Anybody with mitral valve prolapse that seems to have problems with palpitations. I have had this

• Anybody with mitral valve prolapse that seems to have problems with palpitations. I have had this - MT
  • MVP - A
  • I find that if I ....sm - MVP2
    • Yes and I get them almost every day. I think too when I am stressed which is a lot I think that - MT

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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.