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Heart murmur/MVP, flares and steroids?

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Posted 6/5/2008 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
I was born with MVP (mitral valve prolapse) and an extremely mild one that hasn't ever required any sort of treatment.  In fact, many doctors never hear it and it's hard to see on films.  I do have to take the precautions when having any sort of dental work, surgeries or whatnot by taking antibiotics.  I noticed that when I flare, my MVP acts up and I start getting the butterfly feeling in my chest.  So I was wondering, anyone that has a heart murmur or MVP - does taking steroids (enema or oral) make your butterflies worse?  What about flares?  I noticed that yesterday, the butterfly feeling is a bit more pronounced (but it came and went) and even though it isn't bothering me, it's annoying!  If it continues today, I think I am going to call the doc because I am feeling a bit winded and dizzy when the fluttering starts.  The last time an attack happened, my doc put me on a holtor monitor but they couldn't find anything.  Which I found odd because at the time, the flutters were horrible (I was in a severe flare at the time - this was about 5 years ago or so). 
Posted 6/5/2008 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
I have a murmur that has never caused me any problems but like you I take antibiotics when going to the dentist, etc. I do notice some chest "flickers" here and there more often when I am in a flare. I also feel them more when I am stressed in general so my doc put me on Lexapro b/c I am an anxious person already. I have been checked several times when I swore I was having some sort of cardiac event but everything was always fine. Even when on the treadmill during a stress test I felt my heart roll over in my chest and the nurse said "everyone has those but most people don't feel them." Well I did! I think any stress on your body will affect it. No real advice to give except to try to de-stress when you can. You body as a whole is way more stressed than you think when you are in the middle of a flare.

Posted 6/5/2008 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
I have slight mitral valve regugitation (no proplapse) and an aortic valve defect.  I notice more palpitations when I'm flaring.  It used to freak me out, but my doctor just decided to order up ekgs, echos, stress tests, etc. and there's nothing really wrong with my heart.  With that peace of mind, I tend to over look the palpitations.

As I understand it, MVP can be bothersome in that it will cause a whole host of non-life-threatening symptoms that can cause a person great distress.  In some circles, it's believed that before MVP was discovered many women were labelled hysterical because of their symptoms.  The symtpoms haven't changed but our understanding of them has.

Too, AHA and ADA  -- and maybe AMA -- have recently changed their position on murmurs and prophylactic antibiotics and consider the treatment unnecessary.  You might want to discuss with you dentist or doctor.

Posted 6/5/2008 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I heard that they are starting to discontinue the antibiotics with dental treatments, surgeries etc. My dentist still insists that I use them and when I have my cscopes, my GI still wants me to have it also.

I know it's not life threatening but it can be a startling for sure! When I had the holtor monitor placed, the day before I had a very severe attack. I was walking thru the mall and it hit me. I started getting super dizzy, short of breath, my heart was doing major flip flops and it didn't last a few seconds but more close to 5 minutes. Scared me! I'm afraid of that happening again because there is NO overlooking that :)

And me under stress?? Noooooo! :) Yes I do have to reduce my stress but it's a bit on the tough side at the moment. I have alot going on here at home as well as in my own life.
Posted 6/5/2008 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
It can be really frightening.  That's for sure.
Posted 6/5/2008 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
I have had a murmur all my life, I cant take steroids they make my heart pulpitate. but I was able to take steriods until I had a heart attack and had 3 stents put in, now I can take one dose and my heart goes crazy.
Posted 6/6/2008 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
I have a murmur too but I've never noticed anything with a flare or antibiotics...The only thing that makes me feel like that is albuterol.
Posted 6/6/2008 11:06 AM (GMT 0)
Ohhh Albuterol is a nasty med to be on with MVP! lol I had to be on that last year after having a bronchial infection. I was one jittery mess! My heart was doing flip flops and racing. I'm highly sensitive to decongestants too and they do the same thing. I told my doc about that and she agreed that maybe Albuterol was not a wise choice of med for me. :)

Today the butterflies seem to be better. So maybe it was a fluke attack.
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