"Benign" mitral valve prolapse??

[catwoman]

Is there an animal such as benign mitral valve prolapse? I thought MVP was MVP. Have searched posts here for such a beast, not finding it quickly. Looked in my Mayo Clinic heart book, nothing there either. I've heard of "innocent" murmurs... But prolapse is prolapse, isn't it?
What prompts my question: Saw someone this weekend who, when I told her I had had MVR surgery, said she has benign mitral valve prolapse. I told her about vr.com, so she may be lurking in a day or so.

Thanks for any enlightenment.

 

[Christina L]

Marsha,

From what I have read and heard, mitral valve prolapse is VERY common in a good percentage of people, especially women (10-15% of the population -?). From that small percentage of the population with mitral valve prolapse, only about 1-2% go on to need any kind of surgery.

Geez, I can't win the lottery when I have such a small chance, but I got in the "winning circle" to have heart surgery.

There are people who definitely have benign mitral valve prolapse - the regurgitation is probably trivial or nil. If you have MVP that is serious, it is because the regurgitation is major.

Hope to hear from other people on this issue, as I am not nearly an expert, just know what I have read.

Christina L.

 

[Karlynn]

Christina,
I'm with you. I've always heard that most people with MVP never have any problems with it, and if they do, it's when they are over 70. So there I was, 26, pregnant and hitting the skids. Why those luck with the odds don't translate into lottery winnings is beyond me!

So that's my guess as well. This woman's doctor probably was assuring her that many people have it, but don't have issues. However, I wonder if it gives people a false sense of security. If I were that woman, I'd still keep an eye on it.

Karlynn

 

[Georgia]

benign mvp

benign mvp

Yeah, I was disgnosed with MVP in 1979; on meds for many years due to tachycardia and irregular heartbeat. Was off all meds for 10 years.

I was always told it was benign. Just take antibiotics for dental work and surgery.

The docs HAVE to stop telling people that. No one ever mentioned that if you start having X Y or Z, get an echo.

A lot of us here are the 1 or 2 percent who have problems. And it's time that people with mvp get a fair warning.

 

[catwoman]

I think cardios try to minimize the situation to relieve a patient's fears, without realizing that we really do need to stay on top of the situation.
I'll bet that many of us here were once told we'd "probably never" have problems, just take your meds before dentals. (I can hear a bunch of heads bobbing as they read this!) I was told this almost 14 years ago and read that only about 2-5% require surgery later on. Hah! Things don't always happen to the "other person." Kinda like 24 years ago when a man tried to abduct me at gunpoint -- I became the "other person." I won the lottery on that one, too. (I did escape without injury, just lots of mental trauma.)

Just curious: Anyone know of a cardio who HAS had valve problems/repair/replacement?