 bpm. Anyway we resolved our diferences.
Last year I do not remember having a lot of PVC's and tachycardia (remember I have an anxiety problem). This year (february) I experienced some 10 PVC's a day for the first time in my life (I was so terefied)! I went to my GP and he called the cardiologist for this. EKG was ok, bloodwork was also ok except for a low potassium level. The cardiologist give me two tablets of slow K (potassium) to replace the potassium that I lost with the high bp med. He ordered an echocardiogram but I have to do it this week (so I have to wait for an echo from february till june, unbelievable!!). End april this year (after having a large lunch) I got a tachycardia (136 bpm). My husband brought me to the hospital. The ER doctor told me that I had sinus tachycardia and he give me 10 tablets of some kind of Beta Blockers. I did not take the med. Two weeks later I experienced a lot of PVC's after each other (more than 3). I think I got ventricular tachycardia then. Remember at this time I didn't know what was going on yet.
Due all the stress of not knowing what was going on my husband and I decided to travel to another country for another advice/treatment/opinion. We traveled 3 weeks ago. There I was diagnosed with mild MVP with mild regurgitation. I also did the 24 hours Holter monitor. In a day I got 31 PAC's, 187 PVC's, 22 couplets and two episodes of ventricular tachycardia. From all of this I was only aware of one skipped heart beat and I got the ventricular tachycardia when I was asleep. I am know on a beta blocker for the tachycardia and high bp. I am happy with the med because I do not feel the tachycardia anymore. But I still have the PVC's. There are days that I do not feel them and other days I feel between 1 or 7.

What I want to ilustrate with my story is that I got the symptoms progresively. It took it's time to develop. I didn't know that I had MVP and thought that my anxiety/panic attack were the culprit of everything in my life like tachycardia, PVC's, chest pain, marital problems, mood swings (you name it!!) etc etc.

Three weeks after my diagnosis I am still figuring out how I am going to live with the PVC's. I am positive and I try to make the best of it.

I hope that your daughter does not develop any symptoms.
Let her enjoy herself, run, play as every normal child her age. Encourage her and support her for everything she want to do and be in the future.

She can have a normal life with MVP!

All the best,

Amethyst

[lystrab]

Thanks so much for your information.  I have learn a lot and will surely take your advice.  All the best to you and it's great that you have a supportive husband.  Take care!

[lystrab]

Thanks very much for your comments and advice I am truly grateful.  She has an  umbilical hernia too so I have to decide whether to do surgery.  At times I a bit depressed.