Mitral Valve Leakage – What Are The Symptoms?

Hi Terry,
I had mild mitral valve regergitation 8 years ago, and now am getting ready to have my valve repaired 5 days from now. I had hardly any symptoms when I went to see a cardiologist in May. The SOB and lightheadedness, etc started in late June, now I have severe regurgitation.
It would not hurt at all to have it checked, as from my research I have learned that the prolapse can remain stable for years, and then rether suddenly degenerate. Learning this early can make the difference between having a repair versus needing a replacement, from what I learned.
I will write after my surgery. I have learned so much from Adam’s book and this website.
Adam, I agree heartily (pun intended) with your words; “As patients, we enter the operating room with two critical thoughts. The first thought is, ‘Please let me live!’ The second thought is ‘Please fix my heart so that I can live
longer!’ “.
I find myself wondering how my body will feel without the prolapse thumping and bumping, etc. I want the increased energy I hear about.
Winona

Hi Terry,

I too have MVP w/ Regurgitation (and a heart murmur). Last year this time I was at the mild stage. By June of this year, I had progressed to severe leakage. Pretty much I am asymptomatic. Back in December of 07, I was starting to have problems climbing stairs, or doing anything physical (like dancing, lifitng items, etc) I would feel winded, extremely tired. I then started walking on the treadmill for 1/2 hour a day and those symptoms dissapated. Now all I have is every once in a while a heavy feeling in my chest or while laying down my heart beats hard against my chest, but not rapid. I am going for my next Echo next week. Back in June I was told I will need surgery to repair the valve because of it’s leakage progression. I am currenlty at the when stage for surgery.

You should get it checked. I go every couple of months for echos to check the progression of my leakage. And other than those few occassional symptoms, I would never have guessed I have a heart problem.

Good Luck.

Sherri

Hi,

I have also just been told I have grade 3+ mitral regurgitation. I have no symptoms and had
no idea that I have such a severe heart problem. I never had a heart murmur until someone
mentioned it in 2005. Now they are saying it is severe and I will need surgery at some point
not too far away. Just had a TEE to confirm it. So it seems like you can have pretty bad
leakage without much symptoms. What it means ( I think) is that your heart is so far
functioning and is not enlarged. My left ventricle has completely normal function and
size so far, but I am told this can change quickly. So I have started “shopping’ for a
surgeon, especially because my prolapse is bi-leaflet and only very few surgeons will
repair it, as opposed to replace.

Good luck,

Nupur

Bula Terry ! I had severe regurgitation of the aortic valve , enlargement of the aorta ( 7cm ) and enlargement of the left side of the heart. I did’nt think I had any symptoms until after the operation when I met a friend who had a similar operation to me. We found out we both sweated especially at night , around the neck and shoulder area , even with the fan or aircondition on , take care and all the best, chris

I was just diaganosed with Mitral valve small leak. I have the fluttering in my heart when i am really stressed or just sitting. I also have had heart pain and in my back at my shoulder. Is this all related to the leakage?

I have severe mitral valve regurgitation and have been told I need surgery. I have been having symptoms for years, especially dizziness and lightheadedness, but I didn’t know they were symptoms of a bad heart valve. I thought it was low blood sugar. I knew I had a regurgitating valve, which I found out when I was 24 years old and trying to become a police officer (I was denied due to the valve issue). I was told that I would need a valve job sometime in the future, and the stress of being a police officer would probably aggravate it. It could be 5 years or 30 years. The doctor didn’t know.

Over the last 2 years, I have had some fatigue, which I figured had to do with getting older and was still having dizziness and lightheadedness. In the last 6 months, I started having all of the symptoms with shortness of breath and ended up at the emergency room. I have also had palpitations for a long time off and on, but it is only recently that friends have told me that they don’t feel their heart beating UNLESS they have run a mile or done some physical exertion. I thought everyone felt their heart at various times!! I had no idea!

I can’t wait to have surgery to correct this and move on as I am CONSTANTLY EXHAUSTED and can’t do much right now. I can’t remember things very well and am having a really hard time with details and feel spacey a lot, too.

I’m grateful for this website and the book and everyone’s feedback as I am trying to learn more and make a decision as to which doctor to go to. Thank you all!