Menopause & mitral valve prolapse
Roger W. Kern
My wife has mitral valve prolapse, is 44, and is wondering what effect, if
any, there might be on this condition as she enters pre-menopause. She has
lately noticed more palpitations. She has been checked for thyroid
activity, which is normal - thyroid deficiency can mimic the symptoms she
has been having. She comes from a family where most of the women in the
last three generations and some in the next suffer from mild to moderate
symptoms of mitral valve prolapse. She is also wondering about the effects
of hormone therapy on these symptoms. Is there anybody with first-hand
experience with both these conditions who can comment on this? Thanks.
Roger "rk...@ix.netcom.com"
Barbara N. Craver
In article <01bb8459.0a287540$4bac20cc@#rkern.ix.netcom.com>,
I also have "mild" MVP. I believe that menopause probably exacerbates the
heart palpitations, especially as one experiences "hot flashes." I have
recently made the decision to stop the estrogen (Premarin) I have been taking
for three or four years, as I believe it also exacerbates the MVP symptoms. I
am using a natural progesterone cream containing wild yam, plus some other
ingredients. It alleviates the "symptoms" of menopause.
Nell
Catherine Browman
In article <4ucn3s$8tg...@no.NeoSoft.com>, ne...@neosoft.com (Barbara N.
Craver) wrote:
> In article <01bb8459.0a287540$4bac20cc@#rkern.ix.netcom.com>,
> "Roger W. Kern" <rk...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>....
> >symptoms of mitral valve prolapse. She is also wondering about the effects
> >of hormone therapy on these symptoms. Is there anybody with first-hand
> >experience with both these conditions who can comment on this? Thanks.
> >Roger "rk...@ix.netcom.com"
> > ....
I don't have mitral valve prolapse. However, I have been having heart
problems since late last November with my peri-menopause (I am still
having periods). I just went on bc pills last month, for the estrogen. I
don't have anything to say for sure. My heart problems had practically
disappeared before I went on the pill; I had very few problems while I was
on the estrogen; I have had 7 mini heart attacks in the 3 days I have been
off the estrogen. FWIW. But my period has just started, at which time
things are often worse. And I have a *lot* of variability. So I'm not
assigning any causal relationship yet. Could just be my "normal"
variability (and by variability I don't mean the off-and-on worsening that
happens for a while. I mean things get very different for me. Apparently
doesn't happen very often at all--may well not happen to your wife. But
because it *is* happening for me, I can't say what is up.)
Cathe (Browman)
ka...@wordwrite.com
Joan Livingston (joa...@rain.org) wrote:
: IMHO, there are no "symptoms" of menopause any more than there
: were "symptoms" of menstruation.
Sure there are symptoms of menstruation. It used to be that the first
indication I had that my period was going to start would be extreme
exhaustion. Or severe cramps. Or vomiting for no particular reason. Or
a craving for chocolate.
These are all symptoms. Some are just easier to deal with than others.
Karen
--
Karen
ka...@wordwrite.com
Joan Livingston
IMHO, there are no "symptoms" of menopause any more than there
were "symptoms" of menstruation. To me, to call what happens naturally
during menopause a "symptom" makes it sound like menopause is a disease to
be "cured". Did anyone try to cure menstruation? Why does everyone want to
"cure" menopause? If anything, reflect a bit on why nature for thousands
of years has utilized for some unknown benefit the "symptoms of
menopause.
Follow the money when it comes to "curing" menopause. Read "The
Menopause Industry" (Coney).
Joan
Joan Livingston
Heart palpitations are very common during menopause and while
unpleasant are not any signs of heart distress. MVP was a "fad" diagnosis
a few years ago. I question the efficacy of labeling it a "disease".
sense it was just the ailment du jour brought on by drug companies
desiring to stir up more sales for antibiotics for routine dental
treatment.
MVP is very common and when something is so common, why all the
sudden does it get labeled a "disease". There is no cause and no cure;
only expensive anti-biotics prescribed on very flimsy grounds for
previously routine work. The use of preventive antibiotics for dental
care was studied for artificial joint replacement patients here and in
Europe. It was found the European patients who were not prescribed
anti-biotics had no secondary infections after dental treatment. But that
the American patients had multiple complications -from the antibiotics-!
So much for efficacy of treatment.
If you want some sound information on menopause, read "The
Menopause Industry" (Coney). At least this books cites the underlying
studies so you can research the information yourself rather than accept
hyperbole and anecdote which is what passes for most information on this
subject.
Follow the money.
--
Joan
Della Noche
Heart palpitations are a *very* common problem in perimenopause so I
could see that if one were having problems already this would be an
enormous strain.
Premarin really helped me -totally eliminated them. But Vit. E did the
same thing earlier, before my hormone levels really plummeted!
Progesterone or wild yam cream should help with this - wild yam cream
really stops my panic problems which I believe are to some extent caused
by my racing heart being interpreted by the rest of the body's systems as
meaning "reason to freak". It's not fear of palpitations, it's fear
that comes up because the racing heart so often can accompany fear.
I *think*. For me, anyway!~
dn
Catherine Browman
> IMHO, there are no "symptoms" of menopause any more than there
> were "symptoms" of menstruation. To me, to call what happens naturally
> during menopause a "symptom" makes it sound like menopause is a disease to
> be "cured"....
I don't care what it is called, although it's probably useful for the
medical profession to call things "symptoms". I didn't use to have
insomnia (probably related to my night sweats) or heart problems, and I
don't like them. I want them to go away.
Women may have suffered for thousands of years. I don't think that length
of time makes our suffering any more desirable than slavery is, which also
has lasted for thousands of years. IMO, women having to suffer less says
something good about recent advances in the medical profession. I think
it's great we don't have to suffer so much. If you aren't having severe
symptoms, lucky you. Not true for some of your sisters.
And I am glad for whatever we can do to combat osteoporosis, and heart
disease. It was often the case in the past that women who lived past
menopause got those. If that is natural, then I think natural is bad.
Cathe (Browman)
Roger W. Kern
> joa...@rain.org (Joan Livingston) wrote in article
> IMHO, there are no "symptoms" of menopause any more than there
> were "symptoms" of menstruation. To me, to call what happens naturally
> during menopause a "symptom" makes it sound like menopause is a disease
to
> be "cured". Did anyone try to cure menstruation? Why does everyone want
to
> "cure" menopause? If anything, reflect a bit on why nature for
thousands
> of years has utilized for some unknown benefit the "symptoms of
> menopause.
> Follow the money when it comes to "curing" menopause. Read "The
> Menopause Industry" (Coney).
> Joan
Such hostility, Joan!!! My wife, whom I love, is experiencing unpleasant
(to her!) symptoms that may be connected with EITHER her mitral valve
prolapse OR her potential entry into peri-menopause. She asked me to try
to find out from this forum if there was anybody with experience with BOTH
of these conditions who could help her to understand fully why she is
feeling the way she is, and what options there are for ameliorating the
more unpleasant feelings of anxiety that can accompany EITHER condition.
Neither I nor she believe this "Passage" (as Gail Sheehy refers to it) is
in anything other than a natural part of the aging process.
If you do not have mitral valve prolapse, you cannot understand what she
has to go through. Palpatations due to MVP feel like the heart "skips" a
beat. The other day she experienced dozens of these, and a cardiologist
put her on a monitor for evaluation. This is not, as you suggested in
another posting, a psychological disorder or a "fad" diagnosis, nor is
this merely a cynical attempt to sell more antibiotics - this is a
measurable heart defect that, in some cases, must be treated with valve
replacement. In rare cases, it can even be fatal. If you're interested in
this disease I refer you to the Mitral Valve Prolapse page at
"http://www.quicklink.net.mvps.html".
To the others who have responded, thank you for your support, and we
welcome any information or experiences you wish to share.
Roger & Theresa
Carol Sorgen
Roger--
Regarding the anxiety that can be caused by both MVP and perimenopause,
your wife may find it helpful to read the books by Claire Weeks--at
the moment, the titles escape me and I'm in the process of moving and
the books are packed away, but they should be easy to find in any
book store. I found them very helpful when I was suffering panic
attacks and I learned how to deal with them to the point that they're
very rarely troublesome anymore. There are also a couple of books about
living with MVP that I found--again I don't know the titles, altho' I
think the author of one of them may be Lynn Frederick (not 100% sure of
that) and it may have been published by Case Western Reserve University.
The other suggestions are fairly common--avoid caffeine, exercise (altho
be aware that certain exercises can actually bring on feelings of
anxiety--sometimes vigorous aerobic exercise will do that to me, as
will swimming--anything that seems to use the arms at the same time,
I've found--altho' I have no idea why that is). Walking seems to be
good. Also, and this sounds really basic, but try to avoid stress
and fatigue. I know when I'm really stressed or haven't gotten enough
sleep, I can almost count on having palpitations the next day.
That's all I can think of at the moment, but if you want to write with
any questions, please do so. Wish your wife well.
Carol
Carol Sorgen
Joan--
To tell someone that mitral valve prolapse is a "fad" is irresponsible
and dangerous. Yes, mitral valve prolapse is fairly common, especially
among tall, slender, long-limbed women (altho' not limited to them).
The main reason there has been an increase in mitral valve diagnoses
is because until a decade or so ago, the technology wasn't there to
accurately diagnose the condition. Diagnoses were usually made just
from the sound the doctor heard through the stethoscope. The echocardiogram
gives a much clearer picture.
Having had MVP for the past 10 years, and having also had rheumatic fever
as a child, I'm well used to taking antibiotics before a visit to the dentist.
In fact, any reputable dentist will not even clean your teeth if you
haven't pre-medicated (and if you don't think this is a necessity, I can
tell you about people who have died because they decided they didn't want
to bother with the antibiotics--among them, the singer Bobby Darrin--and
btw--this also goes for any gynecological procedures too).
Many people with MVP have no symptoms at all and never know they have it
until a routine check-up. Other people have very disconcerting symptoms,
including palpitations, PVCs (premature ventricular contractions),
panic attacks, chest pain, etc. Usually just learning that everything
is OK is helpful and one can learn to deal with those symptoms through
behavior modification techniques. There are also some good books
about mitral valve prolapse out. But for other people, some kind of
medication is helpful so that they can get back to leading a normal
life.
People who suffer from MVP need reassurance and help, not political
posturing.
Carol
chertam...@gmail.com
karenah...@gmail.com
I eat a whole foods plant based diet so my menopause symptoms has been lessened by that. However, before I started missing periods my MVP hardly bothered me at all.