Mitral Valve Prolapse

The first thing we need is a basic understanding of Mitral Valve Prolapse. I hope to give you an explanation as well as a personal glimpse into what it is like to have it. As I said on the index page I will not be giving credit here as that would be impossible. I have collected this information from various sources, source types, and from personal experience as well.

DEFINITION
Mitral Valve Prolapse [MVP] is a heart disorder where the mitral valve billows out and does not close properly. This billowing allows blood to leak into the left atrium.

SYMPTOMS
Although there may be no symptoms, these are the common ones.

Palpitations [sensation of feeling the heart beat]
Chest pain unrelated to coronary artery disease
Difficulty breathing after exertion
Fatigue
cough
SOB [shortness of breath]

TREATMENT
In most cases there are few if any symptoms and the prolapse does not require treatment. There are no restrictions on activity or diet. Hospitalization may be required for diagnosis or treatment of severe symptoms.

Surgical repair or valve replacement may be required if severe mitral regurgitation develops, or if symptoms worsen.

MY POINT of VIEW
My gynecologist of all people noticed that I may have a prolapse back in 1997 but it wasn't until a few months later that it was confirmed with an echocardiogram. I was given Toprol XL 50mg a day to control the palpitations.

Again, I am tired but from which diagnoses I am not sure. I am bothered a bit by the rest of the symptoms as well. But with regurgitation at 2+ or +2 [whatever the rating scale is] my MVP is not bad enough to require surgery. I do have to take antibiotics prophylactically prior to any dental work and some medical procedures, like an endoscopy.

2002 UPDATE
I am due for an echocardiogram some time in October to see if the degree of prolapse has changed.

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You are listening to Memories from the musical Cats, written by
Andrew Lloyd Webber and T.S. Eliot. I felt this song was a perfect selection
for this site because of the affiliation I feel with Grizabella. Although for her,
it was age and not health issues that changed her, neither of us are who we
were before, on the outside, and it can affect how we feel on the inside.

Disclaimer:
The author of this page does not promote, support, or recommend any
particular treatment or medication for any medical condition. The opinions
expressed in stories or links are the responsibility of their authors.
No treatment should be undertaken without the supervision of a physician.