Aa
palpitations is it due to mvp
i have just had ep studies that couldnt find cause for my arrythmias.so why has it been bad since.i cant eat or sleep or infact do anything as my heart is all over the place.i have mitral prolapse so surely this must be the reason why and therefore why dont they do something abt it.i dont think i can cope with another day
The anxiety will almost certainly not just 'go away,' but it is possible--with help--to calm your nervous system down so your emotional (and physical) state will be a LOT better.
I took the liberty of checking out how you Brits might get an appointment with a psychiatrist, working with your National Health Service:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/depression/204680.html
Do persevere. You owe it to yourself. Good luck to you.
thankyou so much for your reply.yes ive had stress test etc.i have just seen my dr as i was losing the plot today.i have been given inderal and more diazapam.i wish the anxiety would go as imexhausted.i wil try to find shrink although not easy over here!!you know what us english are like!!!
your help is so appreciated and i have read over and over what you have said.i asked my dr why we dont recognise mvp like in america and why we are just left to cope alone and he just said i cant anwser that i dont know!!well i will try to get through another night.take care wont you lou x
your help is so appreciated and i have read over and over what you have said.i asked my dr why we dont recognise mvp like in america and why we are just left to cope alone and he just said i cant anwser that i dont know!!well i will try to get through another night.take care wont you lou x
To sum up, lou, in total you report an *extremely* thorough examination of your heart, which would not have been done unless you were taken seriously as far as medical needs were and are concerned. It appears that your physical findings were rather mild cardiac arrhythmias. You report shortness of breath during activities, and *sometimes* experiencing chest pain, but you do not report any of the symptoms of true cardiac crisis, such as fainting, crushing chest pain, disabling shortness of breath, nausea, nor the diaphoresis of shock.
A lot of important questions remain unanswered, among them these:
Was there a stress test? (but your cardiac investigations have been so complete that this must have been done.)
What diagnosis did you receive?
What medical advice did you receive about your condition—how to deal with your symptoms, your lifestyle, your medications, and so on?
Finally, have you ever been told that your major problem is anxiety?
Nevertheless, regarding the relationship of mitral valve prolapse to your symptoms, as a nurse, you probably know that the relationship is minimal and sketchy at best:
“Anxiety, chest pain, palpitations. While it is commonly believed that MVP causes these symptoms, most individuals with MVP do not experience them, and most individuals with anxiety, chest pain and palpitations do not have MVP. A true association with MVP has never been demonstrated.”
http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/mvp/a/MVP.htm
So, reading between the lines, I suspect that you have—like many of us here—cardiac arrhythmias that are frightening but not dangerous. Fixation on these sensations has tipped you over into a chronic anxiety state that really should be treated by a good psychiatrist. The panicky symptoms you are experiencing can be greatly relieved by a combination of medications and cognitive therapy.
Look at it this way: Even if your cardiac symptoms indicate a heart that is not the perfect, youthful ideal, the fact is that it’s still functioning in a way that lets you work and take care of your children.
The bigger problem, really, is your disabling reaction to the worrisome physical sensations you feel. This is terribly common. I know, because I have experienced it myself.
On some level, I understood that I simply had to accept that my symptoms were not dangerous, but I could not control the panic that they caused me. Knowing that shrinks can prescribe medications, I found a good psychiatrist who understood I had minor heart issues and knew his pharmacology well enough to prescribe with reference to the heart.
We tried several antidepressants (as you know, there are a number to choose from, and some may cause weight gain, so changes in diet and activity may be necessary), and Zoloft turned out to be the most effective one for me. For initial treatment, I stayed on a low dose for about a year, as I recall. My doc said it was important to continue with the drug long enough to allow my hyperactive internal alarm system, as he put it, to “cool off.”
This was almost two decades ago. My pvcs and other arrhythmias are always coupled with panic attacks, and they tend to occur in ‘spells’ every few years. When they come back, I get in touch with my shrink again and take Zoloft for several months—two to four, depending—and both my panic and my awareness of the ectopic beats diminish rapidly. Most remarkably, the ectopics themselves become fainter and less numerous with this treatment.
This routine has allowed me to get my life back, and to take pleasure in being on this earth.
You are entitled to the same privilege, and I do believe it would be worth your while to explore this approach to your symptoms. If it worked even a little bit, your life would be much more pleasant and comfortable, as would that of your children.
A lot of important questions remain unanswered, among them these:
Was there a stress test? (but your cardiac investigations have been so complete that this must have been done.)
What diagnosis did you receive?
What medical advice did you receive about your condition—how to deal with your symptoms, your lifestyle, your medications, and so on?
Finally, have you ever been told that your major problem is anxiety?
Nevertheless, regarding the relationship of mitral valve prolapse to your symptoms, as a nurse, you probably know that the relationship is minimal and sketchy at best:
“Anxiety, chest pain, palpitations. While it is commonly believed that MVP causes these symptoms, most individuals with MVP do not experience them, and most individuals with anxiety, chest pain and palpitations do not have MVP. A true association with MVP has never been demonstrated.”
http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/mvp/a/MVP.htm
So, reading between the lines, I suspect that you have—like many of us here—cardiac arrhythmias that are frightening but not dangerous. Fixation on these sensations has tipped you over into a chronic anxiety state that really should be treated by a good psychiatrist. The panicky symptoms you are experiencing can be greatly relieved by a combination of medications and cognitive therapy.
Look at it this way: Even if your cardiac symptoms indicate a heart that is not the perfect, youthful ideal, the fact is that it’s still functioning in a way that lets you work and take care of your children.
The bigger problem, really, is your disabling reaction to the worrisome physical sensations you feel. This is terribly common. I know, because I have experienced it myself.
On some level, I understood that I simply had to accept that my symptoms were not dangerous, but I could not control the panic that they caused me. Knowing that shrinks can prescribe medications, I found a good psychiatrist who understood I had minor heart issues and knew his pharmacology well enough to prescribe with reference to the heart.
We tried several antidepressants (as you know, there are a number to choose from, and some may cause weight gain, so changes in diet and activity may be necessary), and Zoloft turned out to be the most effective one for me. For initial treatment, I stayed on a low dose for about a year, as I recall. My doc said it was important to continue with the drug long enough to allow my hyperactive internal alarm system, as he put it, to “cool off.”
This was almost two decades ago. My pvcs and other arrhythmias are always coupled with panic attacks, and they tend to occur in ‘spells’ every few years. When they come back, I get in touch with my shrink again and take Zoloft for several months—two to four, depending—and both my panic and my awareness of the ectopic beats diminish rapidly. Most remarkably, the ectopics themselves become fainter and less numerous with this treatment.
This routine has allowed me to get my life back, and to take pleasure in being on this earth.
You are entitled to the same privilege, and I do believe it would be worth your while to explore this approach to your symptoms. If it worked even a little bit, your life would be much more pleasant and comfortable, as would that of your children.
yes last week they inserted catheter to precipitate it but it didnt work.yes tried all meds but nothing worked.yes i have shortness of breath when doing things.i get chest pain sometimes
I'm thinking about your post, and will get back to you later with a longer response.
In the meantime, a couple more questions:
1. You say "they tried to stimulate heart but couldnt." Do you mean that they actually inserted a catheter and tried to precipitate a run of arrhythmia but could not?
2. Have you been given a trial of beta blockers for your odd beats?
3. Have you had a stress test? Related to that, when you do your normal daily activities, do you have shortness of breath when you, for example, run after your children? Do you break out into a cold sweat or experience nausea when walking up stairs? Do you have angina or the sense of pressure so great that an elephant might be sitting on your chest?
In the meantime, a couple more questions:
1. You say "they tried to stimulate heart but couldnt." Do you mean that they actually inserted a catheter and tried to precipitate a run of arrhythmia but could not?
2. Have you been given a trial of beta blockers for your odd beats?
3. Have you had a stress test? Related to that, when you do your normal daily activities, do you have shortness of breath when you, for example, run after your children? Do you break out into a cold sweat or experience nausea when walking up stairs? Do you have angina or the sense of pressure so great that an elephant might be sitting on your chest?
hi again
in reply to your questions i have had mitral valve prolapse since years 19old. as ive got older symptoms worse now 45.they caught couplets bigemminy and non sustained vt.i have episodes where my heart is banging about so hart my pulse is totally erratic but by the time ambulance arrived of course it had stopped.the same going to casualty they ignore you even though im a nurse there they treated me so badly.i asked for socond oppinion so went to london heart hospital.had internal monitor so they could try to see what was happening.it was only cos i asked for copy of my notes that i got proof what my heart was doing.ive bn told i might have focus site so they tried to stimulate heart but couldnt.i have also bn told it may be to do with leaking valve and regurgitation.i have moderate leak so i dont think they want to do surgery.im on diazepam 2mgs and i know thats not enough for me but my dr is reluctant to give more.i was on antidepressants but im off them now as weight gain but cos i cant eat now the weight is falling off me.i do have alot of stress in my life and i know that doesnt help.my husband left and im struggling to work and care for children.how do you manage if you have palpitations every day?
in reply to your questions i have had mitral valve prolapse since years 19old. as ive got older symptoms worse now 45.they caught couplets bigemminy and non sustained vt.i have episodes where my heart is banging about so hart my pulse is totally erratic but by the time ambulance arrived of course it had stopped.the same going to casualty they ignore you even though im a nurse there they treated me so badly.i asked for socond oppinion so went to london heart hospital.had internal monitor so they could try to see what was happening.it was only cos i asked for copy of my notes that i got proof what my heart was doing.ive bn told i might have focus site so they tried to stimulate heart but couldnt.i have also bn told it may be to do with leaking valve and regurgitation.i have moderate leak so i dont think they want to do surgery.im on diazepam 2mgs and i know thats not enough for me but my dr is reluctant to give more.i was on antidepressants but im off them now as weight gain but cos i cant eat now the weight is falling off me.i do have alot of stress in my life and i know that doesnt help.my husband left and im struggling to work and care for children.how do you manage if you have palpitations every day?
All my valves are somewhat leaky, but for most of them, it doesn't really matter, since the leakage is very slight.
However, I do have a faulty aortic valve, which is a little more serious, so I get tested at least once a year to see if it's getting worse. So far, it's described as 'mild,' and I just live a normal life--sometimes with lots of PVCs per day.
But back to you, your last post raises more questions.
The diazepam should be helping your anxiety, though personally I find lorazepam to work much faster. How much diazepam are you taking, how often, and for how long?
If this drug is not working, I'd suggest it is time to ask for a referral to a psychiatrist for specialized treatment of severe anxiety. Can your regular doctor do that if you request it, saying that you are suffering too much as things are?
You say that you have an arrhythmia. Do you know what kind? Have you been told that it is dangerous? If you have been told it is NOT dangerous, that is the truth, no matter how totally chaotic your heartbeats may feel.
How long ago did you have the internal monitor installed, and for what reason?
When is your next follow-up visit to talk about what's been found on your monitor?
Have you been given any heart medications?
What kind of advice has your doctor given you about your ticker? That is, have you been told to get more exercise, less exercise--anything like that?
Do you smoke?
(About the ER: Over here, we also sit around for hours waiting to be seen--not much difference between the two countries that way!)
However, I do have a faulty aortic valve, which is a little more serious, so I get tested at least once a year to see if it's getting worse. So far, it's described as 'mild,' and I just live a normal life--sometimes with lots of PVCs per day.
But back to you, your last post raises more questions.
The diazepam should be helping your anxiety, though personally I find lorazepam to work much faster. How much diazepam are you taking, how often, and for how long?
If this drug is not working, I'd suggest it is time to ask for a referral to a psychiatrist for specialized treatment of severe anxiety. Can your regular doctor do that if you request it, saying that you are suffering too much as things are?
You say that you have an arrhythmia. Do you know what kind? Have you been told that it is dangerous? If you have been told it is NOT dangerous, that is the truth, no matter how totally chaotic your heartbeats may feel.
How long ago did you have the internal monitor installed, and for what reason?
When is your next follow-up visit to talk about what's been found on your monitor?
Have you been given any heart medications?
What kind of advice has your doctor given you about your ticker? That is, have you been told to get more exercise, less exercise--anything like that?
Do you smoke?
(About the ER: Over here, we also sit around for hours waiting to be seen--not much difference between the two countries that way!)
i am on diazepam from my gp but i had to beg for that. and they wont give me any more.i have been to the ER and they leave me sitting there for hours and then send me home as though im a nutter.i have internal monitor insitu and it shows i have runs of arryyhmia and the other day it lasted for an hour non stop.do you have mitral valve prolaspe?i wil try to get book off internet,thankyou for your help as i feel so alone
OK, so you are in the UK, and your health care system has built-in delays.
Three thoughts:
1. You are in NO danger from your mitral valve prolapse. This is an extremely common condition and one that is generally conceded to be something of an incidental finding. In your case, believe me, its importance to your health has been assessed and found to be essentially nil. You have to believe that in this instance you have no risk of a fatal arrhythmia.
2. You are in a state of panic. This is the kind of thing that allows us Americans to seek help at the Emergency Room for acute care. Often this amounts to no more than an diagnosis of panic attack, and we are sent out the door with a prescription for a low-dose, short-acting anti anxiety medication like Lorazepam. This is exactly what you need to tide you over until you can schedule an appointment with a shrink. No, you will not become an addict because of this.
Is this an avenue that is open to you? You need not be embarrassed about "bothering" physicians in the ER with emotional problems. They are real and painful and every doctor knows this, and sometimes emergency room doctors can facilitate an earlier appointment with another doctor.
3. There is an excellent, cheap little paperback that deals with anxiety and panic attacks. It is "Hope and Help For Your Nerves," by Dr. Claire Weekes. She writes about the very symptoms you are experiencing, explains them, and provides mental exercises to help calm yourself down. This little book really should be in everyone's home library. It is that helpful.
I know it is very difficult in your state of mind to think clearly, but please consider what I have written, and try to find immediate care for your emotional needs, not what you think are your physical problems.
Three thoughts:
1. You are in NO danger from your mitral valve prolapse. This is an extremely common condition and one that is generally conceded to be something of an incidental finding. In your case, believe me, its importance to your health has been assessed and found to be essentially nil. You have to believe that in this instance you have no risk of a fatal arrhythmia.
2. You are in a state of panic. This is the kind of thing that allows us Americans to seek help at the Emergency Room for acute care. Often this amounts to no more than an diagnosis of panic attack, and we are sent out the door with a prescription for a low-dose, short-acting anti anxiety medication like Lorazepam. This is exactly what you need to tide you over until you can schedule an appointment with a shrink. No, you will not become an addict because of this.
Is this an avenue that is open to you? You need not be embarrassed about "bothering" physicians in the ER with emotional problems. They are real and painful and every doctor knows this, and sometimes emergency room doctors can facilitate an earlier appointment with another doctor.
3. There is an excellent, cheap little paperback that deals with anxiety and panic attacks. It is "Hope and Help For Your Nerves," by Dr. Claire Weekes. She writes about the very symptoms you are experiencing, explains them, and provides mental exercises to help calm yourself down. This little book really should be in everyone's home library. It is that helpful.
I know it is very difficult in your state of mind to think clearly, but please consider what I have written, and try to find immediate care for your emotional needs, not what you think are your physical problems.
thankyou so much for your reply.im again awake with the palpitations.you are right im in such a state of anxiety.im from the uk so getting help is impossible.i know i have mitral valve prolapse and i read so much abt dangerous arrhythmias ,i try to stay calm but it is constant and i cant function.that cant be right.im struggling to continue to be honest.
lou, you CAN cope with another day. Your heart has been found to be OK, and it really is. Your odd beats, believe it or not, are experienced by everyone, but only the very sensitive among us actually feel them to any extent.
The truth is that your studies have shown that your heart is healthy. You have to believe it, because the medical community would only get money for treating you if something were wrong. Would they (or any other business) turn you away under those circumstances?
Your heart and nervous system are sending you information about weird beats, which everyone has--they really do--but NOT everyone notices this sort of thing. Only the very aware among us (and there are a lot of us on this board) notice these funny beats enough to be truly disturbed by them. Your mitral valve prolapse may or may not be contributing, but in any case, your life is not in any danger.
Only your sanity is at risk.
Now, to address this--please take my advice here, since it is based on decades of experience with the same problem you have--make an appointment on Monday with a good psychiatrist. Tell the receptionist that you have ectopic heartbeats, that your heart has been checked out and found to be healthy but that you are driven to distraction by fear about this. Could the doctor please help you?
That is your first step to gaining control of this situation.
The truth is that your studies have shown that your heart is healthy. You have to believe it, because the medical community would only get money for treating you if something were wrong. Would they (or any other business) turn you away under those circumstances?
Your heart and nervous system are sending you information about weird beats, which everyone has--they really do--but NOT everyone notices this sort of thing. Only the very aware among us (and there are a lot of us on this board) notice these funny beats enough to be truly disturbed by them. Your mitral valve prolapse may or may not be contributing, but in any case, your life is not in any danger.
Only your sanity is at risk.
Now, to address this--please take my advice here, since it is based on decades of experience with the same problem you have--make an appointment on Monday with a good psychiatrist. Tell the receptionist that you have ectopic heartbeats, that your heart has been checked out and found to be healthy but that you are driven to distraction by fear about this. Could the doctor please help you?
That is your first step to gaining control of this situation.
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