mitral valve

[tricia214]

Just today I was diagnosed via echocardiogram with "mild mitral valve prolapse with minimal mitral regurgitation" .  I have been looking on the internet for what this means and the information just has me scared because of the medical terms being used.  Can anyone one PLEASE shed some light into this ? Is this a lifethreatening disorder?  Will it over time progress into something worst?  My doctor told me it was nothing to worry about and it should not get worst and I should use antioobiotics with dental work.  He did not say if it should be montiored.  I have been having symptoms lately (the reason I did the echo)  I have fatigue, anxiety, shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain. My ECG came back with no signs of abnormality, I did a cardic enzymes and hs-C-reactive protein blood test and it also was good.  

Again, is this diagnosis something I should worry about?  will it or can it develop into anything serious later in life? should it be monitored more and should I be on any type of medication?

Thanks much

[ptadvoc8]

1.) It is my understanding that, unless you have a family history of progressive MVP/regurg, or you have an illness that affects the valves or heart muscle, or have some trauma to the heart, or have severe cardiovascular disease, then in the vast majority of cases it does not get worse. Mine actually got "better" (was ranked as "less severe") about 5 years ago -- although I think that has more to do with the increased sensitivity of tesing equipment and new measurement guidelines. I have noted the amount of regurg does seem to change subtley depending on the day, whose listening to my heart, whether I am lying down or standing up, or what equipment is being used to do the echo!

2.) To help with the SOB, try your yoga breathing exercises --  I actually had to practice until I could do them at will when feeling anxious and SOB, but eventually I got better at it. Also make sure your blood levels of iron are in the normal range (not too high and not too low) and your B levels are adequate. In addition, monitoring your BP for a few days to make sure it is not running too low might be helpful as both episodic and chronic low BP can make you feel light headed, SOB and fatigued. Also, I hate to admit it, but I found that naps helped me -- or maybe it's just lying prone for a few minutes -- but if I can lie down for 10 - 20 minutes, I seem to catch my breath and be ready to go again. If you keep feeling SOB and can't find a way to deal with it, you might consider a lung function test. I do know a woman who has MVP as well as mild asthma and she found that treating her asthma helped with her breathing even if it did not cure her MVP.

3.) The meds they use for this condition are more aimed at treating symptoms, not curing the problem, and they have mixed reviews from those who take them. If you can function without medications and have a good quality of life, that's great. If, after a while you are still having struggles with some of the symptoms, then there are drugs that can be tried -- some people find the drugs make things worse and some find them helpful, but just be aware that most of these meds do have some side effects. If you get to that point, you can post here and ask what people have tried and how efficacious they found it.

[Momto3]

You're welcome : )  

I have 3 grown children, and I went through all 3 pregnancies with the MVP/MR and palps.

[tricia214]

Hi all

Thank you so very much for your comments and suggestions, they are all gladly welcomed and appreciated.  Thanks again Connie.

Like you ptadvoc and Lissette, for approx 5 years now I have been experiencing anxiety and always thought it was in my head, I even sought counseling for this. I did also start yoga about 2 months ago and started swimming since january because of the anxiety. Now I know that it was not all in my head, but I have to say that it is tiring to have these symptoms.   My family member would also tell me that I need to calm down.

Lissette, my cardiologist also gave me the same advice, to live life as usual.  I guess so many people can't be wrong.

But even with this I am still fearful that the condition will get worst, I guess it will take some time to get accustom to, but it is scary and I'm really happy I found this forum to chat with others about it.

I am still a bit confused though, some have said that the condition may get worst over time and others have said that it is very unlikely it would.  The cardiologist told me he does not anticipate it worsening unless I suffer some sort of extreme chest trauma.  Which one is it ? I believe that is my biggest concern now is about the future.

I am not on any medication and neither of the doctors suggested that I start any, even though I am experiencing symptoms.  The symptoms come and go and again ptadvoc I'm like you - the anxiety would just starts out of nowhere, until I was starting to believe I was going mad or something.  

Any of you have children?  I ask because I was wondering if this condition can affect ones ability to go to full term.

Lisa, I wish you all the very best and really hope that all goes well with you daughter.

Any advice on how to cope with the shortness of breath will be appriciated, as this is one of the symptoms that bother me the most, it is not severe but it is present.

Thanks again
Tricia

[Mom2four85]

Be glad you learned at an early age so you have a baseline of what to look for later on and for them to know what % it changes over your lifespan. (kind of like baseline mammograms)  I wish a doctor had done something about mine many years ago when I complained of symptoms.

My oldest daughter had abnormal heart rhythms when she was growing up, some of the same things I'm having now - so maybe a genetic predispostion.  She's 22 now and has some lingering symptoms and I told her she needs to get a complete cardiac workup.  Alot of hers has been attributed to asthma & meds she took from the age of 2, now I'm really wondering.

I had someone comment how "young" I was (42) to be in the sleep specialist (pulomonary dr) the other day and I had to chuckle.  At the cardiologist I did see some younger patients than me, it probably all depends on time of day you go.

Oh btw my cardiologist did explain that MVP is a natural occuring process in all of us, that can worsen as we age, normally in our 60's - 70'.  I have trace MVP and Mild Tricuspid regurgitation and some other things going on that I have to have Ablation.

Good luck and I always suggest get a copy of your records to keep for you personal file.

[Amethyst1974]

Hi,

I am 35 years old and in may of this year I was diagnosed with mild MVP with mild MR. Like you I have all the symptoms you described above. Acording to the cardiologist I was born with it! Before this I didn't know I had this condition. I thought that my anxiety was the culprit of everything. Like you I didn't know what MVP was and I was very scared but I found this forum with all these beautiful people like Connie and Ptadvoc that helped me a lot with there personal experience.

I also bought some books about this condition to educate myself and put my mind at rest. I found a great website http://www.wright.edu/nursing/practice/mvp/default.htm

I have to make yearly an echocardiogram of my heart to evaluate my condition.

After being diagnosed with MVP I am now on beta blockers for the tachycardia that I was having. I also have PVC and PAC. Since I am taking Omega 3 fish oil 1 gram a day and magnesiun oxide 500 mg a day (for two months now) I noticed that the PVC and PAC have decreased a lot and I happy with that.

In july of this year  I went back to the cardiologist and he told me that I have to live my life normally. So do not put restrictions for yourself. Eat healthy, do regular exercise, drink plenty of water etc. Live life to the fullest.

I wish you well.
Lissette

[ptadvoc8]

I also have had mild MVP/regurgitation for over 30 years with accompanying fatigue, palpitations, anxiety, shortness of breath and chest pain -- all of which come and go depending sometimes on what I eat, do or how and feel and at other times seem to be related to nothing I can pinpoint. Mine has not gotten worse but I do have an echo every year or two with my check-up. I also no longer have to take dental prophylaxis since the protocols mentioned above were updated.

A few things that have helped me are 1.) learning that the list of symptoms you mentioned, (especially the anxiety!) are really common with this. They used to say all the anxiety was "emotional", but some researchers are now saying that there appears to be a physical component that may trigger the anxiety "out of nowhere", which is how mine manifests. Knowing this has helped to be able to say to listen to my body without freaking out about it. When I have symptoms, I've learned to just do a little silent inventory and body scan and if it seems like the same old stuff, I tell myself it's just my mild MVP and go on about my day without freaking out too much about it anymore. 2.) I do make a point of taking extra good care of myself -- getting adequate sleep (which you may need more of than other people), eating healthy, getting mild to moderate exercise and managing my stress. I also pay attention to my body and don't push myself when I'm not feeling up to it. And, if I think something is out of whack,  I contact my doctor right away. 3.) I took up meditation and found it has helped tremendously. A great book that I found very helpful is "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn. I also listen to meditation CDs by him, Peggy Huddleston and some Pod Casts by Sten and do yoga/stretching while listening to music. This helped me not only calm down and feel more in control, but got me "in touch" with my body without feeling frightened of it.

I think for many it takes a while to "come to terms" with something like this, espceially when you are also having "symptoms", but for the vast majority of people with mild MVP/regurgitation everything turns out okay! Do keep an open dialog with your health care providers and do ask about mental health support if you find your fears continue -- a few sessions on 'stress reduction' and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been shown by numerous studies to be helpful to over 85% of people with these and other similar symptoms. And, there is always this on-line support site!

[Momto3]

Hi Tricia,

Sounds like a great plan!  I remember how it felt to sit in the cardio waiting room in my 20s, kinda weird.  I fit in a little better (age-wise) now, though I'm still young in there : )

I like the idea of periodic echocardiograms.  Even if the MVP/MR never changes, it's nice to have a look-see every year or so.

I have a very long history of palpitations (that's a whole another story...lol) and anxiety.  It's much better now, although I do tend to get anxious still.  As for the fatigue, yep that too.  I'm not really sure if it has anything to do with the valve, and my guess would be no, but sometimes I do get quite tired.  I only really had shortness of breath when I had cardiomyopathy (a very rare effect for very frequent PVCs), but after 2 ablations, the cardiomyopathy resolved, and the SOB went away.  Boy, it sounds like I've got all kinds of heart issues, but not really, thanks to some wonderful doctors.  

Getting control of the anxiety is tough, but it definitely makes a big difference in how I feel overall.  Again, I like the plan, and I think knowing your heart is in great shape is wonderful : )

Connie

[tricia214]

Hi Connie

Thank you sooo very much for your response.  I must admit even though the doctor told me it was nothing to worry about I could not help it, I cried for the majority of the night.  One correction - on the report it stated antibotics for dental work, my doctor said it was my choice but it is not proven to be significant to use.  

Today I went to the cardiologist, for reassurance more than anything else.  He told me again don't worry and the MR is so minimal /trival.  He did say have another echo in about 1 year just for a follow-up and if all is fiine I will just need one ever so often - to just montior.  The cardiologist also said no heart disease, as mentioned all other tests were fine, I also did a tyroid, lipid profile and lung functioning test - all good.

What bothers me the most is the symptoms, I guess I have to learn to cope and manage these.  Are you and/or your daughter experiencing any symptoms ? If so what are that and how do you manage it/them?
It is just unnerving to be diagnosed with this at the age of 30, but it is better I know where the symptoms are comming from.  

Your response really means a lot to me, thanks again.
tricia

[Momto3]

Hello : )

Sorry about the new diagnosis.  I am not a doctor, but I've had MVP/MR for over 30 years...YIKES!!  Mitral regurgitation is typically graded in stages of 1-4, with 1 being physiological/trace, 2 mild, 3 moderate and 4 severe.  A finding of "mild" MR is very common, and given your excellent overall heart health, I'd say nothing to worry about. My daughter was diagnosed with the same thing about 10 years ago, and a recent echocardiogram showed it to be fine.  Try not to worry about what you've read on the internet.  To give it some perspective, I've had MVP/MR for at least 30 years, and mind has been diagnosed as a 2-3+ leak, and it hasn't changed for at least 9 years.  Because I have had it for so long, and because if is moderate to moderately-severe, it is possible that I will need surgery some day, but for now, everything is status quo and no worries : )

As for the antibiotics, I am a bit confused.  Did you see a cardiologist?  The guidelines were revised in 2007 and from what you describe you would not need to take preventive antibiotics.  After taking them for 25 years, I no longer need to take them...YEAH!!  Be sure to check with your own doctor, but here is what the AHA says:  http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3047083

You might ask the doctor if you should have a followup echocardiogram in 3-5 years to be certain the MR is the same.  Some doctors will recommend periodic echos just to monitor for any possible changes.

Hope that helps
Connie