Hi All -

I have MVP - diag'd when i was like 16 now im 28. Over the past 5 or 6 years Ive developed alot more anxiety, feel palpitations sometimes, or a skipped beat, etc etc. Im currently on Atenolol 2x a day @ 50mg and Lotrel 5/20 once a day for HBP.

Ive heard that MVP can be a cause for the anxiety problems etc, is this true? Because of the anxiety im also on zoloft and xanax right now...but for the life of me id love to nail down the cause...

I also have been diag'd with sleep apnea and have been on cpap for 6 months. Im 6' 215lbs.

Any MVP Info would be great!

Thanks,
Adam

Hi All -

I have MVP - diag'd when i was like 16 now im 28. Over the past 5 or 6 years Ive developed alot more anxiety, feel palpitations sometimes, or a skipped beat, etc etc. Im currently on Atenolol 2x a day @ 50mg and Lotrel 5/20 once a day for HBP.

Ive heard that MVP can be a cause for the anxiety problems etc, is this true? Because of the anxiety im also on zoloft and xanax right now...but for the life of me id love to nail down the cause...

I also have been diag'd with sleep apnea and have been on cpap for 6 months. Im 6' 215lbs.

Any MVP Info would be great!

Thanks,
Adam

Adam, I've read two great books on MVPS (which I also have). The books have explained a lot for me including the anxiety, which I've always battled.
The books are: Confronting Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome by Lyn Fredrickson, and The Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome/Dysautonomia Survival Guide by James F. Durante.
The books explain each symptom, discuss diet & exersize for MVP, meds for MVP, etc. Very informative and I found them easy reading.
Something I found interesting and has helped me with the palpitations is simply drinking more water.
The anxiety is a tough issue. Lots of meds for that, like the ones you are taking. I just personally hate meds, but do take high BP meds, too. I tried the beta blockers for the palpitations, but hated the side effects, so opted out of those. I recently added fish oil capsules to my diet, just because they're supposed to be good for many things, and found that after a couple of weeks of using the fish oil, my anxiety just left. Haven't had anxiety attacks in about 2 and a half weeks, which is very rare for me.
But the books are well worth reading for anyone with MVP of MVPS.
Hellas

A lot of cardiologists these days are questioning whether MVP is even a real problem or not.

A lot of cardiologists these days are questioning whether MVP is even a real problem or not.

That'a true enough. However cardiologists deal with the mechanics of the heart alone. Simply treating the symptoms of heart disease. Mitral valve prolapse, in and of itself, is simply a variation of the way the valve opens & closes, sometimes causing regurgitation in varying degrees, palpitations and occassionally angina-like pains. MVP itself often causes no symptoms. MVPS & MVPSD is MVP with additional symptoms of the autonomic nervous system. Coincidentally the nervous system and the mitral valve are formed in the fetus at the same time.
Whether MVPS is believed by cardiologists or not, people with MVP often share like stories of symptoms throughout their lives. Anxiety, fatigue, low tolerance for exercise, usually tall, have some curvature to the spine(scoliosis), etc, etc.
I have a relatively rare eye condition, too. Most doctors haven't seen it (or rarely) and treat it as best they can, with the knowledge they have. That doesn't mean it isn't a real condition...just that they don't know what to do with it...so they treat the symptoms. MVPS/MVPSD may well be the same thing...they treat the symptoms (if any) and can do nothing more.