Question: I am a 40yr old female, history of anxiety and panic, with racing heart. I had 2 holters done 5 and 8 years ago. They caught 1400 pacs and pvcs with otherwise normal heart on the first one, and the second one showed 52 atrial couplets and 2 brief episodes of svt, (longest 6 beats) otherwise normal study on the second one. My Dr. tried to refer me to a Cardio, but he told her with my results she could easily treat me with a low dose bb or anxiety med. I am taking Propanolol and Lexapro right now, and it has helped. I don't get many bad episodes anymore. here is my problem-
I recently started having anxiety over my heart again because I had an echo done 8 years ago, and never had a follow up on that. I was told I didn’t need to and my Dr. does not seem worried but at my request is doing another echo this Friday to calm my mind.
The echo from 8 years ago said - normal chamber dimensions, normal ventricular wall motion. EF of 69%. A trace of TR and MR identified, both were physiologic, occurring in early systole only. The valvular parameters state that there were some myxomatous changes suggested to the mitral leaflets with bowing of both the anterior and posterior leaflet. In the M-mode analysis, the posterior leaflet did not appear to coapt early in systole. The anterior on 2D examination appeared to distort but actual diagnostic prolapsed could not be identified
The end impression was
1. Probably mitral valve prolapsed, mild.
2. No other abnormality identified.
I read that any mvp and regurgitation with or without myxomatous changes should be followed up yearly, yet my Dr. isn’t worried. She says she can’t even hear a heart murmur on her stethoscope, and I’ve been with her since the start. Would a beta blocker help or worsen this condition? I guess I'm just wondering if I"m overreacting and don't need this echo, or if I should have been getting it yearly. I don't understand what the entire echo means.
Thank You. XXXXXXX

Posted on Aug 24.

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I realized that I posted this under Heart Rythym instead of Heart Disorders, I apologize. I went back in today for an 8 year follow up echo. The tech said while she can't diagnose anything, she could tell me some things. She said that there was slight regurgitation on the triscupid and mitral valves. She acted like that wasn't a very big deal? She said in regards to the mitral valve prolapse, she just wasn't seeing it, or wasn't sure, because there are new guidelines to what real MVP is, and she said I didn't seem to fit the guidelines, but that there was some slight bowing on the leaflets, but not bad. So she said we would have to wait to see what the Dr. decides. So can you have bowing on the leaflets, with mr, and actually not have MVP? Thank you, XXXXXXX

Posted on Aug 26. (Same user)

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Thank you so much for your reply. I know I am going to need to get some type of therapy again for my panic and abnormal response to anxiety. I started on Lexapro and Xanax (as needed), but as of yet, still having very abnormal panic and anxiety. I stayed up late again last night reading about a specialist in my area who performs mvp surgeries. This is how my mind works, I may never need to have my valves replaced, but because they saw a little regurgitation on the echo, I now am convinced it will someday get worse and I will someday have to have surgery, and that scares me to death. So I sit and worry. I don't like waiting and watching, but on the other hand, you couldn't get me near a cardiologist right now.
May I ask if you had regurgitation with your mvp, and if so, why did your Dr. not ever talk to you about a heart valve surgery? You don't seem upset at all with it...?
Thank you again for talking to me, it is so nice to have someone to talk with. XXXXXXX

Posted on Aug 27, (Same user replied on other member's comment)
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Thank you again. I will just try to relax and await my Dr's call tommorrow. I just didn't like seeing at 40 I already have mitral regurgitation, and am not sure how bad it is. I did read that if it's a trace of regurge, they don't even worry about it, so I'm hoping that's my case. I wish I had your "what will be, will be" attitude. Makes a big difference. Take Care, XXXXXXX

Posted on Aug 28, (Same user replied on other member's comment)
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Well, the Dr. had her nurse call me today. She said my echo was normal with no evidence of MVP, despite that 8 yrs ago it looked there might have been. She said no follow up echo is needed in the future unless there are major symptoms. Not sure what that means. I have a follow up for next Thursday regarding other health matters but I guess I wish the Dr. herself could have called. I would have liked to have known a little bit more, as there is more to the echo than that. (the EF, the regurgitation...) But I guess normal is good lol. XXXXXXX

Posted 23 hours ago (Same user replied on other member's comment)
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