Arrythmia, MVP or anxiety....please help

[Jean27]

I am looking for some help to try to ease my mind. I have episodes where my heart feels like it is racing. This started two years ago and I went to the cardiologist who told me that my heart was fine. The only thing my test showed was the echo showed an elongated mitral valve WITHOUT prolapse WITH trace regurgitation. He was looking for MVP because he said he heard a clicking but after the echo said I did not have it.  Also when I did the stress test it showed my heart rate went up to 180 bpm with in the first 5 min but there were no arrythmias just sinus tach. So I was told I was fine and that my problem was anxiety.

Do you think that I should be worried about the elongated valve? Can that cause these symptoms?
The thing is I have become so focused on my heart all day long that any little thing I feel scares me. So after 2 years of living in fear of having my heart race I went to another cardiologist who just listened to my heart and said that I have mitral valve prolapse. He did NOT do an echo to confirm it, he only did an EKG which showed sinus tach at 140 BPM because I was really nervous to be there.  
My quetion is even though the Dr's are telling me it is just sinus tach, how can I be sure that when I feel this way it is not SVT are there other symptoms that I would get if it were SVT or an arrythmia. When I feel this way it usually will start because I feel like my  heart is a little fast then I take my pulse I guess I get scared then I get hot then I feel like what if my heart doesnt slow back down(can that happen?) after about 5-10 min my heart slows back down and then I get really cold and shake.
Does this sound like symptoms of SVT or Mitral valve prolapse or anxiety?
I have had my thyroid checked and its normal, I dont drink, smoke, no drugs no caffiene.
One last question is my resting heart rate is 76 Bpm yet when I stand up it is 110 and if I walk around it is about 130 do these sound like normal rates? The 2nd cardiologist told me this is common with Mitral Valve Prolapse but I dont even know whose diagnosis to believe the Dr that told me my heart is fine or the one that said I have classic MVP symptoms and this is what I have. I am very worried to even walk around my house because I have become so afriad to feel my heart beat fast. I do not have chest pain or anything just feels fast and scary.  
Please help me setttle my mind, I am sorry this is so long but I wanted to include as much information as possible to try to get help. Thank you so much, Jean
P.S- Do calcium supplements speed up your heart rate?

[MLS]

Hi Jean,
I'm glad to see that you said you are starting to think positive and that when your heart races that it doesn't last as long, only 2-3 minutes.  It has only been a week since you've started trying to think more positive.  PLEASE

[Jean27]

Hi again,
    I have been trying to take everyones advice and think positive. I am still having the episodes where my heart starts to race but they seem to not last as long only 2-3 minutes and then it passes. I am having a hard time with the mornings. I can feel great the night before and then as soon as I wake up it starts all over again. Does anyone else feel this way? Also I cant seem to stop focusing on my heart, even when it is slow like 79 BPM I find myself thinking about it because I am hoping that it wont start to race again.I guess I cant shake the fear of it. Anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with this? I guess it is anticipatory anxiety over my heart rate. Thanks again I am glad that there are people here that understand. Jean

[NBCT]

Hi! Dinner was great, thanks for asking. It was even better because of reading your comments before leaving the house. When the skips and flutters happened, I let them do their thing, and tried to convince myself I was in control of my thoughts and attitude only. I then imagined the sunset from my yard on a warm summer day and could feel the anxious feelings subsiding. I also told my heart to go as fast as it wanted, that I was enjoying this evening out( I would usually get very quiet until the beats let up) and actually found myself laughing during them.
   I am sorry to hear about your friend. None of us no our fate, but 44 is still way too young to die.
   Thank you again for helping me slowly regain control of my life. I mentioned you both to my husband, and he said Thank God for the internet!! Take Care, NBCT.

[poly]

Hi:
MLS said it right, I rather take one day at a time with a positive attitude than take it negatively til' it affects my health.  If something is going to happen, it'll happen no matter how much I worry, so I better enjoy each moment.  This thinking pattern has helped me tremendously, so much that my heart rate is even lower now (it was about 85 bpm with meds and some worrying, now is about 70 bpm :-), and I couldn't be happier).  And I have not had an anxiety attack for so long now, what a relief.  
My best wishes for you both, and remember, "positive thinking" does work (the best medicine).
Poly

[MLS]

Hi NBTC,
How did your dinner go?  I have thought about you the last couple days and wondering how it went.  I hope you have noticed monumental changes but most times it takes awhile for positive thinking to take affect.  As I mentioned before, when we become sensitized to these symptoms and our thoughts that follow, it appears they are one in the same.  I had a girlfriend that had a heart attack at 44 yrs. old (just a month ago).  She weighs all of 115 lbs., has great cholesterol of 123 with good HDL although she smokes and drinks lots of caffeine.  When this happened to her it scared me quite a bit....because my cholesterol is "up there," I'm about 20-25 lbs. overweight and I get extra beats, etc. on occassion.  But...after a couple days of fretting, doing some soul searching and positive thinking I came to the conclusion, again...that I might as well take each day as it comes, nothings happened to me so far...look it happened to my friend....but it could happen to anyone and if I worry so much about it...I will only make myself sick.  I hope you believe I truly know that positive thinking can help....sometimes you just have to positive think more...but I'd rather be positive then negative any day.  When you think negatively a lot everything becomes a problem...even things not related to our health, which in turns creates stress...which then does affects our health in the long run....so think of it as a cycle...try to break the cycle.  If you read this, please let us know how you've been. MLS

[NBCT]

To Poly and MLS, I have just read your comments to Jean, and now plan on trying your advice to relieve the anxious feelings I get when experiencing  frequent irregular and rapid  beats. I want so very badly to have control of my life again(it has been about a year). The doctors reassurance does not always do it. I have been on Toprol XL for 6 months which has definitely decreased the intense pounding, but will not stop them. He states it is due to MVPS(I have MVP& mod. MR) My husband and I are going to dinner with friends tonight(kids at sleepover party) and my positive thoughts will begin today!!! Thank you both for words of encouragement!!!!!!! Take Care. NBCT.