Mitral Valve Prolapse with Severe Chest Pains Posted: 05-27-08 11:06am
3 years ago I was diagnosed with Mitral
Valve Prolapse with Regurg. Doctor also
said that this condition and leaky valve
was nothing to worry about. This was my
family doctor, I complained to him that I
was having chest pains, he sent me to a
Cardiologist and I got an echo cardiogram
with doppler, test confirmed the above.
Since he said there is nothing I can do
about it I have just lived my life the
last 3 years not complaining to a doctor.
I have pains all of the time, sometimes a
few weeks go by and nothing, other times I
get a few in a day and it stops, nothing
has been consistent until now. All day
yesterday I had pains, very sharp stabbing
pains, my heart has been racing even when
I am laying down, I cant sleep, Im
sweating and Im having strange feelings in
my arm and legs. This has continued into
today, but today I am feeling faint, the
pains are getting longer and stronger,
they can happen every 10 seconds, every 10
minutes, but they happen at least every
hour and are consistant. Im very scared
that this is serious but I dont want to go
to the Emergency Room if they are just
going to turn me away and tell me the same
thing the doctor said 3 yrs ago. I have a
variety of heart conditions in my family
on both sides, I am a 30 year old female,
fairly healthy, bp is usually normal or a
little low, my weight has always been
perfect and I am active. Im afraid that
there is something bigger going on and I
have a problem. These pains are severe, Im
scared, this cant be right to walk around
like this!
Your symptoms are probably due to the
heart condition you have already have.
Most patients only need reassurance. You
may need another echo-cardiography to
measure the degree of regurgitation. If
regurgitation is severe and function of
left ventricle desturbed you may need
heart cateterisation.
People with mitral valve prolapse and
symptoms of dysautonomia (palpitations,
chest pain) may often benefit from
beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol).
Patients with prior stroke and/or atrial
fibrillation may require blood thinners,
such as aspirin or warfarin. Antibiotic
prevention shoulkd be taken by patients
with severe regurgitation.
Mitral valve prolapse associated with
severe mitral regurgitation anf left
ventricle failure can be treated with
repair or surgical replacement of the
mitral valve. Repair of the mitral valve
is always preferable to replacement and
should be performed by surgeons that are
skilled in the procedure. Symptomatic
patients, those with evidence of
diminished left ventricular function or
left ventricular dilatation need urgent
attention.
You should consult some cardiologist about
your condition.
