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Mitral Valve & Tricuspid valve regurgitation: when to see a cardiologist?

Posted by mikkeleo @mikkeleo, Apr 6, 2016

I was just diagnosised with Mitral Valve and tricuspid insufficiency. I have had symptoms of fatigue, heart flutters, lightheadness, and one time passed out. Some discomfort in my left chest side area, sharp. Not all the time. My Dr. Told me this is common and we will recheck in 5 yrs. Im nervous to wait that long. What should i do? I cant stop thinking about this.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mikkeleo

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Von, Alumni Mentor | @vdouglas | Dec 19, 2017
In reply to @bruloi "I was diagnosed with abnormal mitral valve prominent anterior leaflet. with no mitral valve prolapse and..." + (show)
@bruloi

I was diagnosed with abnormal mitral valve prominent anterior leaflet. with no mitral valve prolapse and no regurgitation. is this dangerous ?

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Hello @bruloi ,

I would like to add my welcome to Mayo Connect and I also thank you for sharing with the group. It certainly does cause a lot of worry and anxiety when a doctor tells you that something is not right with your heart, or any part of your body for that matter.

I have been living with Mitral Valve Prolapse for about 51 years, diagnosed about 40 yrs ago. My valve leaflets fold backward occasionally. This is found on my Grandmothers side of my family and in my case I believe it is a, genetic defect of connective tissue.

My symptoms are many but an irregular heart rhythm is the most bothersome. Worry and anxiety are my two biggest struggles as they only make my symptoms worse.

As a patient have been told by my cardiologist that Mitral Valve Prolapse is quite common. The severity can vary as well as the symptoms. With Mitral Valve Prolapse or MVP, as some refer to it, the valve leaflets can thicken over time.

You do not have prolapsing (folding) of the valve, on the last echo, no regurgitation (leakage), no enlargement or thickening other than a small amount affecting one of the leaflets. Your cardiologist is watching this as it should be.

With the information you have provided and based upon my experience as a patient, I would think you should have a cautious degree of concern but not worry. Follow the directives of your cardiologist and go on with life unless there is a reason to worry. I’m going to say it is no more dangerous than crossing a street or driving an automobile. These are my views based upon my experience.

How are you doing? I hope you are doing well and managing the anxiety. Best wishes to you.

Von @vdouglas

REPLY
bruloi | @bruloi | Dec 20, 2017
In reply to @bruloi "I was diagnosed with abnormal mitral valve prominent anterior leaflet. with no mitral valve prolapse and..." + (show)
@bruloi

I was diagnosed with abnormal mitral valve prominent anterior leaflet. with no mitral valve prolapse and no regurgitation. is this dangerous ?

Jump to this post

Thank you for the advice @vdouglass. I’m doing good.

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bruloi | @bruloi | Dec 20, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @bruloi and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad that you posted your concerns regarding..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @bruloi and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad that you posted your concerns regarding your abnormal mitral valve anterior leaflet. I can understand your concern. Any problems with the heart seems especially daunting, doesn’t it?

The fact that you are fold that your heart works “normal” sounds good. Also that you only need an echocardiogram every 3-5 years also sounds encouraging.

If you feel comfortable sharing a bit more, would you mind telling us what led to this diagnosis? Was it during a routine screening or were you having symptoms? Did your doctor explain how this abnormality came about (i.e., was it genetic or a result of an illness or infection)? Are there others in your family with similar problems?

I would also like to invite others into this conversation. Please meet @bjanderson @tomonthebeach @carnes @lyndylou @frande @dave2455 @shakuni11 @ch246cf10 @lizm53 @tavrm, and volunteer mentor @predictable. These Members may also have some thoughts for you.

We look forward to getting to know you and supporting you during this time of learning and investigating. Most of us have found that the more knowledge we have about a health problem, the better we can cope with it. Please also remember that getting a second opinion. is always in your best interests where you feel a concern.

Teresa

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Hello @hopeful33250. I was having some fast heartbeats, I did lots of ekg and they all came back normal. Doctors didn’t even wanted to schedule me an echocardiogram because they said everything looks normal. But than I said i was told I have mitral valve prolapse 10 years ago.told them I did another echocardiogram in 2015and showed no sign of prolapse.So than finally they scheduled me an echo.after the echo they said i have a larger and smaller leaflet, not normal. but that’s how the leaflets are shaped. they said doesn’t show prolapse or regurgitation.And heart works normally

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bruloi | @bruloi | Dec 20, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @bruloi and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad that you posted your concerns regarding..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @bruloi and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad that you posted your concerns regarding your abnormal mitral valve anterior leaflet. I can understand your concern. Any problems with the heart seems especially daunting, doesn’t it?

The fact that you are fold that your heart works “normal” sounds good. Also that you only need an echocardiogram every 3-5 years also sounds encouraging.

If you feel comfortable sharing a bit more, would you mind telling us what led to this diagnosis? Was it during a routine screening or were you having symptoms? Did your doctor explain how this abnormality came about (i.e., was it genetic or a result of an illness or infection)? Are there others in your family with similar problems?

I would also like to invite others into this conversation. Please meet @bjanderson @tomonthebeach @carnes @lyndylou @frande @dave2455 @shakuni11 @ch246cf10 @lizm53 @tavrm, and volunteer mentor @predictable. These Members may also have some thoughts for you.

We look forward to getting to know you and supporting you during this time of learning and investigating. Most of us have found that the more knowledge we have about a health problem, the better we can cope with it. Please also remember that getting a second opinion. is always in your best interests where you feel a concern.

Teresa

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I don’t have any family history of this.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 20, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @bruloi and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad that you posted your concerns regarding..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @bruloi and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad that you posted your concerns regarding your abnormal mitral valve anterior leaflet. I can understand your concern. Any problems with the heart seems especially daunting, doesn’t it?

The fact that you are fold that your heart works “normal” sounds good. Also that you only need an echocardiogram every 3-5 years also sounds encouraging.

If you feel comfortable sharing a bit more, would you mind telling us what led to this diagnosis? Was it during a routine screening or were you having symptoms? Did your doctor explain how this abnormality came about (i.e., was it genetic or a result of an illness or infection)? Are there others in your family with similar problems?

I would also like to invite others into this conversation. Please meet @bjanderson @tomonthebeach @carnes @lyndylou @frande @dave2455 @shakuni11 @ch246cf10 @lizm53 @tavrm, and volunteer mentor @predictable. These Members may also have some thoughts for you.

We look forward to getting to know you and supporting you during this time of learning and investigating. Most of us have found that the more knowledge we have about a health problem, the better we can cope with it. Please also remember that getting a second opinion. is always in your best interests where you feel a concern.

Teresa

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@bruloi After reading your various posts I was wondering if you have ever consulted with a Structural Heart Specialist. These are cardiologists with specific training in valve disorders and other structural matters pertaining to the heart. You will probably find them at a large medical center (such as a medical school or a larger medical research center such as a Mayo facility). Perhaps a consult with one of these doctors would help you to know that you are on the right track with both follow up as well as treatment.

Do you live near a medical school or a large medical research center? Are you taking any meds for the rapid heartbeat?

Teresa

REPLY
Von, Alumni Mentor | @vdouglas | Dec 20, 2017
In reply to @bruloi "I was diagnosed with abnormal mitral valve prominent anterior leaflet. with no mitral valve prolapse and..." + (show)
@bruloi

I was diagnosed with abnormal mitral valve prominent anterior leaflet. with no mitral valve prolapse and no regurgitation. is this dangerous ?

Jump to this post

@bruloi ,
That is good to hear that you are doing well. How did you discover that you had a fast heartbeat? Is that what led to your original diagnosis of MVP?
Von

REPLY
bruloi | @bruloi | Dec 20, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @bruloi and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad that you posted your concerns regarding..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @bruloi and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad that you posted your concerns regarding your abnormal mitral valve anterior leaflet. I can understand your concern. Any problems with the heart seems especially daunting, doesn’t it?

The fact that you are fold that your heart works “normal” sounds good. Also that you only need an echocardiogram every 3-5 years also sounds encouraging.

If you feel comfortable sharing a bit more, would you mind telling us what led to this diagnosis? Was it during a routine screening or were you having symptoms? Did your doctor explain how this abnormality came about (i.e., was it genetic or a result of an illness or infection)? Are there others in your family with similar problems?

I would also like to invite others into this conversation. Please meet @bjanderson @tomonthebeach @carnes @lyndylou @frande @dave2455 @shakuni11 @ch246cf10 @lizm53 @tavrm, and volunteer mentor @predictable. These Members may also have some thoughts for you.

We look forward to getting to know you and supporting you during this time of learning and investigating. Most of us have found that the more knowledge we have about a health problem, the better we can cope with it. Please also remember that getting a second opinion. is always in your best interests where you feel a concern.

Teresa

Jump to this post

Hello here full 33250!I don’t have any fast heart beats now. I don’t live near to any of this schools but I will call them. Thank you for the advice.

REPLY
rbs1959 | @rbs1959 | Jan 9, 2018

I just had an echo done and was shocked to receive the results in the mail. It’s a report intended for the doctor and all the data is in a table format. After staring at it for a bit, I read that my mitral and aortic valves are mildly regurgitating.

The reason for the echo was that I have had symptoms for months. Just in the last 15 months I have had unexplainable PE’s, a stroke, and a standing argument between doctors about whether or not I have arythmias. Could these valves have caused these things all along?

I have been with this practice for 15 years since I had an AICD placed for LQT #2. Why would they just mail the results of something so serious? What do I do now?

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 9, 2018

Hello @rbs1959

I see this is your first post on Mayo Connect, so let me welcome you.

I can understand your concern in receiving a report without talking with a doctor first. As we at Mayo Connect are not medical professionals, just patients like yourself, we can not interpret the echo report. I would encourage you to call your doctor and ask for some help in understanding the report. Generally speaking, mild regurgitation is not all that serious, however, given some of your other health problems you should definitely have the results discussed with a doctor so that you can put your mind at ease, or seek a second opinion.

You mentioned that you had this echo because of symptoms over the past 15 months. Can you tell us anything about those symptoms?

We look forward to getting to know you better and offering you some support during this time.

Teresa

REPLY
777darla | @777darla | Jan 20, 2018
In reply to @caretothepeople "If you're noticing symptoms worsening, I agree with @cynaburst and @colleen_young on seeking a second opinion...." + (show)
@caretothepeople

If you’re noticing symptoms worsening, I agree with @cynaburst and @colleen_young on seeking a second opinion.

Here are some resources that explain how to go about that, since it might be a new experience and it’s common to have hesitations doing so:
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/ConsumerHealthCare/Getting-a-Second-Medical-Opinion_UCM_434325_Article.jsp#.Vwus_j-hK70

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BEST IN ARIZONA DR ROBERT RILEY IN SCOTTSDALE HES GOING TO FIX MY MITRAL VALVE SOON NEVER MIND JUST SAW YOU MOVED SORRY

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cindym1960 | @cindym1960 | Jan 21, 2018

I have Mitral Valve Disorder and Tricuspid Regurgitation along with AFib (heart was beating almost 200 beats per min and iv med didn’t work so they shocked it back into rhythm) along with other health issues but my cardiologist says nothing is wrong with my heart… Am I just stupid or what… no meds for any heart stuff only on my thyroid med and now on Vitamin D and Calcium … All my other specialists dont listen to me either. What should I do?

REPLY
4 replies
Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Jan 21, 2018
In reply to @cindym1960 "I have Mitral Valve Disorder and Tricuspid Regurgitation along with AFib (heart was beating almost 200..." + (show)
@cindym1960

I have Mitral Valve Disorder and Tricuspid Regurgitation along with AFib (heart was beating almost 200 beats per min and iv med didn’t work so they shocked it back into rhythm) along with other health issues but my cardiologist says nothing is wrong with my heart… Am I just stupid or what… no meds for any heart stuff only on my thyroid med and now on Vitamin D and Calcium … All my other specialists dont listen to me either. What should I do?

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Hi, @cindym1960 — welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Please note I have merged your post into this discussion of Mitral Valve Disorder and Tricuspid Regurgitation so that you can meet some other members who have faced similar situations. I’m hoping you might all meet up here on this thread and that other members in this discussion might offer their insights on your recent experience and what’s (not) being prescribed for you at this time.

If you feel comfortable, would you share a little more about your history with mitral valve disorder and tricuspid valve regurgitation?

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