Mitral Valve Prolapse.... Anyone else have it?

[BC]

I have been diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse. I don't ever think much about it except when I have to go the the Dentist as I have to premedicate with antibiotics. I just wonder if there is really much danger with this condition. I have heard people die in the dentist chair if they don't medicate. Yikes!!

 

[dizneenut]

I have it. Have had it since I was 5. I don't really have any problems with it. I do get palpitations if I drink too much caffeine, but that is about it. I also have to premedicate before the dentist or any surgery.

 

[Poohbear123]

I have it also, no big deal but I am on High Blood Pressure meds and take Altenolol. My Doc said MOST of the population have it.

 

[bcsmom]

Hi BC,

I work for a dentist, & some of our patients have forgotten to take their med's so when they get to the office we just give it to them there. You are suppossed to take the antibiotics to avoid getting Bacterial endocarditis. Dental procedures can cause bacteria to get into the blood stream causing this condition. While we have never had a patient become ill from this, I have heard of patients expiring from not taking their med's. I do not think the odd's are to high that something will happen, but to be safe just make sure you take your antibiotics. We make our patients take 4 pills 1 hour prior to coming in for their appointment.

 

[Michie]

Hi BC,

I work for a dentist, & some of our patients have forgotten to take their med's so when they get to the office we just give it to them there. You are suppossed to take the antibiotics to avoid getting Bacterial endocarditis. Dental procedures can cause bacteria to get into the blood stream causing this condition. While we have never had a patient become ill from this, I have heard of patients expiring from not taking their med's. I do not think the odd's are to high that something will happen, but to be safe just make sure you take your antibiotics. We make our patients take 4 pills 1 hour prior to coming in for their appointment.

So if you are unaware that you have this condition what happens? Ack! I have any early bird appointment Thursday, I need to stop reading this thread!

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I have MVP. Just remember, dental appointments aren't the only things you need to take antibiotics for. Piercings, tattoos, and broken bones also count. (Found out the last one the hard way.) The only thing I hate about MVP is that the antibiotics really bother me. For some people it bothers their stomach, for me, it makes me very fatigued. I just wouldn't plan much after your first appointment.

 

[bcsmom]

I do not think the percentage of something actually happening are significant. You would have symptoms though if you had MVP, such as: atypical chest pain or palpitations. If you think this something you might have then call your physician, so they can schedule an echocardiogram.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have also, premedicate is all I do.

 

[aprilgail2]

I have it and half my friends have it! I never heard of it until a few years ago and now at least half the people I talk to at work etc all have it..its very common.

 

[Aidensmom]

I have it. Have had it since I was 5. I don't really have any problems with it. I do get palpitations if I drink too much caffeine, but that is about it. I also have to premedicate before the dentist or any surgery.

Same here. Mine is mild though, sometimes it is hard to detect.

 

[mickeysgal]

So if you are unaware that you have this condition what happens?

Great question. We found out that my DH has it - but we just found out about it 1 1/2 years ago. He's had countless dental procedures done up to that point. The doctor classified it as mild. I freaked, of course. The only thing I'm wondering is that he says that taking all his vitamins sometimes makes him jittery. I'm wondering if this jittery feeling is palpatations.

 

[bcsmom]

Great question. We found out that my DH has it - but we just found out about it 1 1/2 years ago. He's had countless dental procedures done up to that point. The doctor classified it as mild. I freaked, of course. The only thing I'm wondering is that he says that taking all his vitamins sometimes makes him jittery. I'm wondering if this jittery feeling is palpatations.

My husband does the echocardiograms, & he said you could feel jittery but when you have a palpatation you can actually feel your heart beating pretty hard. It is kind of like when you get nervous & you feel like your heart is about to jump through your chest.

 

[HaleyB]

My father almost died from bacterial endocarditus which he caught at a dentist. Even if you were to forget your meds and catch this, it is not going to kill you right off the bat (you will not die in the chair). My father was misdiagnosed by an ER doctor and so his went on for months untreated. His symptoms were fatigue and night sweats. It should have been caught, but it was not. By the time it was he needed a valve replacement, as the bacteria was eating his heart. He also had several holes reparied. Worst of all a chunk of the bacteria colony broke off and entered his blood stream causing a massive stroke.

He has a St Jude valve and has recovered about 50% from the stroke (still somewhat aphasic, and has weakness on one side). It has been 20 years since that first valve went in! He blew his mitrial valve last summer and now has a second St Jude valve. It is amazing what they can fix.

While it is rare, it can happen. Please take your propholactic antibiotics.

 

[gallaj0]

I have it, and after taking the antibiotics for years, at one point my doctor (at the time) told me I didn't need to take the antibiotics before dental work. Evidently at some point in the last couple of years, it has become considered less of a risk than previously thought.

After hearing your stories, I will ask my (new) doctor about it again.

I did have a full work up on it; echocardiogram; stress tests etc. I was getting a physical for the Naval Reserves back in 1990, and the doctor heard it, adn I never knew I had it. After asking Mom about it, she tells me it was diagnosed back when I was just a toddler, but she never told me about it.

And it did keep me out of the Navy Reserves.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I have it too.

I have heard people die in the dentist chair if they don't medicate.

This is a bit extreme. As has been stated, the antibiotic prevents endocarditis which certainly would not cause sudden death in the chair.

 

[Imzadi]

I may have it. My cousin, who's a doctor listened for it, since she, too has one. She thought she heard a faint clicking. But since I didn't get a full battery of tests we weren't sure. She said to be on the safe side, since she heard clicking, to take the propholactic antibiotics.

 

[BC]

I was told I only have to take the antibiotic before a routine cleaning, but not with other things???? Looks like bacteria could break loose with any type of work that could irritate your gums.

 

[HERSEY]

I also have mvp. I don't take antibotics unless have surgery per my doctors advise. I also have an allergy to certain antibotics. So it kind of a toss up what is going to get me more trouble antibotics or endocarditis.

 

[disneymouse]

i just recently found out i have this. i've have 2 c-sections and countless dental cleanings and work before finding out i have mitral regurgitation (which is MVP i believe)...they told me to take the antibotics before dental work and go yearly for echo/stress test to keep an eye on it since it can become worse in time.

 

[Christine]

I just had an echocardiogram done for "possible" MVP. I have some of the symtoms, but my doctor could never hear the "clicking." He didn't think I had it but sent me for the test. It came back saying that I had "trace" regurgitation.

My doctor then proceeds to tell me that now that they have the doppler echocardiograms, just about every echo they do comes back with "trace" regurgitation. Some doctors choose to slap the MVP label on you while others (like mine) don't. That could be why it seems like so many people have it.