Mitral valve prolapse

You might want to check with a cardiologist and see if you have mitral valve prolapse.  From 40 on, I would get spells of feeling anxious or wanting to cry for no good reason that I could determine.  It got worse such that I felt dizzy and was sure I was going to pass out, but never did.  I thought it was an ear problem and saw an ENT.  Nothing.  My internal medicine doc sent me to a neurologist.  Nothing.  It got so bad and I was getting so agoraphobic that my next stop was psychiatry for panic attacks after over $1000 worth of lab work.  Imipramine made it worse.  It wasn't until this point that I really started to notice the palpitations and a heart rate in the 120s.  Finally saw a cardiologist who said that this had all the signs of mitral valve prolapse even if it didn't show up on an echocardiogram.  He said it wasn't uncommon in women of a certain age.  He did a Holter and a stress test, too, and put me on low-dose atenolol (beta blocker).  I've been fine since (13 years) save for a few short breakthrough episodes every few years.  Exercise helps.  Really limiting the caffeine is major (although I do cheat on chocolate).  Being careful with OTC medications (no antihistamines) helps.  Something other than Novocain at the dentist.  Atenolol is an old drug, therefore generic and cheap.  I didn't find it sedating, although that is a listed side effect.  I hope you can get a definitive answer, because if you feel anything like I did, then I know it is unpleasant in the extreme.

• Question about heart palpitations/menopause. - ME
  • Question about menopause (sm) - Menopause Mary
  • Mitral valve prolapse - Glory1863
  • Anxiety - FTMT
    • I used to have that myself. Feeling dread upon the alarm clock sm - ME
      • Anxiety - FTMT
        • My Mother said it does. She said it did not last sm - ME
          • Anxiety - FTMT
            • mind over matter - lois lain (in bed)
  • Yep. Sure is common. If I exercise regularly, the palps go away. Strong heart - muscle, no palps. The anxiety is something differe
    • ...different. And noticing it getting worse as I get older and stay - longer in this line of work. It's isolating. NM
    • thanks, i feel better now. yes, the anxiety is something different. nm - ME
      • Anxiety - FTMT
        • Oh yes. It is very annoying to say the least. sm - ME

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