New to board with question

[serendipity65]

Hi, I was diagonised with MVP last fall. The report says MVP/ Grade I AMC (or AML, I can't understand) prolapse, trivial MR. I have edema in both legs, shortness of breath, can't do too much activity (i am 38 yrs. old), feel pain in my left side towards the shoulder like angina and s'times in my neck. Have heart quivering and sometime it craps and i use my fist to beat hard to release it. I am on beta blockers. I feel a little better than before. Edema still there.

I met with the Cardiologist last fall. My ECG done 3 times shows variations. But my stress test and nuclear stress test were normal. The dr. then went on and did an investigative angiogram and said all was ok with the arteries. The echo showed the MVP. But I still get the quivering and cramps. I frankly don't know what to do. There are days which I am not so good and the quivering is a real pain b'cos it just comes on without any warning s'times when I am in meetings, in public place and it is really hard to beat on your chest in front of people. I have to really try hard not to get noticed doing this. I want some answers to why this is happening and how to stop it. The dr. couldn't give me any answer to why this was happening. I don't think they understand what you go through when something like this happens. I agree they haven't found any thing life threatning right now but it is so frustrating not to get any answers. I was hoping somebody on this board knows something about this. Please forgive me for the long post. I don' know what to do. I have difficulty walking up steep slopes or walking fast, kicking (like kickboxing) or jumping. I don't do any of those exercises now. I have high chol. (LDL is high). I don't know if somebody on this board can shed some light on any of my symptoms.

I like to be active, but get tired very quick and that irritates me. I have a low blood pressure and heart rate most of the time is in the range of 57 - 65. When I get the cramps/quiver I can literally see the area all hollowed and then when I beat at it with my fist, I can see it losening with the heart beating very fast and then all is quite. Does anybody else have a similar experience. Please help. Thanking you all in advance. God Bless and Peace to all.

 

[Nancy]

Hi serendipity

Hi serendipity

Just wanted to welcome you to this fantastic site. I'm "Lucky" from heartcenteronline and I did give you an answer there, which I'll copy into this message to get you started with some more replies.

This is a wonderful warm site and I hope you will check out the search function for some of your symptoms. And I do hope that your doctor will pursue your problems with all due speed. You need some answers.

Here's what I posted on heartcenteronline:

"With the symptoms you have mentioned, you should be making an appointment with a cardiologist to have things checked out. Several of points about your post worry me, the edema, the shortness of breath, the chest pain, and heart quivers and then fast beats(which could be arrhythmias), and the fact that you are getting increasingly tired. I wouldn't wait any longer to set up an appointment with a cardiologist. Today is Monday and the office will be open, so get on the phone and make you appointment. If you have any other spells in the meantime please get to the Emergency Room. No one can tell what is going on with your heart, but it sure does need to be checked out. And I'm not just talking about chest pain, but even if you are short of breath, or have those quivers in your heart. Wishing you the best. Now, please get on the phone. Better to be safe than sorry. "

 

[Kevin M]

I couldn't agree more with Nancy.
These symptoms seem pretty severe and are not typical of mildly progressing heart disease. Please contact another cardiologist
and see what they say. Your symptoms sound quite debilitating and it must be a bit alarming when you have an episode.
Kev

 

[terry40]

serendipity

serendipity

I also agree with Nancy & Kevin,
time to visit the cardiologist again, Shortness of breath, edema in both legs, changes in heart rate are warning signs.

With high chol/ldl and pain on left side up the shoulder to the neck you may have more than JUST MVP, it's time to get checked out again.

Keep us updated,

Terry40

 

[Ross]

Not only is it time to see a Cardiologist, but perhaps see a new one. This is definately not right. I would certainly get a second opinion on it.

 

[pegne]

Serendipity

Serendipity

I replied to your post on heartcenteronline. Like all the others I think you should see another card. or go to the ER if your symptoms don't subside. It sounds to me like you have real heart symptoms that need attention. I don't mean to scare you but knowing is better than not knowing. Peggy

 

[JimL]

Getting a new cardiologist is a decision a lot of us have faced. It's a difficult decision, since they are supposed to know so much. But no one is more concerned about your health than you are.

Please keep us informed.

 

[Jack]

Time to change your doctor

Time to change your doctor

It is time to turn the computer off and start looking for new cardiologist, at the age of 38 you are too young to stick with only one cardiologist, it is time to start changing doctors.

Good luck and please keep us informed,

Jack.

 

[FredH]

new cardiologist

new cardiologist

I fully agree with everyone you should get a new cardio doc ASAP. Maybe if you could tell us where you live someone might have a recommendation. Or if at all possible you might consult with a major heart center such as Cleveland Clinic.

Good luck

Fred

 

[serendipity65]

Hi to all. Thank you for all the advise (more)

Hi to all. Thank you for all the advise (more)

Hi to all (waving)

Thank you all for your advice and I am really greatful to Nancy for helping me find this site and all you great people. Yes, I agree that I need to find a good cardio. Right now I am not in a place where I can see a good one. I am right now in MiddleEast working here. I tried to find a cardio here but have not been satisfied with what I have seen. I live here with my family, nice quite place but medically, though they have good equip. etc. not many good people to work with it. I am planning to see a new cardio when I go back home on vacation. Like I said I am not sick to the point that I cannot do my work/chores etc. Yes, it is a little difficult, I break things up and do them in intervals so I don't get too tired.

I believe in this day and age of modern science there must be something I can do to stop this uncomfortable cramps and find out why. I don't know if any of you have come across what I am going to say, but when dr. see me, and look at my age the first thing he/they say is you are too young to have any heart problem. It really annoys me. So I know I have to see another cardio, but I fear that he would also have the same attitude, When they say that it make me look like I am making this all up. And I really don't want to put myself through such humiliation. I am sorry to keep venting on this board. I hope you will all forgive me. I sometime wish and pray that I get a cramp when I am at the dr. office so I can show them exactly what I am saying. But it never comes then.

Okay guys, I feel better and I won't give up. I will try and find a cardio who will take me seriously. I will keep you all posted when I do. Till then I plan to visit this board and in case any of you comes across anything similar to my symptoms I will be grateful if you could let me know. Thanking you all. God Bless and Peace to all.

 

[Nancy]

You are not too young to have heart problems. There are quite a few young folks on this board with heart problems. There are all kinds of heart problems and I hope your cardiologist knows this. Even though you might be younger than the doctors you see, you must insist on being taken seriously and will have to be your own best advocate in getting yourself proper care.

It is unconscionable that any doctor would fail to treat you properly because you're young, female or any other label.

There are many, many tests that can be done to diagnose your condition and with most conditions, they will show up on at least one of those tests. Also there are monitors that can be worn.

Do your best to get the care you need right now, and when you get home, please follow through with a cardiologist.

 

[Creed3]

Hi!

Hi!

I have been away for awhile and have been catching up on the posts. I came across your post and I totally agree with what everyone else here says. This is something that needs to be taken care of. I am 34 and I know what you mean about the docs saying you are too young to have heart problems. That is just not true. I kept going to different docs until I found one that would listen to me and take me seriously. Please let us know how things go.

Take Care!
Gail