SERIOUS QUESTION

Do you ever get PVS's ? (Premature Ventricular Contractions) ? If so , how many and how often ?

If you had a valve leak, how would you know and feel ? What symptoms would you have ?

Thanks

4 Comments

PVCs

by Jonny - 2013-11-22 02:11:16

Hi Duke,

I get regular PVCs and have done for 25 years or more. Can feel a bit weird at times, but everyone tells you they do no harm, so doesn't bother me even though there are times when I can get several in a minute.John

It Depends

by Many Blessings - 2013-11-22 02:11:37

Hi Duke Heart Patient,

For my peace of mind, let me say first, if these are problems you think you may have, you really need to ask a cardiologist, and not try and diagnose yourself with what we all say, even though a lot of us have had those issues.

A leaky valve could be nothing at all, or it could be life threatening, it really depends on how bad it is, what caused it in the first place, how long and how badly it's been leaking, what other cardiac problems you have, what damage it has caused, etc.

I was born with a leaky mitral valve, along with other heart defects, and was able to live a pretty normal life until the valve was leaking so bad, it had to be repaired, and then replaced with a mechanical one at 16 and again at 27. My aortic valve has been leaking (not too bad) for the last 10 years and I don't have any symptoms from that at all.

Since birth, my mitral valve didn't close all of the way most of the time, causing my valve to leak, but closed for too long when it did close all of the way, causing my heart to enlarge. There are different reasons why this happens and you need to find out why yours is doing it, or even "if" it's doing it.

My mitral valve leak symptoms didn't affect my life until I was almost 16. When they did, I knew it (couldn't climb stairs, swim, or other activities, because of shortness of breath, fatigue, exhaustion, etc.) I was in gymnastics and on a dance team in high school, and noticed I could no longer make it through a routine or make it up a flight of stairs to class anymore. It got worse very quickly at that point, so it was very noticeable. That was when they confirmed it was time for my surgery, something they always knew I would need.

As for PVCs, I have those too (another part of my birth defect) and they don't bother me a bit. Mine are chronic, and part of my numerous "normal" abnormal rhythm issues, like so many other cardiac patients, and those on this site. They are very common, and most people have them at one time or another. There are many causes, some temporary and some permanent. I've heard if you're not used to having them, they are more noticeable, since they are "different" to you. For me, and many others out here, we don't even notice them.

Again, please ask your cardiologist for guidance regarding your concerns. Karen above is right in saying, they can confirm a valve leak with an echo (you could hear mine through a stethoscope as well), so it's really easy to find one. And, although we're all letting you know how our valve leaks and PVCs have affected us, it could be totally different for you. Go get it checked out.

Take care and good luck!

To serious

by Karen - 2013-11-22 11:11:44

They find your valve leaks through an echo. the cardiologist can tell by listening to you by if can hear regurgitation or not. I felt weak and shortness of breath when i had it.

Hi Duke..............................

by Tattoo Man - 2013-11-22 12:11:20


.................................I had 50% 'regurg' in '07. Now I was fit and 57, and to be honest it just meant that I couldn't run up stairs.

It seems to me that many parts of our bodies are very over-engineered and the heart is one of them. It kind of follows that we can live quite happily with a heart that is under performing....for a while.

What happens is that the heart, being muscle, 'senses' that it is under strain and therefore enlarges..this is the basic tenant behind most athletic training...you overstress muscle and it gets bigger and stronger.

Now this sounds like a good thing,..excepy the heart then becomes enlarged and at higher risk.

I had open-heart surgery when my heart grew 50% bigger and had a new aortic valve.......a total result.

A leak can manifest itself as a slight 'buzz', as in Murmer or a tiny squeaking noise

Keep basic fitness and keep your weight right. This will put you in good stead should you need surgery

Best wishes

Tattoo Man

You know you're wired when...

Intel inside is your motto.

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