I had an EKG and 24 hr heart monitor. The EKG showed "borderline mitral valve prolapse". The note I got from my doc regarding the 24 hr monitor says "shows sinus rhythm with rare premature ventricular contractions."

What does this mean?? I am going to the doc this thursday to discuss further but I am very worried in the meantime! Do I have cause to be worried??

I suffered from bulimia for years and was concerned that may have caused this...Also have chronic fatigue sydrome.

Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) is benign and is not at all dangerous. As I said in your other post a day or two ago, MVP is being thought of as mostly just a normal variation of the heart these days.

Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) are also harmless, and extremely common (everyone gets them now and then). Some people have thousands of PVCs in a day and are fine. They can be annoying though, as they can feel like a fluttering or thud in your chest and that sensation can make people nervous.

Sinus rhythm is the name for the normal rhythm of the heart.

It basically sounds like your heart is normal! You're going to be just fine.

:) Thanks for the reply!
Boy was I worried! I wonder why the letter said "RARE" premature ventricular contractions?? It was the "RARE" part that scared me...it is never good when a doctor tells you that you have something that is rare! The only thing worse is a doctor going, "hmmm...I've never seen this before...." lol

Hello Natasha W',
I think Timber has provided you with good information - so be reassured. I am sure the Doctor would have meant that you had very very few PVCs which, as has been explained, are not dangerous in any case. Relax.....all the best.
Excelsior

Mitral Valve Prolaspe is not necessarily harmless. It depends on the severity. It can be only mild but can be worse or grow to be worse. Be sure to ask your doctor if you need to take an antibotic before any surgery and especially before dental work, even cleaning. I have to do this and my MVP is not severe, only medium. It can also be the cause of angina (chest pain) that is uncomfortable though not thought to be life threatening. The MVP can become severe enough to require surgery, but that doesn't happen often I understand.

Hello Again
Was doing some research on MVP and here are some of the symptoms it says a person may have.ALthough MVP appears to be benign, I have many of these symtoms...therefore is there no reason to treat my MVP? I am positive for Dizziness, Isomnia (since a child), palpitations (fluttering), Shortness of breath, mild panic attacks, cold hands and feet, IBS. I have had so many health problems in my life, most without reason....but I never "imagined" any of them...My doctor said many people with (undiagnosed) MVP are accused of being "crazy" because of their frequent and unexplainable complaints. This is the first time I have ever had an EKG and 24 hr monitor and I know I have had this condition for years.

What are the symptoms of mitral valve prolapse condition?
Instability of the autonomic nervous system can cause or influence a dizzying variety of seemingly unrelated symptoms and conditions, affecting many different systems of the body. These include:

~ Migraine headaches
~ Dizzy, spacy feeling
~ Difficulty concentrating
~ Balance problems, vertigo
~ Insomnia, sleep disturbances
~ Hyperventilation; shortness of breath
~ Palpitations of the heart; skipped or irregular heart beat
~ Panic attacks, with pounding heart beat
~ Phantom chest pain with no apparent physiological cause
~ Hypersensitive startle reflex
~ Cold sweats
~ Cold hands and feet
~ Numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes
~ Bowel urgency, diarrhea, constipation
~ Sensitivity to drugs, including alcohol, caffeine, and medications (caffeine prevents the natural absorption of catecholamines, so that they linger in the body. Caffeine and *****romides in chocolate are related to medications used to treat asthma, which work by inhibiting the absorption of catecholamines.) People with mitral valve prolapse are especially sensitive to all kinds of drugs and medications.