I am a 23 year old female that one day had severe chest pain. This was the day that changed my life. I was at work, like any other day, when suddenly I had a terrible pain in my chest, I felt very short of breath, with hot flashes. I thought I was just sick. I turned pale white and felt as though I was going to pass out. With in two hours of feeling this way I was in the hospital hooked up to different machines. They couldn't determine what was wrong with me. I went home and two days later another episode that brought me to tears. I started noticing how I was short of breath after doing little things, like walking to the restroom or even from the living room to the kitchen to make coffee. My Dr. was struggling but determined to find what was wrong. He mentioned at one of my exams an irregular heart beat. He ordered an echo when finding out my father passed away at a young age, 47, do to an undetected heart problem. The echo showed the signs and confirmed that I had MVP. I kept complaining of a pressure on my chest. It felt like 10 tons of bricks just sitting there. Even though I was breathing and getting oxygen it felt as though I wasn't. My Dr. ordered every test known to man kind, to find out that it is MVP. It's been 2 months since all of this has started, I still have the pressure in my chest, I get the palpitations every day, and I am ready for a nap at about 2:00pm every day. It's encouraging to know that this is common. I have learned to live with the complications as mine don't seem to subside very often. I have taken things out of my life, IE. Coffee, alcohol etc. As it makes me feel worse, and my palpitations worse when those things are in my blood stream. It's hard being so young as the doctors are afraid to do anything. Every day is a new day and a new experience. My doctor right now is working towards getting me the proper medication needed so I can maintain a normal life.

I'm from Palestine, since 4 years ago, when I was 20 years old, I was feeling irregular pulse rhythm and some chest pain, I visited many doctors but none of them determined my case. For making me relax they advise me to take Beta Blocker, I used to take beta blocker all the last period every 2 days.2 years ago a doctor determined that I have MVP and ask me to continue in taking beta blocker. So I feel depressed because I have to deal with beta blocker all the rest of my life. but before 2 months I research about MVP on the net and I found many useful things and I realized that MVP is related directly to the nervous system which affected by many kinds of food. So I begin drinking 2 liters of water daily and avoid taking caffeine especially coffee, tea, and chocolate. Now I just want to tell you that I stop taking BETA BLOCKER, and didn't feel any of the last symptoms, but some time I feel irregular pulse but I take some relaxers and every thing is going fine.

I have found that 200 mg of CoQ10 helps reduce/eliminate the palpitations.

I get nervous and I didn't know what to do until I went to specialist of the heart and she found out that I have "MVP". I was shocked and I can't accept it because there's no treatment for this. Now I have my maintenance. For now I'm still adjusting because I cannot live the way I want. Well that's life. Venz from the Phillipines.

I have MVP and A-fib. I was misdiagnosed for years. I was told it was panic attacks and was prescribed valium which I refused to take. I still deal with the emotional problems with MVP. They vary from extreme depression to anger. I have hot flashes that make me feel as if my body is on fire on the inside .I have trouble sleeping because when I lay down it feels like a drum solo is beating in my chest. I cannot enjoy my life anymore.

I was diagnosed with MVP 25 years ago, 6 months after the birth of my first child. Symptoms included fluttering, palpitations for no apparent reason, occasional discomfort in my forearm, persistent cold hands and feet, not able to get a deep breath. At times, I would experience a crushing feeling in the center of my chest when lying on one side or the other. Diagnosis came when I saw a cardiologist and he did an echocardiogram. What a relief to find that it was not life threatening. Stress seemed to be the trigger for years afterwards. Now, it's definitely caffeine that brings on these feelings. Coffee and diet coke are both culprits. Drinking lots of water seems to help...and staying away from caffeine. I have echocardiograms done about every 5 years.

I am 45 yrs young and I was diagnosed with MVP 8 yrs ago. Symptoms started suddenly: very short of breath with little activity, heart pounding and racing in chest, chest hurting, feeling like I was going to pass out if I stood too much, panic attack feelings out of the blue, and just plain fatigued all the time. I saw a cardiologist and was put on meds, which helped but needed to really trial and error the dosage. ALSO- very important! If you can: A neurologist may also be able to help you if you feel nothing is working. My cardiologist referred me to a neurologist for neurocardiogenic syncope - which is your body being off balance (autonomic system) due to your MVP including how it affects your nervous system. Together, the neurologist and cardio MD were able to come up with medications (cardio and neuro) that really help me have a better active life than I had before. Not a miracle but much better than I was. Unfortunately, it is frustrating that everything takes so much time to figure out, but hang in there. And keep pushing your doctors for answers and options if you are not satisfied. You are the patient. Doctors are there to help you. Hope this helps, RNMSN