WPW, MVP, Sinus Tach, HTN.....so goes the story

In 1994, at the age of 15, I began having what was thought to be panic attacks by me and my parents.  These episodes would generally last an hour, and would include palpitations and shortness of breath.  In January 1997, after having several episodes lasting greater than 3 hours each, I was diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome, and then mitral valve prolapse once an echo was performed.  I was seen by a pediatric Electrophysiologist (Dr. Sterba) at the Cleveland Clinic.  An RF Ablation was performed in May of that year.

Everything was great for about a year, at which time I started experiencing sinus tachycardia with hypertension.  Resting HR of 120-140, resting BP of 180/120.  I went back to Cleveland, was put on beta blockers with the hopes of weaning me off of them and doing futher testing to determine why I was tachy.  My EKG looked normal, with no delta wave present.  

I could not tolerate being weaned off of the beta blocker, and was left on it, at the same dose (50mg Atenolol) for about 2 years.  This dose stopped holding me for 24 hours, and so I increased myself to 75mg/day (50mg qam, 25mg qpm).  I did this only until I could get in to see my family physician.  He changed me to 100mg Toprol XL qday.  This only worked for about 12 hours however, then I was once again experiencing tachycardia.  My dose was increased to 100mg bid.  This seemed to keep my heart rate down, but my htn persisted at a low level (140/110).  

I was placed on Cozaar, 50mg qday, about a year later for the htn, but it persisted, at about the same level.  Once I started seeing a cardiologist again, I was placed on 100mg Cozaar.  A year later, after a follow up visit to my cardiologist, I was then placed on 100/12.5mg Hyzaar qday.  I was instructed that my BP was to stay below 120/80.  This final med has accomplished that.  I have been in the 100/60 range for some time now, which has taken a while to get used to.

I guess I was just wondering if there is anyone out there who has had a similar experience, and if they every had a definitive diagnosis?  I've never been told exactly why my heart does what it does or why my BP is what it is.  Any information would be greatly appreciated.  I've diagnosed myself with inappropriate sinus tachycardia....but, I don't know.

[SillyHeart]

I have no particular advice for you, but wanted to comment on how similar our stories are.  I, too, started having tachycardia episodes at age 13 or 14 and everyone told me they were panic attacks until I was finally diagnosed with an arrhythmia years later... it led to a lot of anxiety for me.  Did it for you, too?

[PikaPika88]

I was diagnosed in 15 years old that I had wpw.  I had His bundle ablation and now I'm 49 years old.  I still have wpw.  An active pathway connected to ventricle.  I've short bouts of tachy but the pacer take care of it.