Chest pain

May said:

I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse 15 years ago
after a severe bout of chest pain (I thought I was having
a heart attack). Since then, I have been on various beta-
blockers - Inderal, Corgard, now Toprol. Even with the beta-
blocker, I still get chest pain, a heavy pressure that
feels like someone is sitting on my chest and I can't
breathe. The pain is not related to anything I am doing
like exercising, eating, or resting, and it seems to be
purely at random. I was given pain medication at one time,
but the cure was worse than the pain.

I had to change doctors three years ago. During my last
cardiologist check-up, the doctor asked if I was having
any problems, and I told him yet again that I have
intermittant chest pain. He ordered a stress test with
Cardiolite to rule out any blockages, and the results were
negative. Now he wants me to see a GI doctor because I
might have a hiatal hernia. I did this 15 years ago and
refuse to go through that ordeal again.

You should inform your cardiologist of this fact.

Quoted message said:

My questions are these: how can the chest pain be caused
by a secret hiatal hernia that has avoided detection all
these years?

This is unlikely in light of your previous work-up.

Quoted message said:

The chest pain is not a heartburn type of pain. If the
chest pain is related to the mitral valve prolapse, then
why isn't the beta blocker helping?

Because it may be *unrelated* to the mitral valve prolapse.

Quoted message said:

What can I do to feel better without turning into a
medicated zombie?

Seek a second opinion.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for any help

You are welcome, May.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
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Board-Certified Cardiologist
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May <[email hidden]> wrote:
: I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse 15 years ago
: after a severe bout of chest pain (I thought I was having
: a heart attack). Since then, I have been on various beta-
: blockers - Inderal, Corgard, now Toprol. Even with the beta-
: blocker, I still get chest pain, a heavy pressure that
: feels like someone is sitting on my chest and I can't
: breathe. The pain is not related to anything I am doing
: like exercising, eating, or resting, and it seems to be
: purely at random. I was given pain medication at one time,
: but the cure was worse than the pain.

: I had to change doctors three years ago. During my last
: cardiologist check-up, the doctor asked if I was having
: any problems, and I told him yet again that I have
: intermittant chest pain. He ordered a stress test with
: Cardiolite to rule out any blockages, and the results were
: negative. Now he wants me to see a GI doctor because I
: might have a hiatal hernia. I did this 15 years ago and
: refuse to go through that ordeal again.

What happens when they give you a "Pink Lady"? It's a
absolutely painless (literally!) way to rule out much GERD
and esophageal/upper GI involvement occuring as Chest Pain,
as i understand it...

I've seen Nurses give them in Emerg. (Not sure if an order
is needed, or if it's a medical directive ("standing
order"😉. Anyway, they seem to do it readily for any 'chest
pain NYD' (not yet diagnosed).

Emma
🙂

May,

I have had various sporadic indigestion symptoms over the
years (never anything major). To my surprise, a recent CT
ordered for something else ... showed a Hiatal Hernia.
Didn't even know I had it.

Larry

May said:

I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse 15 years ago
after a severe bout of chest pain (I thought I was having
a heart attack). Since then, I have been on various beta-
blockers - Inderal, Corgard, now Toprol. Even with the beta-
blocker, I still get chest pain, a heavy pressure that
feels like someone is sitting on my chest and I can't
breathe. The pain is not related to anything I am doing
like exercising, eating, or resting, and it seems to be
purely at random. I was given pain medication at one time,
but the cure was worse than the pain.

I had to change doctors three years ago. During my last
cardiologist check-up, the doctor asked if I was having
any problems, and I told him yet again that I have
intermittant chest pain. He ordered a stress test with
Cardiolite to rule out any blockages, and the results were
negative. Now he wants me to see a GI doctor because I
might have a hiatal hernia. I did this 15 years ago and
refuse to go through that ordeal again.

My questions are these: how can the chest pain be
caused by a secret hiatal hernia that has avoided
detection all these years? The chest pain is not a
heartburn type of pain. If the chest pain is related to
the mitral valve prolapse, then why isn't the beta
blocker helping? What can I do to feel better without
turning into a medicated zombie?

Thanks for any help, May

"Larry" <[email hidden]> wrote ...

Quoted message said:

May,

I have had various sporadic indigestion symptoms over the
years (never anything major). To my surprise, a recent CT
ordered for something else ... showed a Hiatal Hernia.
Didn't even know I had it.

Larry

I don't have indigestion problems. Only had mild heartburn
when I was 9 months pregnant. A whole series, including GI,
for the same chest pain 15 years ago, did not reveal a
hiatal hernia, GERD, or any other gastric problems.

That's why I don't believe my cardiologist when he says that
this chest pain could be diagnosed with GI tests today. I
think he's grasping for straws. Or trying to send some
business to his GI friend. Or just telling me anything to
get me out of his office.

I have read some webpages about mitral valve prolapse
syndrome, which could explain the chest pain. I asked my
current cardiologist about any new treatments for MVPS, and
he says that there is not enough prolapse to cause symptoms.
If that's the case, then why would he prescribe beta-
blockers for me?

May