My Story


In the summer of '85, I remember waking up after a good night sleep still being tired. My husband was excited because he was taking me to lunch at "Betsy's", some new "down home" chicken place.

We got in the car, (a "68" ice-blue Mustang) and headed to the restaurant. I was slouching down in the seat trying to get deeper breaths and was thinking I must be having a bad allergy day. That day we were having a really bad dust storm. We hadn't had rain in a long time and the wind was really blowing. The sky was brown from all the dirt but we had a beautiful sunset that night I remember.

We got to the diner and ordered our food and I started to feel dizzy. I got a little scared because I couldn't catch my breath very well either. I looked to my husband and told him he'd better get me to a hospital. By then, I was really getting scared and I started to panic. I really thought I was having an asthma attack. Not that I knew what they were because I'd never had one.

We got to the emergency room and my husband was kind of drag /carrying me in. It must have looked pretty comical!! I giggle now just thinking about it. When I got into the hospital, they asked me all kinds of questions and I remember thinking "why don't they just shut up and give me something to make me feel better?". I was shaking so bad my teeth were chattering. They ran a bunch of tests and when the doc got there, he listened to my heart, heard the clicking and diagnosed Mitral Valve Prolapse. He told me I had a panic attack which made everything worse.

I was really scared. I made an appointment with a cardiologist who explained everything to me. He went down a whole list of symptoms, most of which I really didn't have. He recommended exercise and a good diet..I felt really good when I walked out of his office. However, I noticed at night lying in bed I would feel my pulse and watch too closely how I was breathing and would think I wasn't doing it right. But time went on and I got back to my old self. I've always liked to do all the "handy man" stuff around my house myself. Physical work is what I like to do best! I feel so proud of myself when I know I've done a good job!

Years went by and some symptoms would show up but I just ignored them. I always had the "skipped heart beat" but just didn't pay attention to it..I just coughed and went on. Two babies and several surgeries later I notice that I was getting more of the symptoms of Mitral Valve Prolapse. I mostly felt tired and had low energy days. But still, I kept going. I started feeling not so immortal when I couldn't get out of bed without just about passing out. I was short of breath and my arms were so very weak I didn't want to lift anything. I couldn't even hold my babies.

When I have these "spells", I've learned the best thing I can do is rest. Slowly but surely I get better.. stronger..I start to feel immortal again.

Here are some of my symptoms:

• a lot of muscle aches
• shortness of breath
• weakness in arms
• dizzy feelings (especially when I eat)
• memory loss
• chest pain (not a lot)
• I wake up in the middle of the night gulping for air and my heart pounding
• cold hands and feet
• feeling hot most of the time (I love the cold)
• headaches

The thing that bothers me the most is this feeling that my body is all revved up, but exhausted at the same time.

I've been feeling pretty good ..trying to exercise and eat good. I have started a Taekwondo class to learn self defense. It has been great for me!! It really gets my heart pounding and its great exercise.
The hardest thing for me to do is to stay away from the sweets!!

I would love to hear from any one with Mitral Valve Prolapse. Our own support group would be great!!

Email me!! Just click the box and go!

Other MVP Links

Confronting MVPS
by
Lyn Frederickson

Mitral Valve Prolapse
Awesome Home Page!!


MVPSupport


Peggy's MVP Page (WOW!!)


The Importance of Magnesium in MVP.
George Eby's Site







Special thanks to Tammy B.!!
I don't know what I would do without you!!