I was told I have MVP when I was 17 since then I havent had to much problems with it. but lately in the last year or so I have had more episods where I feel like my heart is racing and I cant breath right. I have also felt like there is something wrong with me and I just cant figure it out. its weard I feel somewhat depressed and cant sleep at night. It got really bad when I found out I had a kidney infection. I dont know I guess I feel like there is something more wrong and if i dont find out what it is Im not going to be here because it will take my life. also lately it has been hard to breath and I feel like there is an elephant on my chest. every time I go to the dr they tell me there is nothing wrong with it and they look at my heart and say it is fine. does anyone else feel like this or am I just dreaming.
thanks
candace

Hi Candace, I also have MVP and it was just diagnosed a year ago. I've had heartbeat irregularities since at least my mid 20s (I'm 50 now), but in the last two years, its been much worse. Like you, I have trouble sleeping at night because my heart is acting up. Not every night, but very frequently, I will wake up with my heart flopping around like a fish out of water. The cardiologist says not to worry (I had an echo and a Halter monitor), but this is easier said than done. I sometimes wonder how much of a role hormones have in this.

I also feel breathless when my heart is throwing PVCs every other beat. Every 4-5 beats, and I don't notice it as much. The main reason I'm posting is that a lot of people don't realize that many people with MVP have panic attacks. My doctor says its easily one out of four. And no one knows why. For some reason, the MVP triggers panic in some people. I am a very emotionally sensitive person, and that could play a role. Have you talked to your doctor about anxiety? This could be what your problem is, since your symptoms sound very similar to mine.

You mentioned your symptoms getting worse after finding out you had a kidney infection. This makes me wonder even more if you might also have health anxiety, and this can easily cause panic attacks. I've had the problem for some time now. There are message boards just for people who have MVP, and after visiting some of them, I find that what my doctor told me is true - people with MVP are super sensitive to their environments and every little sensation in their bodies. They panic easily and often have chronic high levels of stress.

I take Propanolol three times a day, and this helps somewhat with the heartbeat irregularities, although I still have episodes that are pretty severe. I also take Xanax as needed, and this helps to calm me down when I'm having an especially hard time of it. This is why I brought up the idea of you talking to your doctor about anxiety. Sounds as if you might benefit from medication. No one should suffer like that. I know exactly how you feel - when your heart acts up badly you sometimes wonder if you are going to die before it goes back into a normal rhythm. Please keep me updated.

Randi

Randi,

Thank you for the comments. I go back to the Dr on Tuesday I will talk with him about it.

Candace