Leaky heart valves etc…..

[Knowwhentorollem]

After having palpitations for quite some time I have recently had a heart scan and then a monitor fitted for 7 days.

The scan revealed that I have a mild/moderately leaky mitral valve and a moderately leaky tricuspid valve. The monitor recorded 1 ventricular run of 7 beats at 139 bpm and 20 super ventricular runs max 21 beats and 234bpm. Also a run of broader complex tachycardia. I’m trying to keep this brief.

The letter that I have received says that none of these findings are concerning. I have to say, I am a bit concerned. I have a follow up appointment in a couple of weeks which gives me a bit of a chance to do a bit of my own research before hand (I’m sure the cardiologist will be delighted!) Does anyone have any experience of these issues? Does any of this sound concerning? I have name changed for this as the information is quite specific.

I have done a bit of googling and dr google does say that a ventricular run can be very dangerous so I'm a bit worried. Im mid 50s. I would really appreciate some advice and be interested to hear anybody else’s experiences. Thank you.

I can’t comment on what you’ve written, but I’d just say to get your ferritin checked too. My paplatations and big heart bumps, that I put down to peri, were actually low ferritin.

I'm sure the cardiologist will talk you through it all. I am a cardiac patient so replying from my understanding.

SVT and other tachycardia runs. Harmless as long as they don't persist. They can feel thumpy and bumpy and like your heart is dancing, though.

VT not a problem if it doesn't persist, but "persist" means like 30s as against maybe an hour or two for looking for help with the atrial ones.

Leaky valves not a problem really as long as they don't leak so much it affects the pumping function of the heart.

They may want to put you on medication, which hopefully would settle the episodes.

Do you get dizzy, lightheaded or weak feelings when your heart is racing or beating strangley…or when you walk up stairs or exert yourself? If you do, your body may be struggling with your heart’s performance and you should definitely mention it to the doctor.

Try taking a daily magnesium glycinate supplement. 100% of the RDA. That may well settle down the arrthymias.

@PersephoneParlormaid thank you, I had a blood test and my ferritin was normal, along with everything else.

@MissCharlotteLutterell thank you, that is really reassuring. The letter did mention the possibility of going on a low dose of beta blockers.

@SeaToSki thank you, yes I do sometimes get light headed, sometimes very light headed. Sometimes this happens when I can't feel the heart sensations that I get. I am taking magnesium glycinate, I will check the dosage.

If you get lightheaded then you must mention it to the cardiologist. Ask for a stress test with echo (not just with ECG). Your heart findings without lightheadedness are not concerning, but with lightheadedness etc they ARE concerning. If you get any chest tightness, pain, refluxy pain, strangulation feeling etc..anything feeling not the everyday normal chest you just dont notice..mention that as well but describe it as chest pain to the cardiologist.

this is an issue where women often get dismissed. Please advocate for yourself.

@SeaToSki rhank you so much. I am getting pain right in the middle of my chest, not at the same time as I heart flutters. I assumed it was reflux! I will mention it and as you say, call it chest pain. Thank you. This page is so helpful.

@SeaToSki can I ask what you mean by a strangulation feeling? When my heart beats flutter or go too fast, I get a pretty uncomfortable sensation in my throat that makes me cough. This happens nearly every time.

Often heart pain masquerades as other pain or sensations of tightness/uncomfortable /squeezing feelings in the upper chest area. Sensations in the stomach and oesophagus areas are classic for being confused /covering up heart pain. Particularly in women where heart pain seems to more commonly radiate or refer into other areas close to the heart.

With recorded arrythmia, moderate regurgitation in the mitral and tricuspid valves and symptoms of chest pain and lightheadedness, I would want the cardiologists to be taking your situation very seriously

FYI leaking heart valves runs in my family. There’s a tolerance level under which they seem to do nothing and everyone’s was in that category. My gran lived to her late 80s so it didn’t affect her life span! But definitely worth checking out so they keep an eye on it