What can Mitral Valve Prolapse lead to? How does anxiety factor in

[Marguerite53]

Hello everyone. Just wondering how this condition can manifest itself. My middle child (24 year old son) was diagnosed with one, but only through a university study echo (free) and has not had it confirmed by any doctor other than that research cardiologist ( who I have no idea how astute he would have been). He has no symptoms, there is no murmur. I'm just in a holding pattern.

He goes in for another physical soon, has been experiencing some anxiety (not about the physical, just in general) and I remember having read here that mitral valve issues and anxiety have some connection.

Any and all comments appreciated.

Thank you!!

Marguerite

 

[hall]

I have had mitral valve prolapse for a long time. My cardiologist assures me I will not have to have anything done with it. I hope he is right. I do not have a murmur either. I've never heard anything about anxiety. Maybe someone else has. I would make sure when he goes for his physical the doctor is aware of it. Take it from there. Best of luck to your son.

 

[Adrienne]

A mitral valve prolapse without (or with very little) regurgitation is not a real problem to my knowledge but of course it should be followed.

As far as anxiety, I seem to have read that there is some sort of link between people with MVP and an anxious personality. I certainly fit the bill!! However, I don't have any real scientific knowledge about it.

 

[Bina]

From about the age of 20 until 40, my GP had told me that I had MVP.
Occasionally I would get palps, but I was also a worrier.
In my forties I developed symptoms and then my GP says that it's not MVP but AS, and the rest is history.
Get the boy another opinion and echo, it's so important! Best wishes.

 

[deano89]

i had mvp diagnosed at 21 and was told it was nothing to worry about and i could go through life with it . i was never checked after that .unfortunatley i am one of a very few where it actually progressed to where i need surgery ,you might want to google mvp syndrome it will give you a lot of info about anxiety and other things that seem to occur in people with and without mvp although they dont know why.

 

[Nancy]

There is mitral valve prolapse and there is mitral valve prolapse syndrome. If you Google mitral valve prolapse syndrome, you can read that there is a connection to anxiety, because the syndrome situation seems to be a nervous system problem and you can also read about the difference between the two.

 

[SMS]

One thing I recently learned was that having MVP does not necessarily mean you have a leaky valve. I thought one went with the other. If all you have is prolapse and no leaking you are in good shape.

 

[aussiemember]

My MVP with mild regurgitation gradually progressed to the point that I needed MVR 27 years after diagnosis. However, this is very uncommon and most people with MVP do not need any treatment apart from antibiotics before dental work. As far as anxiety, I am definitely an anxious person but don't know if this is related to the MVP

 

[Nupur]

Apparently, some percentage of people with mitral valve prolapse (which could be totally benign and never cause problems) also suffer from nervous system problem, resulting in Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome. This web site attempts to talk about it.

http://www.mitralvalveprolapse.com/whatismvpmvpsd.html

 

[Harmony]

When I was about 50 I found out I had Mitral Valve Prolapse. I had a bad cold and my PCP sent me to a cardio as there were palps. Tjhe Cardio told me I had very minor regurg and prolapse. Just take a echo every year use antiboyics for a dentist or surgery and you will be fine he told me. Well on Feb 20 2009 I had minimal evasive mitral valve surgeryto repair my severely leaking and severly prolapsed Mitral valve. So if you are told you have a leaking valve check on it every year.

 

[Marguerite53]

All answers wonderful, thank you so much. When it's about your kids, it's a whole other ball game.

I'm starting to look into this syndrome, thank you. I didn't realize there was a syndrome. Wikipedia says this about.... but I'll still consult many other sites...

Historically, the term mitral valve prolapse syndrome has been applied to MVP associated with palpitations, atypical chest pain, dyspnea on exertion, low body mass index, and electrocardiogram abnormalities in the setting of anxiety, syncope, low blood pressure, and other signs suggestive of autonomic nervous system dysfunction.[1] Modern studies, however, have failed to demonstrate that these features occur with greater frequency in individuals with MVP.[1]
Occasionally, supraventricular arrhythmias observed in MVP are associated with increased parasympathetic tone.[11] Although early studies suggested an increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders among individuals with MVP,[12] modern investigations have demonstrated no such increase in prevalence.[1]

Thanks for all your caring remarks.

Marguerite

 

[SMS]

Today, there is a "syndrome" for everything.

 

[David'sBride]

Keep an eye on MVP

Keep an eye on MVP

I was diagnosed with MVP at the age of 19. I didn't really have any problems until I was 36. Then I found out that my mitral valve was leaking significantly. I had to have it replaced. While you don't want to over react over an MVP diagnosis, you also don't want to downplay it. Encourage him to watch his symptoms (cough, short of breath, exhaustion) and get an echo every year. By the time I found out I had a leaky valve, I was almost in congestive heart failure. You want to find out a little sooner than that!

 

[njean]

I'm sorry that I don't have advise or information to provide but I do want to say that I hope that your son continues to stay close to the doctor so that they can monitor his situation & as others have mentioned, watch for symptoms.

 

[pnwcoast]

I had no symptoms. The prolapse and regurgitation where very real according to the tests. The regurgitation is what caused my cardio to tell me I must get it fixed. Based on his encourgement, I bucked up and had it done. Not sure I woul go with a repair again. I think I would have a replacement rather than a repair if I had it to do over.

 

[Adrienne]

I had no symptoms. The prolapse and regurgitation where very real according to the tests. The regurgitation is what caused my cardio to tell me I must get it fixed. Based on his encourgement, I bucked up and had it done. Not sure I woul go with a repair again. I think I would have a replacement rather than a repair if I had it to do over.

Why would you have a replacement rather than a repair if you had to do it over? Are you having problems with your repair?

 

[Marty]

I had mitral valve prolapse diagnosed at age 34 during an insurance physical. I was checked out by the cardiologists at Georgetown and finally given insurance at standard rate. However at age 72 during a routine physical severe mitral regurgitation was detected and even though I still had no symptoms I went for valve replacement. My research indicated that some not all MVP progresses to regurgitation. The valve develops a condition called myxomatous degeneration more frequently than a normal valve. No one knows the precise percentage that progress to regurgitation.My valve was so bad that repair was not possible. The relation of MVP to neuro symptoms such as anxiety are now thought to be coincidence. I agree with the excellent posts by Harmony and Marguerite.

 

[Cooker]

Marguerite ... I don't know how anyone could find out they possibly have a heart problem and not have anxiety.... Wishing him the best ... once you know something it's a pity you can't "unknow it" for anxieties sake......

 

[zipper2]

Margurite,don't have any feedback but want to say it makes me
feel sad when it is your son,keep all this in my prayers.

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[Dale]

Hi Marguerite,
I had the same experience as Bina - I was told I had mitral valve prolapse when I was 40 and then found out ten years later the mitral valve issue was nothing really; my aortic valve was the problem. I did have anxiety at that time though -- I would get a feeling like I was going to pass out, palpitations at night and a sinking feeling in my chest. For a short period I could barely walk to the mail box, but that improved over 6 months. I always think that was some kind of virus. I think felt anxious all of the time because I lost confidence in my health. I also have always had low blood pressure. A cardiologist diagnosed mitral valve prolapse, but the doctors never took me seriously about the anxiety I felt, although my family doctor put me on beta blockers for a year and I got an echo every couple of years until they discovered this aortic valve problem.
I wish your son well. One of mine as you know, was just diagnosed with a biscuspid aortic valve and he has to go back for an echo in a year. He isn't anywhere near surgery but I will continue to worry! I focus on a belief that by the time he needs surgery (if he does), it won't be a big deal.

All the best,

Dale