Another Newbie;mvp dxd;scared

 I'm so glad I stumbled on this site.  I have recently encountered a snag in my life that has me scared.  A couple of weeks ago I started having consistent palpitations--did the halter monitor.  Results, Atrial trigeminy and placed on Toprol 25 mg.  My dr. suggested more tests--echo and a chemical stress.  Did both of those.  He called me the other day to say he is seeing mitral valve prolapse and a "thickening" of the mitral valve.  Now, he wants me to go to a cardiologist and discuss ANOTHER test--a transesophigial echo.

 HI HOLLY I JUST WANTED TO WRITE AND SAY NOT TO WORRY, HAVE YOU LOOKED IT UP ON THE NET? IF IT WAS REAL SCARY THEY WOULD ACT A LOT QUICKER, SO TAKE A DEEP BREATH. I AM NEW TO THIS SITE BUT I WILL BE LOOKING FOR YOU IN THE FUTURE TO SEE WHAT THIS WAS ALL about.  GOOD LUCK

Hi Holly,  I wanted to welcome you to Healing well forum.  I can relate to what you are going through mentally at least.  I am 32 and just got a pacemaker in September.  Any kind of heart problems are scary to say the least.  But is sounds like you have a healthy life style and are pretty active with your kids to run around after.  It is amazing what modern medicine is doing now a days and especially in the cardiovascular field.  I wouldn't worry too much at this point.  Just be sure to ask your doctor lots of questions and be active in your care.  There are lots of people that have Mitrovalve Prolapse that function in normal lives everyday.  My mom is one, and she has to have 4 of her valves replaced.  Good luck to you and keep us informed of what happens.......

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~elisha

Hi Holly :)

Gee I am so sorry to hear of your problems. I know that you are scared and you have a right to be. You're just a young lady with young children. This is really a young ladie's malady, from what reading I have done on the subject. MVP that is.

I have looked at it a bit and can say that most women aren't ever really bothered by MVP. Maybe some arrhythmias, or occasional chest pain. I am just a lay man, when it comes to medicine, so this is all just opinion. I must have this also because I have mild mitral valve regurgitation, or MVR.

I say this because MVP, leads to MVR, sometimes, but not always. Regurgitation results when the valve, in this case the mitral valve, prolapses or protrudes up into the left atrium of the heart. This causes blood to flow back-wards, from the big pumper (the left ventricle) into the left atrium, when it should not. The mitral valve should close tight, when the left ventricle contracts, so the blood will flow out of your aorta to your big toe and all else places :) This is where the complications start, when moderate to severe MVR occurs. Blood flow coming from your lungs, runs into the blood leaking back from the big pumper (LV), through your left atrium. This can impede blood flow through your lungs.

Now I assume the stress test was ok? Your doctor may have actually seen MVR, instead of MVP. I do not want to alarm you at all, but I do not see why he would want you to have a TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram) test, if he did not see any leakage past your mitral valve, on your previous echocardiogram. Do you? Ask him if there was any amount of MVR seen on your last echo.

I haven't had a TEE test, but I have had two endoscopic analysis's. No fair though, I got to be heavily sedated. They may want you as sober as possible....I think all they do is place a transducer, or ultrasound emitter down your goozle and take a really, really good look at those valves in your ticker. It gets the rear view, because it is behind your heart. If you have one of these test, get and keep you a copy. Pay extra for the film, if you have to. Did you know that these test are done prior to heart valve surgery, in order to make sure of very specific valve locations and conditions?

Best of luck to you and yours,

RJ

Thanks to all that sent me their well wishes.  I saw the cardiologist today.  He looked over the results of the tests and just didn't feel like anything warranted me going through a TEE right now.  He says that PACs can come mysteriously and leave just as mysteriously--says it's happened with himself even.  He did recommend that he up my Toprol from 25 mg. to 50 mg. and then monitor this for the next couple of months.

Anyway, he made me feel much better.  I feel like I can relax a little now.  I will certainly be giving thanks to God in my prayers tonight.  I have been praying over this issue for weeks now and finally feel like everything has come together.  Before now, it has been the "great unknown".

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know the results of my very anxious week of waiting.

Holly

Welcome to HW, having heart problems are scary. Talk to your Dr. ask questions, he has the answeres or should. Do what ever it takes. You have a family who needs you and will for a long time. I won't go into my heart problems, but trust me i have plenty and i can only deal with it one day at a time. Being scared is a normal reaction, if you were not scared then i would be worried. The HW is a good place to visit for support. I will keep you in my prayers, and i hope you have help with the children, i can't imagine what your day is like, may god bless you Holly2 and your family. DELTA

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{ Listen to your body talk. } Deltacece