is it AF or part of my mitral valve regurgitaion?.....

[claireskyblue]

Since my first pregnancy at the young age of 16 (38 now) I have suffered from occassional bouts of palpatations. With each pregnancy they got worse and lasted longer ( have 4 children now) In 2010 I got very poorly, felt tired and breathless, the corners of my lips would turn blue and I would feel very sluggish ( almost drunk) A locum Dr investigated and sent me hospital where I was diagnosed with Mitral valve regurgitaion, but nothing was said about it except they would keep an eye on it. Since then my palpations have gotten worse to the point where this year i was getting them every day almost constantly...and four different types of palpations. I went back to the doctors, had to wear an ecg monitor for 24 hrs and told I had super ventricular tachicardia ( although my blood pressure is normal) I keep being told it is not related to my mitral valve condition despite the fact that I have found out that worsening valve symptoms are the same as af or svt...but no one will do another echo to see if my leak has got worse. I feel very frustrated as it clearly states AF as a side affect of worsening mitral valve regurgitaion...but what can i do? they currently have me on verapomil as i cannot take beta blockers, the may consider ablation as pills not working, but again...what if it is because of my valve???

[BobD Volunteer]

Claire. if they had done an ecg and told you that you have AF, then you would have it. . The trace of AF is very distinct on the ecg , almost unmistakable in fact as it has no symmetry being just a chaotic line. SVT is an entirely different arrhythmia.although I understand that the impulses come from above (i e super= above) and presumably from the atria. I have no experience of mitral valve problems so can;t comment further.

[claireskyblue]

Thank you BobD, I only question my diagnoses because according to NHS website the symptoms for worsening Valve leak is atrial fibrilation, and although they say that AF/SVT not life threatening (despite how lousy it makes you feel!) a worsening valve left untreated can lead to death, which to me is terrifying ...although I doubt my leak has gotten as serious as that, I still find myself worrying

[Dadog]

Interesting.....my initial checks with my Cardio, showed what he simply called, a leaky valve. He explained that it didn't cause my AF but was a contributory factor which would eventually (in 2 or 3 years time) need sorting. The last time I had an ultrasound scan, everything was fine in that respect. This was in about 1995 ( 18 years ago) so the leak developed within that time. I wouldn't be too worried, Claire, certainly not terrified. Hearts and valves, even leaky ones, are pretty tough and repairable - they will certainly be keeping an eye on it. As you say, neither AF or SVT are life threatening in themselves. As long as you guard against their effects with Warfarin or similar you'll work your way through the rest of it. Stay well and try not to worry.

David

[claireskyblue]

Thank you David. I am on Verapomil currently as I cannot take beta blockers due to asthma but they looking into changing that as they don't seem to be working and I cannot take blood thinners as I have a problem where the slightest knock and I get these horrible black bruises...apparently that is bleeding under the skin from burst blood vessels....until reading peoples stories on this site I didn't even realize that it was standard practice to have warfarin or aspirin, my GP and Cardio consultant never even mentioned it, but I can guess why now does AF put you at risk for blood clots then?

Claire.