Mitral Valve Prolapse

My son was diagnosed at age 13 with MVP.  He is 23 years old now.

I got dxd with mvp almost 20 years ago.  I never took any meds for it.  A few years ago my doctor decided to do another ecg and decided that I don't have mvp now.  He said the mitral valve is thick but not prolapsed.  I don't really understand why the same test years apart is showing different results.  It makes me wonder how reliable these tests are.  I still get some weird, irregular beats sometimes but thankfully there isn't usually pain.  I think it's a good thing they are doing those tests for your son.  Is this the first time he has been medicated for it? 

Glenda,

MVP in males is worse than in females, as the disease progresses quicker in males--so he will need to have regular follow-up, but the timing for surgery is not for MVP, but when there is a lot of regurgitation of that valve. Not sure why the doctor put him on atenolol, unless his symptoms were of palpitations and were becoming more frequent--is he seeing a cardiologist or a primary physician? If he is now tired all the time, it is probably from the atenolol, and the doctor may wish to try another medication.

Lynne,
The diagnosis 20 years ago for MVP was almost a guess, to be honest--a person (especially a lady) would come into the office, complain of chest pain or palpitations, the doctor may think he hears a click and bingo--a diagnosis is made. Even 10 years ago, the echocardiographic machines were fairly unreliable and difficult to show MVP or lack of MVP. Today with improved echo machines--the diagnosis is much more accurate, so I often send patients who have been told for years they have MVP for an echo to confirm or eliminate that diagnosis.