After many years of having palps starting around when i was in college it took till the age 32 or so I was finally tested and told I had mild MVP. I always have had bouts of palps under stress, before my period and even with allergies and fever. The past month I have had them even moreso especially after eating??? I have also been having more hot flashes and stress surrounding my relationship, home and finances. I am by far more anxious than i have been in awhile. Who is not stressed at the sudden jump in the cost of living right?

Since the palps were becoming more regular I went to my Dr and they are going to have me on the Holter Monitor. NOw you know of course now I am more anxious. I hope they do it soon so I can just get through this part. i was not even going to check it out but thought since I am near 50, although feeling fine otherwise, I should go ahead and be sure.

Any of you have MVP? Worn a holter monitor? Worn it to work?

Dear Sbcvulcan,

Welcome to the MVP club!

I have known about my MVP since I was 30, I am now 55 (oh how I hate saying that number ). Please rest assurd that there are MANY of us out there with this benign condition. I say benign because it will not alter our life expectancy. However, I suffered from palps horribly in my early 30's, and from tachacardia-- it hardly felt benign back then. I had many a 1 a.m. phone call with my cardiologist, thinking I was going to die! Fortunately he was the best Dr. ever, and always made me feel like I was not crazy, and that my fears from the palps were important enough to listen to me no matter what time of the day or night. I was given a very low dose beta blocker (inderal) and my virtually symptoms went away. I used the beta blocker daily until I was in my early 40's-- and now only use it when I have symptoms, which has gotten much less.

The good news is that just this year, the AMA has changed the guidelines for people with MVP and we no longer have to take big doses of antibiotics before any dental work, or other surgeries, and in the past, we had to....this is good news for you being diagnosed now!

I remember very clearly how frightened I was by the palps, and what led me to going to the cardiologist and getting this all figured out, all those years ago-- and so I want you to know that I am here, any time, day or night to talk to about this-- No question will go unanswered-- so let me know if I can help you in any way.

You will get this all sorted out-- and you will feel much better soon, I promise.

Hugs, Jonesy

oh, and by the way-- I just had a repeat holtir monitor-- and I did wear it to work, under my clothes. It is slightly annoying in that you need to wear this little device for 24 hours,-- it is in a little sling that you wear around your neck and body. I just wore a bulky sweater-- no one knew it was there! It does not hurt!

Hugs- Jonesy

I was diagnosed with MVP when I was in my early 20s. So, have been living with it for over 20 years! Every doctor I've had can hear the "click" when they listen to my heart. And every doctor has said it's really no big deal. I've had a LOT of palps in the past -- they are really an annoying symptom. A low dose of beta blockers have helped me. I also changed my diet, eliminating refined sugar and caffeine. I always get more palps when my stomach is tense or I have heartburn. I try to relax & breathe into it.

I found the holtor monitor to be easy, as tests go. They just hook you up in the office, you wear it under your clothing for 24 hours & you're good to go. I actually felt comforted knowing it was there, and catching any wierd palps for my doctor to hear.

Good luck to you -- let us know how it works out!!

I guess my greatest concern woudl be that somehow my condition has changed. I am in relatively decent shape, i was not good about exercise this winter but am getting back now and am very busy and active. The palps are annoying but certainly after 20 years we do get used to it!

I am not too excited about wearing the monitor at work and having people ask questions as i am private about that stuff. i don;t want them to think i am an anxious wreck or anything. Its getting wrmer here so maybe it will be a chilly day and i can wear a sweatshirt....or sweat and hide it.

Its nice totalk to people with the same thing as I have never really known anyone. I guess it sundiagnosed alot anyways.

I just got finished wearing a Holtor a couple of weeks ago. No one can tell you have it on, really.

Mine clipped onto my waistband -- it's a little bigger than a beeper. I thought it would bother me when sleeping but it didn't.

The worst part was the sticky electrode pads made me itch -- and then left red circles for a few days after.

But wearing it was really no big deal.

I wore a Holter in February because I had palps start out of nowhere in January. It was really easy and no one could see it at all. It attached to my waistband so I did have to wear pants and not a dress.

Back in 2006, I was having tachycardia due to anemia and during the echo they said that I had "trace" regurgitation which then gets you slapped with MVP. My doctor told me not to worry about it because the echos are so sensitive these days that almost everyone gets "trace" regurgitation. They used to not see anything unless it was bad, but now they see everything. So, honestly, I don't really think I have MVP.

My Holter picked up 252 episodes of ventricular ectopy in a 24 hour period. No one was concerned but I am pushing for more tests.

I've had MVP for probably 30 years now - was originally told it was medically insignificant and if the Dr. had an ethical choice, he wouldn't have told me at all, but he did. As far as a Holter Monitor, yes, quite commonly used in diagnosis of the causes of palpitations - which (it took me 20 years to believe this) are usually called by stress - we produce adrenaline which causes our hearts to jump. Often the palpitations come on in quiet times because our minds are working overtime on a sub-conscious level. Get yourself checked out and then....just live with it, even though it scares you. In time you'll learn to overcome your fear. Remember, the more frightened you are, the more palps you'll most likely have. Try to look for other things to do and not focus on the internal and you'll be surprised how much better they get.