Mitral valve issues and shortness of breath

Amanda Gomez47 said:But I'm not talking about where the heart sits—I mean the asymmetry is happening further down at the bottom.

It's because I read up on the symptoms of asbestosis, and honestly, they match mine pretty closely (the shortness of breath, the loss of appetite, all that). I live about ten miles away from any old factory, but I grew up surrounded by those old asbestos roofing materials and stuff. That's why I'm so concerned. Can you actually rely on an RTG alone to rule out this disease? I just want to know if I can rest easy or if I need to push for more intensive lung imaging.

That cardiac shadow shifting to the left on a chest RTG is exactly what you mean by being "at the bottom." It's not the perfect example, but take a look at this image.

Do you see how the heart shadow projects toward the left in the lower part of the chest on that first picture?

I'm really not an expert on how they diagnose asbestosis, but I'd imagine they'd need to see some specific changes on an RTG. They'd probably want to run a spirometry test and maybe a few other things too... though, honestly, I have a gut feeling that isn't what's going on with you.

Look, I never said for sure that these issues were psychosomatic. That's definitely a possibility, but like my buddy mentioned before, you really have to rule everything else out first. And when we talk about "everything else"—especially with the Extrasystolia SV and stuff—we're mostly talking about coronary artery disease or the overall health of the heart muscle.

Amanda Gomez47, I have been dealing with similar symptoms since I was twelve years old. They used to show up about once a week, maybe a bit more often, but nothing ever felt serious until one or two months ago when things took a turn for the worse. I am twenty-two now.
I went to see Dr. Bratelj in Chicago for a consultation, where I received the following diagnoses:

Diagnosis:
Extrasystolia SV paroxysmalis-bigeminus type
Dyspnea
Chest tightness
Suspected idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, NYHA Class 2

Now, someone needs to explain this to me. I tried to find an internist's post on a medical forum to copy from, but the thread got lost in the archives.

Here is what Dr. Bratelj noted in my report:

LV myocardial hypertrophy with a posterolateral Q wave, along with the echocardiogram findings, suggests that in a 22-year-old female, we are looking at the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, currently primarily localized to the posterior region.

Honestly, when people tell me I’m just being anxious—which they have suggested is a possible cause—I feel like punching them in the nose. It would take years for that kind of pain to wear off.
Since I was twelve, I have been in and out of the pediatric ward at the local hospital in Chicago for various tests. Very few of them actually yielded anything significant. To give you an idea, here is a quote from my EKG report:

"EKG is normal."
That was it. No parameters, no supporting data, no images, nothing.
My spirometry results were fine, as were my blood tests.

If you ask me, my advice is to ditch those doctors entirely. If you can afford it, go see a private specialist.
I am heading to St. Mary next month; that is where all the top-tier cardiologists in the country practice.

In my case, they mentioned it could easily be related to my kidneys as well. I had an exam for that two weeks ago, and I should have the results back in another week.

Can someone tell me, is myocarditis actually that dangerous? Is there a real chance for a full recovery, and does it leave you with serious long-term consequences?
And how do doctors actually diagnose it?

I had an EKG, an echocardiogram, a color Doppler ultrasound of my vessels, blood tests for cardiac enzymes, and an exercise stress test—everything came back completely normal. What kind of testing did you end up having, Eric?

Kenneth Jackson30 said:I had an EKG, an echocardiogram, a color Doppler ultrasound of my vessels, blood tests for cardiac enzymes, and an exercise stress test—everything came back completely normal. What kind of testing did you end up having, Eric?

They performed spirometry, a thyroid scan, and blood work. However, they refused to provide me with a Holter monitor or perform a cardiac ultrasound because they are currently under their annual budget freeze; apparently, nothing can be ordered until September. I did have a chest X-ray, though.

Ultimately, everything they skipped will be handled at St. Mary’s. They basically implied that they don't value the input of public healthcare staff anyway.

There is a man currently on his deathbed because certain tests were denied to him at the local clinic within the Mayo Clinic system. I refuse to trust them anymore or gamble with my life by relying on their word. I will simply pay out of pocket for the Holter, the stress test, and whatever else is necessary.

neontinker5 said:They performed spirometry, a thyroid scan, and blood work. However, they refused to provide me with a Holter monitor or perform a cardiac ultrasound because they are currently under their annual budget freeze; apparently, nothing can be ordered until September. I did have a chest X-ray, though.

Ultimately, everything they skipped will be handled at St. Mary’s. They basically implied that they don't value the input of public healthcare staff anyway.

There is a man currently on his deathbed because certain tests were denied to him at the local clinic within the Mayo Clinic system. I refuse to trust them anymore or gamble with my life by relying on their word. I will simply pay out of pocket for the Holter, the stress test, and whatever else is necessary.

When it comes to cardiology, I unfortunately have to agree with that comment....😢....But hey, that doesn't mean everything is garbage...it's just a matter of knowing which specific specialist is actually good so you can go to them for an ultrasound, a checkup, or whatever testing you need....

On the flip side, the way things work at St. Mary's also makes sense from a purely financial standpoint....for them, it's totally in their interest to make you redo every single test if necessary, even if you just saw the best cardiologist in the world yesterday....it's basically easy money, you know? And sometimes it's completely unnecessary...
But any sane person is going to feel exactly like you do—I mean, it's your life and your health on the line, so who's to say you shouldn't just do what they tell you to do...

Man, this could go on forever....☕

neontinker5 said:Amanda Gomez47, I have been dealing with similar symptoms since I was twelve years old. They used to show up about once a week, maybe a bit more often, but nothing ever felt serious until one or two months ago when things took a turn for the worse. I am twenty-two now.
I went to see Dr. Bratelj in Chicago for a consultation, where I received the following diagnoses:

Diagnosis:
Extrasystolia SV paroxysmalis-bigeminus type
Dyspnea
Chest tightness
Suspected idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, NYHA Class 2

Now, someone needs to explain this to me. I tried to find an internist's post on a medical forum to copy from, but the thread got lost in the archives.

Here is what Dr. Bratelj noted in my report:

LV myocardial hypertrophy with a posterolateral Q wave, along with the echocardiogram findings, suggests that in a 22-year-old female, we are looking at the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, currently primarily localized to the posterior region.

Honestly, when people tell me I’m just being anxious—which they have suggested is a possible cause—I feel like punching them in the nose. It would take years for that kind of pain to wear off.
Since I was twelve, I have been in and out of the pediatric ward at the local hospital in Chicago for various tests. Very few of them actually yielded anything significant. To give you an idea, here is a quote from my EKG report:

"EKG is normal."
That was it. No parameters, no supporting data, no images, nothing.
My spirometry results were fine, as were my blood tests.

If you ask me, my advice is to ditch those doctors entirely. If you can afford it, go see a private specialist.
I am heading to St. Mary next month; that is where all the top-tier cardiologists in the country practice.

In my case, they mentioned it could easily be related to my kidneys as well. I had an exam for that two weeks ago, and I should have the results back in another week.

So, bigeminy is basically a rhythm issue where if you look at an EKG, every single "normal" heartbeat is followed by an extrasystole—basically a skipped beat or a hiccup in the rhythm that shows up on the trace but doesn't actually result in a real contraction. Think of it like a little glitch in the system.
If you feel like scrolling, take a look at this; it lays it out pretty clearly...http://anestezija.org/index.php/Aritmije_i_antiaritmici

Dyspnea is just the medical term for shortness of breath, which in your case is clearly stemming from what's going on with your heart.
The NYHA classification ( New York Heart Association ) is how doctors grade how much heart failure a patient is experiencing. Class 1 means you don't even feel it while resting or exercising, whereas Class 4 is the most severe, where you're feeling symptoms even while just sitting still. Classes 3 and 4 are usually reserved for patients with heavy cardiac decompensation, while 1 and 2 suggest the issues are more manageable or limited.
It’s not a perfect system, but it's the standard most people use.
When a heart starts failing (decompensating), it actually grows larger to try and compensate—that’s where the word hypertrophic comes from. On an RTG, the heart might look massive. A buddy of mine recently asked me if that meant the heart was getting "stronger," but it's actually the exact opposite—it's getting sick and weaker, so it enlarges as a struggle to keep up.
The term idiopathic just means they haven't figured out the underlying cause of why it's happening yet.

Looking at all this, especially considering how young you are, you're dealing with something pretty serious. Sending you nothing but good vibes for your treatment and wishing you the best of luck!😉

Amanda Gomez47 said:Can someone tell me, is myocarditis actually that dangerous? Is there a real chance for a full recovery, and does it leave you with serious long-term consequences?
And how do doctors actually diagnose it?

Myocarditis can definitely be pretty scary since it can lead to heart failure, which is basically when the heart just can't keep up anymore. But honestly, there's a solid chance for things to turn around, though it really all comes down to what triggered it and how it plays out for you personally.
Doctors usually pin it down by looking at your overall symptoms, doing an echocardiogram, or running a stress test... just like Eric mentioned earlier...

Where has doc1 been hiding all this time?....😕...I’m starting to get a little worried here...hope everything is okay on his end...😍

Scott Allen10 said:So, bigeminy is basically a rhythm issue where if you look at an EKG, every single "normal" heartbeat is followed by an extrasystole—basically a skipped beat or a hiccup in the rhythm that shows up on the trace but doesn't actually result in a real contraction. Think of it like a little glitch in the system.
If you feel like scrolling, take a look at this; it lays it out pretty clearly...http://anestezija.org/index.php/Aritmije_i_antiaritmici

Dyspnea is just the medical term for shortness of breath, which in your case is clearly stemming from what's going on with your heart.
The NYHA classification ( New York Heart Association ) is how doctors grade how much heart failure a patient is experiencing. Class 1 means you don't even feel it while resting or exercising, whereas Class 4 is the most severe, where you're feeling symptoms even while just sitting still. Classes 3 and 4 are usually reserved for patients with heavy cardiac decompensation, while 1 and 2 suggest the issues are more manageable or limited.
It’s not a perfect system, but it's the standard most people use.
When a heart starts failing (decompensating), it actually grows larger to try and compensate—that’s where the word hypertrophic comes from. On an RTG, the heart might look massive. A buddy of mine recently asked me if that meant the heart was getting "stronger," but it's actually the exact opposite—it's getting sick and weaker, so it enlarges as a struggle to keep up.
The term idiopathic just means they haven't figured out the underlying cause of why it's happening yet.

Looking at all this, especially considering how young you are, you're dealing with something pretty serious. Sending you nothing but good vibes for your treatment and wishing you the best of luck!😉

My heart looks fine on the RTG, so even if I really do have myocarditis (I've got a cardiologist appointment coming up soon to find out), it hasn't turned into something permanent or incurable yet, despite all these symptoms I'm feeling.

Scott Allen10 said:Myocarditis can definitely be pretty scary since it can lead to heart failure, which is basically when the heart just can't keep up anymore. But honestly, there's a solid chance for things to turn around, though it really all comes down to what triggered it and how it plays out for you personally.
Doctors usually pin it down by looking at your overall symptoms, doing an echocardiogram, or running a stress test... just like Eric mentioned earlier...

What if it’s just a virus?
I read somewhere that you can't be 100% sure it's just that unless they actually perform a biopsy. Isn't that right?

Scott Allen10 said:When it comes to cardiology, I unfortunately have to agree with that comment....😢....But hey, that doesn't mean everything is garbage...it's just a matter of knowing which specific specialist is actually good so you can go to them for an ultrasound, a checkup, or whatever testing you need....

On the flip side, the way things work at St. Mary's also makes sense from a purely financial standpoint....for them, it's totally in their interest to make you redo every single test if necessary, even if you just saw the best cardiologist in the world yesterday....it's basically easy money, you know? And sometimes it's completely unnecessary...
But any sane person is going to feel exactly like you do—I mean, it's your life and your health on the line, so who's to say you shouldn't just do what they tell you to do...

Man, this could go on forever....☕

It is certainly true that there are plenty of decent, hardworking people out there who take pride in their profession. However, I have reached a point where I am no longer willing to simply place my trust blindly in someone else's hands. Even the slightest unverified rumor is enough reason for me to seek out a fifth opinion if necessary. Given my past experiences, can I really afford to be any less cautious? Clearly, I cannot.

Regarding Magdalena, I will say this again: let them perform whatever tests they deem necessary. We are dealing with specialists who have spent decades at institutions like the Mayo Clinic and are highly trained professionals who teach at major medical universities. Besides, I have personally received excellent feedback from several people who were treated there.
I’m starting to sound like an advertisement. 🙂

Scott Allen10 said:So, bigeminy is basically a rhythm issue where if you look at an EKG, every single "normal" heartbeat is followed by an extrasystole—basically a skipped beat or a hiccup in the rhythm that shows up on the trace but doesn't actually result in a real contraction. Think of it like a little glitch in the system.
If you feel like scrolling, take a look at this; it lays it out pretty clearly...http://anestezija.org/index.php/Aritmije_i_antiaritmici

Dyspnea is just the medical term for shortness of breath, which in your case is clearly stemming from what's going on with your heart.
The NYHA classification ( New York Heart Association ) is how doctors grade how much heart failure a patient is experiencing. Class 1 means you don't even feel it while resting or exercising, whereas Class 4 is the most severe, where you're feeling symptoms even while just sitting still. Classes 3 and 4 are usually reserved for patients with heavy cardiac decompensation, while 1 and 2 suggest the issues are more manageable or limited.
It’s not a perfect system, but it's the standard most people use.
When a heart starts failing (decompensating), it actually grows larger to try and compensate—that’s where the word hypertrophic comes from. On an RTG, the heart might look massive. A buddy of mine recently asked me if that meant the heart was getting "stronger," but it's actually the exact opposite—it's getting sick and weaker, so it enlarges as a struggle to keep up.
The term idiopathic just means they haven't figured out the underlying cause of why it's happening yet.

Looking at all this, especially considering how young you are, you're dealing with something pretty serious. Sending you nothing but good vibes for your treatment and wishing you the best of luck!😉

When Dr. Bratelj examined me, she explained that my shortness of breath falls somewhere between stage one and stage two; she even showed me the specifics in an international medical textbook.

Regarding the size of my heart, I'm not entirely sure if it's moderately enlarged or significantly large. However, I've always been quite active in sports, and I recall reading that it's perfectly normal for athletes to have larger hearts than sedentary individuals.
Essentially, she mentioned some sort of thickening, perhaps hypertrophy, located near the apex of the heart, noting that it isn't pumping blood with the volume a typical heart should.

Dammit, I’ve already cycled through three different cardiologists, and honestly? None of them are taking my symptoms seriously. It’s reaching a point where I can barely function in my daily life. If you look online, the possibilities for what I'm feeling are endless—everything from heart failure and decompensation to myocarditis, which I've read can be incredibly tricky to actually detect and diagnose. So far, nobody has been able to pinpoint the actual cause of why this is happening to me.

Hey there. Just stumbled upon this thread and noticed some symptoms that sound pretty similar to what I’m dealing with.
For about 2 or 3 years now, I’ve had this daily sensation—a sort of tightness around my heart. It’s hard to put into words; it feels like a weight combined with this weird tickling sensation. On top of that, I have this persistent cough almost every day—sometimes mild, sometimes more intense. I’ve gone through the whole ringer: blood work, echocardiogram, chest RTG, spirometry, and even an endoscopy (you know, swallowing the pill and getting imaged while lying down). Most recently, I had my thyroid checked via blood tests. I spoke with my doctor—a major specialist at the Mayo Clinic—and he basically told me it's all in my head. My cardiologist said the same thing. Apparently, I’m just the type of person who internalizes everything and stays overly sensitive, and they think that's the root of it.
Looking back objectively, he might be right. When I start dwelling on life's problems, the feeling gets worse—and if I'm stuck in a stressful situation, the coughing flares up immediately.
I don't smoke, I don't drink, I hit the gym a few times a week, and I watch my diet.
Not sure if I'm in the right place, but maybe this helps someone out a little.

Lisa Martin10 said:Hey there. Just stumbled upon this thread and noticed some symptoms that sound pretty similar to what I’m dealing with.
For about 2 or 3 years now, I’ve had this daily sensation—a sort of tightness around my heart. It’s hard to put into words; it feels like a weight combined with this weird tickling sensation. On top of that, I have this persistent cough almost every day—sometimes mild, sometimes more intense. I’ve gone through the whole ringer: blood work, echocardiogram, chest RTG, spirometry, and even an endoscopy (you know, swallowing the pill and getting imaged while lying down). Most recently, I had my thyroid checked via blood tests. I spoke with my doctor—a major specialist at the Mayo Clinic—and he basically told me it's all in my head. My cardiologist said the same thing. Apparently, I’m just the type of person who internalizes everything and stays overly sensitive, and they think that's the root of it.
Looking back objectively, he might be right. When I start dwelling on life's problems, the feeling gets worse—and if I'm stuck in a stressful situation, the coughing flares up immediately.
I don't smoke, I don't drink, I hit the gym a few times a week, and I watch my diet.
Not sure if I'm in the right place, but maybe this helps someone out a little.

I’m going to give you my two cents. When I was twelve, they told me my results were just a byproduct of pre-puberty and that there was absolutely nothing to worry about. Fast forward ten years to now, and let me tell you—I am definitely worrying.
If a patient with that specific diagnosis was only given a standard EKG after complaining, they might have been spared the devastating news that they perhaps only have a year left to live.

So, you're dealing with the same symptoms as me?
I already went in for an EKG—that was my first step—and they noted a rapid heart rate. I can't remember the exact reading right now, but I'll check my notes and get back to you. Honestly, though, my pulse spikes whenever things get stressful. It's just how I react to pressure.
The cardiologist ran an ultrasound and said everything looks fine with my heart.
I'm 22, by the way.

We might not be dealing with the exact same symptoms, but my point remains: you shouldn't take your health for granted. I know plenty of people who refuse to see a doctor, opting instead to say, "It'll pass" or "It's all in my head." Of course, you don't need to rush to the clinic for a bruised finger or a minor scratch from earlier today—you'll survive until tomorrow.

What frustrates me is that I actually took precautions. No drugs, no alcohol, no smoking, and no greasy fast food, yet here I am, facing this anyway. 🙄

neontinker5 said:We might not be dealing with the exact same symptoms, but my point remains: you shouldn't take your health for granted. I know plenty of people who refuse to see a doctor, opting instead to say, "It'll pass" or "It's all in my head." Of course, you don't need to rush to the clinic for a bruised finger or a minor scratch from earlier today—you'll survive until tomorrow.

What frustrates me is that I actually took precautions. No drugs, no alcohol, no smoking, and no greasy fast food, yet here I am, facing this anyway. 🙄

Look, obviously you should get all the tests done to rule out anything physical. I’ve gone through a full battery of exams four different times because that nagging sensation just wouldn't leave me alone. We aren't all built the same when it comes to anxiety and nerves—I honestly felt like I was dying during my first panic attack, and those palpitations still hit me today during public speaking, or even during sex when things are at their peak.😛, damn it, we weren't all born with bulletproof nervous systems.🤷Even now, I catch myself "waiting" for the skipping to start or for the panic to set in, especially if I had a few too many drinks the night before.

Kenneth Jackson30 said:Look, obviously you should get all the tests done to rule out anything physical. I’ve gone through a full battery of exams four different times because that nagging sensation just wouldn't leave me alone. We aren't all built the same when it comes to anxiety and nerves—I honestly felt like I was dying during my first panic attack, and those palpitations still hit me today during public speaking, or even during sex when things are at their peak.😛, damn it, we weren't all born with bulletproof nervous systems.🤷Even now, I catch myself "waiting" for the skipping to start or for the panic to set in, especially if I had a few too many drinks the night before.

Cut back on sex, hard liquor, and avoid public speaking😉 😁

I honestly doubt it's all in my head. I've dealt with much more stressful situations than relaxing on vacation, lounging by the pool, or playing a casual game of billiards or soccer without a single worry in my mind.

It's easy to blame it on your head; just pop a couple of those "happy pills" and suddenly everything is fine, right?🙂

Greetings,

Back in November, I was diagnosed with what they call extrasystoles—basically premature heartbeats or skipped beats. I've been managing it with medication, which works, but the side effects are a real pain; I'm dealing with constant fatigue, leg aches, and occasional stomach cramps.

I finally made it to my ultrasound appointment today, though I haven't had a chance to sit down with my primary care physician to go over the results yet. I’m hoping to get an appointment soon, but since I have no idea what this report actually means, I’m turning to you all for some insight.

The main part says this:

Mitral valve: somewhat voluminous mitral cusp, minimal regurgitation...

Everything else looks normal.

Can anyone tell me what that implies? Thanks!