Birth Defect found at 40 yrs. old - Heart Disorders Message Board

hessie28 · 01-17-2007, 12:43 AM

Hi, I've been having echos the past few years since I took Phen-Fen years ago. Originally I was diagnosed with Moderate Mitral Valve Regurgitation and enlarged Atrium. (Not sure if I got that all right). Nothing else was ever found. So my echo in 2004 showed Mild Mitr. Val. Regur. and now a Patent Ovale Forearm or Small Atrial Septal Defect. They say it is a small birth defect. Everyone gets it but it usually closes on their own. I find it odd it was never found before. They say alot of people get diagnosed in their 40's. I was wondering if anyone ever heard of it. Was it ever a problem. All I do for it is take antibiotics before dental work and surgery. Two very large pills (Clindamycin) because I am allergic to Penicillin. They tell me that it is nothing to worry about.

mnmnmnmn · 01-17-2007, 09:04 PM

Hessie... i am quite familiar with PFO's/ASD. It is something that everyone has when they are born but most close off within the first few days of life. It is common for the hole to not seal itself off and then it is discovered later in life. I am a bit surprised as well that this wasnt discovered in you until now if you have had echos before. You may have just a tiny hole or a flap that seals it sometimes. Anyways, as you were told many people have these and it is commonly not treated unless you show signs of failure or other complications. If you do it is commonly closed with a device in the cath lab. Only large holes or holes that are in a hard to reach space require open heart surgery, but again that would be only if you had signs of failure. Likely with you it wont cause any problems and when you have to have your valve replaced later in life, assuming you will need to, then they would stitch it closed then. Hope that helps you.

hessie28 · 01-18-2007, 12:33 AM

Thanks. I don't anticipate ever needing the valve replaced. It actually as gotten better over the years.

annab08 · 07-28-2008, 08:14 AM

I was just diagnosed with ASD as well, and I'm 22. I was also surprised to find out I had this, and that no one caught it in my infancy. I found it because recently I have been having episodes of high blood pressure and heart rate at night. I have also had symptoms of being extremely fatigued and out of it. I am very healthy and was working out almost every day at the gym, but my doctor told me to quit exercising but to go about my daily activities. I am waiting on my TEE results to see if I need open heart surgery or just a catheter-placed patch. It is scary, but from what I understand if the hole's not too big, it's nothing to worry about. Mine is enlarged, probably because of all the working out I've done.