Hi ~ I have mitral valve prolapse too, and it can be a real problem. It also caused me panic attacks, cause my heart would start beating OVER 200 beats per minute -- the doc couldn't even count my pulse as it got too fast. So she put me on Inderal, a Beta blocker. That really helped alot, and it slowed the pulse down big time. It didn't stop the panic attacks, but at least my heart beat wasn't over the roof all the time.

The panic was the worst. I had to get control over that -- and my doc prescribed Xanax which was a big mistake. That's only for short term use, according to prescribing information. Well, she prescribed it long-term and I got addicted to it. I abused it too. So I had to get OFF of it, cause I knew what I was doing was WRONG. I didn't know you weren't supposed to cold-turkey, so I did -- and boy was that awful!

I learned how to stop my own panic attacks. My husband helped me with it. He just told me to ask myself "What's the worst that could happen?" when I'm haviing a panic attack. So I thought about that -- the worst that could happen was that I'd faint. And someone would call an ambulance, and I'd go to the hospital. Big deal. I could handle that. So I quit worryiing about the panic attacks. And after awhile, they stopped altogether. Go figure! LOL

I don't have much problems anymore with the mitral valve. I have to watch it and see the doctor often, but other than that, I'm fine. Best of luck & God bless. Hugs, Lee